Madera County, CA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Madera County Animal Services materials concentrate on dogs, cats, and livestock and do not publish a separate exotic-pet permit scheme, so the controlling restrictions on exotic and wild animals are set by California state law. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) administers the "restricted species" list in the California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 671. That regulation designates broad categories of wild and potentially dangerous animals—such as many primates, large cats, bears, crocodilians, venomous reptiles, and certain birds and mammals—that may not be imported, transported, or possessed without a CDFW permit, and such permits are generally limited to qualified entities like zoos, research, or rehabilitation rather than private pet owners. Some species, including ferrets, are not permitted as personal pets in California at all. Because these prohibitions are statewide, they apply throughout unincorporated Madera County regardless of whether the County has its own ordinance. Anyone considering an unusual animal should first check the CDFW restricted-species list and permit requirements; possessing a restricted species without the required permit can lead to seizure of the animal and penalties under state law. Separately, native wildlife may not be taken or kept as pets under the state Fish and Game Code. If you want to confirm whether a particular reptile, bird, or mammal is allowed, verify with CDFW and, for any local nuisance or zoning question, with Madera County.