Maricopa, AZ Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Maricopa's animal rules focus on dogs, cats, poultry, and livestock; the published city code does not set out a standalone roster of prohibited exotic animals. Instead, exotic and wild-animal possession in Maricopa is governed primarily by Arizona state law administered by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. A.R.S. §17-306 provides that no person may import, transport, sell, trade, release, or possess live wildlife within the state except as authorized by the Game and Fish Commission or as defined in Title 3, Chapter 16. The implementing rule, Arizona Administrative Code R12-4-406 (Restricted Live Wildlife), lists categories of wildlife that are restricted and generally may not be possessed without the appropriate special license or a lawful exemption. The restricted list includes broad groups such as all species of the order Carnivora (which covers foxes, skunks, raccoons, bears, wolves, ocelots, servals, and weasels), many primates, certain reptiles, and other taxa. The city code does prohibit bringing wild or non-domesticated animals - including reptiles - into city parks without prior written approval from the community services department. Because the controlling authority is the state, anyone in Maricopa considering an exotic species should verify current restricted-wildlife status and licensing directly with Arizona Game and Fish before acquiring the animal.