Fairfax County, VA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Virginia Code §3.2-6582 prohibits the possession of dangerous wild animals as pets, and Fairfax County Code Chapter 41.1 reinforces and supplements this with additional restrictions. Prohibited species include big cats (lions, tigers, cougars, leopards, cheetahs), primates (monkeys, apes, lemurs), bears, wolves and wolf hybrids, alligators and crocodiles, venomous snakes (beyond what Virginia's native venomous species rules allow), large constrictors over a certain length, and most wild-caught native wildlife. Permitted exotics generally include common pet store reptiles (bearded dragons, corn snakes, leopard geckos, ball pythons up to 6 feet), tropical fish, domesticated ferrets (rabies-vaccinated), sugar gliders (subject to county review), and exotic birds with legal paperwork. Native Virginia wildlife - even if raised from a young age - cannot be kept as pets without a DWR permit. USDA-licensed educational/exhibit facilities and sanctuaries operate under separate federal rules. Violations can result in seizure of the animal, misdemeanor charges under state law, and potential felony charges for species prohibited under the federal Lacey Act or Endangered Species Act.