Napa, CA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Napa relies on the combination of its Zoning Ordinance and state law to regulate exotic-pet keeping. 055), venomous reptiles, kennels, and other prohibited animals. Anything outside that definition is not a permitted noncommercial accessory use at a Napa residence, and keeping such an animal can be cited as a zoning violation. The state-level constraint is the heavy one. DocumentID=160745&inline) classifies as 'restricted' a wide range of species, all members of Order Carnivora (other than dogs, cats, and certain mustelids), all primates (other than humans), most large reptiles and amphibians, ferrets (Mustela putorius furo), hedgehogs (Erinaceidae), sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps), and many others.

1 before it may be imported, transported, or possessed in California, and most permit categories are limited to bona fide research, zoological, educational, or scientific purposes, not pet ownership. gov/Conservation/Laws-and-Regulations/Restricted-Species. Some species commonly thought of as exotics are not restricted under state law (most parrots and finches, most non-venomous snakes, geckos, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, chinchillas) and may be kept as ordinary household pets in Napa under the small-domestic-animal allowance. 030 even where CDFW does not restrict them. gov/1023/Animal-Shelter) at (707) 253-4382 handles exotic-animal complaints inside the City under its contract.