Newark, OH Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Section 618.22 of the Newark Code of Ordinances is the exotic and restricted animal ordinance of the City of Newark, Ohio. Division (a) bars any person from possessing a constricting reptile that exceeds five feet in length, any venomous reptile, an elephant, rhinoceros, lion, tiger, ocelot, cougar, leopard, cheetah, jaguar, hyena, bear, coyote, fox, bat, ape, monkey, wolf, opossum, raccoon or skunk, any hybrid of a listed animal, and any other prehensile or carnivorous mammal that exceeds thirty-five pounds and is normally found in a circus or zoological garden. The ban does not apply to a theatrical exhibit or circus.

Division (b) creates a permit tier. No person can possess a nonvenomous reptile not expressly prohibited, a domesticated ferret (Mustela Putorius Furo), a miniature pig not exceeding 100 pounds, or a dangerous or vicious dog without a permit from the Director of Public Safety or a designee. No more than two restricted animals more than three months of age are permitted on any premises, and only one vicious dog. Division (c) sets the application steps: all municipal and common pleas court fines for animal offenses in the City must be paid, and the applicant files at the office of the Director of Public Safety with a veterinarian's health certificate (renewed with each permit renewal), copies of applicable State or Federal permits, licenses or certificate of insurance, and owner and veterinarian emergency contacts. The Director inspects the facility first: each enclosure must be locked, escape-proof, clean, in good repair and provide adequate exercise area and sleeping quarters. The fee is $30.00 per animal more than three months of age, and every permit expires on the 31st day of January and is renewed during January. The Director can revoke a permit for non-compliance. Under division (d), the owner of a restricted animal that has bitten or scratched someone must report to the Animal Control Officer within twenty-four hours.

Division (e) exempts AZA-accredited zoological parks, federally licensed research institutions and government agencies using animals for education or propagation, and excludes pet-shop animals such as dogs, cats, guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters, white rats and mice, goldfish, tropical fish, rabbits and parakeets, canaries, parrots and other birds. Nonvenomous snakes and ferrets are not covered by that exemption.