Nevada County, CA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Animal Control authorization
- Required under Nevada County General Code Sec. G-IV 1.55
- Violation level
- Misdemeanor (keeping without authorization)
- State permit
- CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife permit may also be required; county won't authorize until state permit issued
- Zoning (rural/RA districts)
- Use Permit required (Table 12.03.040.C)
- Zoning (R1/R2/R3, commercial, industrial)
- Not allowed
Summary
In unincorporated Nevada County, wild, exotic, or non-domestic animals require special authorization from the Department of Animal Control under General Code Section G-IV 1.55, and may also need a California Department of Fish and Wildlife permit. Such animals are not allowed in residential, commercial, or industrial districts; rural districts require a Use Permit.
Wild, exotic, or non-domestic animals are subject to special authorization from the Department of Animal Control. See Nevada County General Code Section G-IV 1.55 for details. Such animals may also be subject to special authorization from the California Department of Fish and Game. Specific wild or non-domestic animals may be kept for rehabilitation purposes as shown in Note 9 and further defined in LUDC Section 3.26.
Full Breakdown
Wild, exotic, and non-domestic animals are tightly regulated in unincorporated Nevada County. 55, no person may have, keep, or maintain any wild, exotic, or non-domestic animal without first applying for and receiving special authorization from the Chief of Animal Control, and Animal Control will not issue authorization for any wild animal that requires a state permit until that permit from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (formerly Fish and Game) is obtained; violation is a misdemeanor. On the zoning side, Sec. C) treats wild, exotic, or non-domestic animals as a Use Permit use in the agricultural, rural, and residential-agricultural (RA) districts and as 'Not Allowed' in the standard residential (R1, R2, R3), commercial, and industrial districts. 26. California state law (Fish and Game Code and Title 14 regulations) separately restricts which species may be possessed at all.
Violations & Fines
Keeping a wild, exotic, or non-domestic animal without Animal Control authorization under Sec. G-IV 1.55 is a misdemeanor. Keeping such animals in a district where they are 'Not Allowed,' or without the required Use Permit, is also a zoning violation, and possession of restricted species can violate California Fish and Wildlife law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep an exotic or wild animal in unincorporated Nevada County?
Where are exotic animals allowed under zoning?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nevada County
California rules heatmap·Compare Nevada County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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