Adams County's Animal Control Code covers only "pet animals" kept for companionship and excludes wildlife, feral cats, and livestock. Keeping wild or exotic animals is governed mainly by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and state law, not a county exotic-pet permit.
Under the Adams County Animal Control Code, "pet animal" means an animal owned or kept for companionship or protection and expressly does not include feral cats, wildlife, or licensed/inspected agricultural animals. Wildlife is defined as mammals, birds, fishes and reptiles that are neither human nor domesticated. Because the county code focuses on dogs and cats, possession of exotic or wild animals is controlled by Colorado Parks and Wildlife regulations (which prohibit possessing most native wildlife without a license) and state law. Some exotic-animal farming uses appear as conditional uses in county agricultural zones. Confirm species-specific rules with CPW before acquiring an exotic animal.
Illegal possession of native wildlife is enforced by Colorado Parks and Wildlife under state wildlife law, with state fines and forfeiture. County zoning may separately restrict commercial exotic-animal operations.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Adams County, CO
Adams County does not prohibit residential backyard composting. There is no county permit for a home compost pile in unincorporated areas, but a poorly kept ...
Adams County, CO
Adams County has no countywide ordinance banning or specifically regulating artificial turf on private residential yards in unincorporated areas. Homeowners ...
Adams County, CO
Adams County does not prohibit or mandate native plants for private residential yards. County landscape standards encourage preserving existing valuable vege...
Adams County, CO
Colorado law lets Adams County residents collect rooftop rainwater in up to two rain barrels with a combined capacity of 110 gallons. It is limited to single...
Adams County, CO
There is no single county watering rule; limits are set by your water provider. In the South Adams County Water and Sanitation District (Commerce City and vi...
Adams County, CO
Under the Colorado Noxious Weed Act, every landowner in Adams County must manage designated noxious weeds. The county's 1997 Noxious Weed Enforcement Policy ...
See how Adams County's exotic pets rules stack up against other locations.
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