St. Joseph County, IN Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

09 flatly bars keeping a wild or exotic animal in the county without the required county, state and federal permits, and requires a separate county permit for each animal. 01 defines "controlled/exotic animal" as any animal that isn't a domestic animal under the chapter, except small nonpoisonous reptiles, small cage birds or psittacine birds, and specifically lists poisonous insects, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and rear-fang snakes; apes such as chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans; baboons; bears; nondomestic canines including wolves, coyotes and hybrids; crocodilians; constrictor snakes like boas, pythons and anacondas; hippopotami; hyenas; Komodo dragons; monitor lizards over six feet; old- and new-world monkeys; piranhas; rhinoceroses; sharks; snow leopards; and endangered species generally.

60(A), the animal control commission may issue a controlled animal permit only when it finds a compelling reason to allow the animal, on a nonrefundable application fee, and it is separately unlawful to possess a protected or endangered species, a wild animal indigenous to Indiana, or any nondomestic animal without both state/federal permits and a county license. A permitted owner must present an annual Indiana veterinary health certificate covering the animal's health, shelter, diet, environment and vaccinations. The requirement does not block a properly permitted institute of higher learning, a state- or federally-licensed zoological park, or a licensed circus or carnival operator from importing, possessing or selling a listed species.