Michigan's Large Carnivore Act bans keeping big cats and bears as pets statewide, except pre-2000 animals held under permit. Ottawa County enforces state law; DNR permits and local zoning govern other exotic and wild animals.
Under the Large Carnivore Act (MCL 287.1101 et seq.) a person may not possess large carnivores — lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cougars, cheetahs, panthers, and bears — unless the animal was owned before the 2000 effective date and is kept under a state permit. Michigan also regulates many other wild animals through DNR permits, and Ottawa County cities and townships may prohibit additional exotic or wild animals via zoning. The Sheriff's Animal Control responds to dangerous and exotic-animal complaints.
Possessing a prohibited large carnivore is a misdemeanor and the animal may be seized. Local exotic-animal zoning violations are municipal civil infractions.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Ottawa County, MI
Backyard composting is allowed and actively encouraged in Ottawa County, which runs home and food-scrap composting programs. No county permit is needed for a...
Ottawa County, MI
Ottawa County sets no rule on artificial turf, and it does not zone. Whether synthetic lawn is allowed depends on your city or township zoning, and often on ...
Ottawa County, MI
Native and natural landscaping is allowed. Ottawa County does not zone, so rules come from your city or township. Holland Charter Township exempts undevelope...
Ottawa County, MI
Michigan places no statewide restriction on collecting rainwater, and Ottawa County has no rule against it. Residents may harvest rooftop rainwater in barrel...
Ottawa County, MI
There is no county-wide watering ban. Restrictions come from your water supplier. Communities on the City of Wyoming water system, including Holland, Georget...
Ottawa County, MI
Ottawa County does not enforce a general weed ordinance; cities and townships do. Holland Charter Township's Property Maintenance Code (IPMC 302.4) keeps pre...
See how Ottawa County's exotic pets rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.