Orangeburg County, SC Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Sec. 4-61 defines 'exotic creatures' with a two-part test: any carnivore whose 'inherent, natural propensities' would let a reasonable person conclude it poses a threat of serious bodily injury to an unrestrained human, plus a non-exclusive list naming lions, tigers, cougars, leopards, cheetahs, snow leopards and clouded leopards; bears, wolves, coyotes, jackals and their canine hybrids; crocodiles, alligators and similar carnivores; monitors; snakes meeting the general description; and any creature traditionally kept in U.S. zoos. A separate clause singles out large wild cats of genus Panthera, non-native bears not already regulated by the S.C.

Department of Natural Resources, and great apes (chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans) for the same ban, while animals 'traditionally associated with agriculture' are expressly carved out. Sec. 4-103(a) makes the prohibition operative: as of December 7, 2009, no person may bring or maintain an exotic creature within the county, and a keeper who cannot prove the animal was kept in the county continuously before that date is guilty of 'threat to public health - harboring exotic creature.' Enforcement runs through the county Animal Control Department: Sec. 4-103(b) directs the department to issue a ticket for the violation but does not obligate an ACO to seize the animal on the spot.

Because harboring an exotic creature is a chapter 4 violation like any other, the general penalty schedule in Sec. 4-242 applies: a $250.00 fine or 30 days for a first ordinance summons, $500.00 or 90 days for a repeat. The ban covers the unincorporated county only, plus any municipality that has adopted Chapter 4 and signed the county's standard enforcement agreement under Sec. 4-85.