Oyster Bay, NY Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Chapter 103, Article II, adopted in 1982, defines "dangerous animal" broadly across three classes. Reptiles covered include snakes such as racers, boas, water snakes and pythons, plus alligators, caymans and crocodiles. Birds covered include raptors such as hawks, eagles and vultures not held under a federal or state permit, and ratites such as ostriches, rheas, cassowaries and emus. Mammals covered include most of the order Carnivora other than domestic dogs and cats, expressly naming ocelots, margays, tigers, jaguars, leopards, cougars, wolves, dingos, coyotes and jackals, plus marsupials, bats, sloths, anteaters, armadillos, elephants, primates including monkeys, chimpanzees and gorillas, and ungulates such as antelope, deer, bison and camels.

Any species venomous to humans is also covered, except honeybees. Section 103-10 makes it unlawful to own or keep a dangerous animal, to maintain any premises for harboring one, or to sell or offer one for sale. Section 103-11 carves out narrow exceptions: animals held under a government research or diagnostic permit, animals used for teaching at a recognized educational institution, animals boarded or treated by a state-licensed veterinarian, farm animals and beasts of burden kept as a permitted agricultural use under the Zoning ordinance, and horses kept at licensed riding academies or as an accessory residential use.

There is no exception for a private individual simply wanting an exotic pet as a companion animal; ownership outside these listed categories is flatly prohibited.