Anne Arundel County, MD Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Anne Arundel County Code § 12-4-902
- Prohibited
- Wild, exotic, and vicious animals as pets
- Also illegal
- Keeping skunks, raccoons, or opossums
- Exempt
- Small pets like hamsters, rabbits, ferrets, birds
- Penalty
- Class E civil fine, $50 to $500
Summary
Anne Arundel County prohibits keeping any wild, exotic, or vicious animal as a pet or for display, and separately makes keeping skunks, raccoons, and opossums illegal countywide, including unincorporated communities like Glen Burnie and Severna Park.
A person may not keep or permit to be kept on the person's premises any wild animal, exotic animal, or vicious animal as a pet or for display or exhibition purposes, whether gratuitously or for a fee. Small animals such as hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, mice, rats, other small rodents, rabbits, ferrets, birds, fish, and nonpoisonous amphibians and reptiles are not considered wild animals or exotic animals. The keeping of skunks, raccoons and opossums is illegal.
(b) Public contact. The collection of animals on any premises whereby the public is permitted or encouraged to have physical contact with animals on display, but not including pet shops, is prohibited. This section does not apply to zoological parks, and performing animal exhibitions or circuses if the animal exhibitions or circuses are licensed under the provisions of §
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-93: County Code is current through May, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Anne Arundel County Code § 12-4-902 bars anyone from keeping a wild animal, exotic animal, or vicious animal as a pet, or for display or exhibition, anywhere in the county: this covers unincorporated communities such as Glen Burnie, Severna Park, Pasadena, and Odenton, which have no city government of their own. Hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, mice, rats, other small rodents, rabbits, ferrets, birds, fish, and nonpoisonous amphibians and reptiles are exempt, but skunks, raccoons, and opossums are named as illegal to keep outright. A narrow grandfather clause covers animals permitted before November 4, 1980; zoos, licensed circuses, and farming activities under Article 18 are also excluded. Annapolis and Highland Beach, which have their own codes, are not covered.
Violations & Fines
Violating § 12-4-902 is a Class E civil offense under § 12-4-1001 and § 9-2-101(g): $50 for a first offense, $100 for a second, and $500 for a third or later, plus possible seizure of the animal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a pet raccoon in Glen Burnie?
Does this apply in Annapolis?
Are pet ferrets allowed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anne Arundel County
Compare Anne Arundel County to another location·View the Maryland animal ordinances overview
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