Texas requires a certificate of registration to own dangerous wild animals such as lions, tigers, bears, cougars, and primates. Bell County's animal registration agency handles registration and insurance, and the county may prohibit possession entirely.
Under Texas Health & Safety Code Subchapter E (Sec. 822.101 to 822.116), 'dangerous wild animals' include lions, tigers, bears, cougars, leopards, hyenas, baboons, chimpanzees and similar species. No one may own or harbor such an animal without a certificate of registration from the local animal registration agency, plus liability insurance and caging standards. A Texas county commissioners court may go further and ban private possession outright. Ordinary exotic pets not on the dangerous list (most reptiles, small mammals, birds) aren't covered by this statute, though city codes may still restrict them.
Possessing a dangerous wild animal without registration is a Class C misdemeanor per occurrence, with the animal subject to seizure. Counties may adopt outright prohibitions.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Bell County, TX
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See how Bell County's exotic pets rules stack up against other locations.
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