Peoria, AZ Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Section 16-9(a) of the Peoria City Code targets any animal that is poisonous, dangerous, or carnivorous and wild, along with reptiles, rather than naming individual species. Before keeping one of these animals, an owner has to register it with the City; the section directs that registration be done at the Police Department or such other location as designated by the City Manager. The City Manager or a designee sets the specific guidelines for the registration and safe keeping of such animals, so the safekeeping conditions come from administrative guidelines rather than a fixed list in the ordinance itself.

Once registered, the owner's name, address and the type of animal become part of a public record subject to disclosure, meaning neighbors can find out that a registered wild or dangerous animal is being kept nearby. Registration does not exempt the animal from Chapter 16's other keeping restrictions: the general nuisance rule in Sec. 16-8 and Sec. 16-9(b) still bars noise, odor, or manure problems, and if the animal is a 'vicious animal' as defined in Sec. 16-1, meaning any carnivore that has a propensity to attack, it remains subject to the separate vicious-animal hearing and destruction process in Secs.

16-15 and 16-16. An unregistered wild or dangerous animal found at large that threatens public safety and cannot be safely captured can be killed on the spot by the enforcement agent or a peace officer under Sec. 16-34(f)(3).