Pontiac, MI Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Chapter 18, Article I of the Pontiac City Code addresses animal keeping generally before reaching the exotic-animal ban. Section 18-5 already forbids keeping any animal in a manner that becomes a public nuisance or disturbs residents' peace, comfort or health, and requires compliance with state and county health department rules. Section 18-6, Prohibited animals; nuisances, goes further: no person may sell, keep, possess or maintain within the city wild, undomesticated or untamed animals; poisonous fish or insects; any other inherently harmful or dangerous animal, reptile, fish or insect; or livestock such as cattle, sheep, camelids, llamas, bison, cervids, ratites, swine or rabbits.

Cows, horses, pigs, goats, geese and ducks are separately named as barred life forms. The section carves out two exemptions: a circus, zoo, menagerie, serpentarium, aquarium, laboratory or the Department of Community and Human Services may keep such animals if securely confined under an attendant's care so the public cannot be harmed, and police or other law enforcement agencies may use animals, including horses, in police work. Section 18-2 assigns enforcement to the Pontiac Police Department, with Oakland County Animal Control providing services at no charge to the city under a 2011 agreement pursuant to Michigan's 1919 State Dog Law, Public Act 339.

Section 18-3 makes clear that where state animal laws are less restrictive than the city's own rules, the city's stricter provisions control. Because § 18-6 sets out no penalty of its own, the Code's general penalty clause, § 1-25, applies: a fine of up to $500.00, up to 90 days in jail, or both, in the court's discretion.