Summit County, OH Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Possession banned
- On or after January 1, 2014
- Acquisition/sale banned
- After the section's effective date
- Rescue exception
- Permit required under ORC 935.101
- Covered species
- Lions, tigers, bears, primates, more
- Restricted snakes
- 12+ ft constrictors, venomous families
- Escape duty
- Notify sheriff and ODA 24-hr line
- Applied locally by
- Summit County Code Sec. 505.31
Summary
Ohio Revised Code Sec. 935.02, applied within unincorporated Summit County by Sec. 505.31, bars anyone from possessing a dangerous wild animal on or after January 1, 2014, and separately bars acquiring, buying, selling or trading one after that date. A narrow exception lets a licensed rescue facility take in such an animal without buying it.
(A) No person shall possess a dangerous wild animal on or after January 1, 2014. (B)(1) Except as provided in divisions (G)(1) and (2) of section 935.06 of the Revised Code, no person shall acquire, buy, sell, trade, or transfer possession or ownership of a dangerous wild animal on or after the effective date of this section. (2) Notwithstanding division (B)(1) of this section, a person that operates a rescue facility may acquire, except by purchase, possession or ownership of a dangerous wild animal if one of the following applies: (a) Prior to January 1, 2014, the person is authorized to do so by the director of agriculture in accordance with procedures adopted by the director. (b) On or after January 1, 2014, the person has obtained a rescue facility permit under section 935.101 of the Revised Code.
Full Breakdown
Ohio Revised Code Chapter 935 bans private possession of what the statute defines as a "dangerous wild animal," and Summit County Codified Ordinances Sec. 71 and the Ohio Department of Agriculture's implementing rules, to Summit County and the owners, keepers or harborers of such animals. Sec. 02(A) bars anyone from possessing a dangerous wild animal on or after January 1, 2014, and Sec. 101 and do not sell, profit from, breed, or let the public touch the animal. 70. 01(L), covers anacondas, reticulated, Indian, Burmese and rock pythons twelve feet or longer, plus venomous families such as Elapidae and Viperidae.
16 requires immediate notice to the county sheriff and the Department of Agriculture's 24-hour line, and makes the possessor responsible for all reasonable capture or destruction costs. 13, with the permit holder entitled to an adjudication hearing under Chapter 119.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 935 does not set a stand-alone criminal fine for simple possession under 935.02(A); enforcement instead runs mainly through the Ohio Department of Agriculture's permitting system. The Director may suspend or revoke a rescue-facility or other Chapter 935 permit for any violation of the chapter or its rules, though the permit holder can request a Chapter 119 adjudication hearing to contest that action. Anyone whose animal escapes owes the county and state all reasonable capture or destruction costs under Sec. 935.16(C).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I legally own a tiger, lion or other big cat in Summit County?
Is there any way to legally keep a dangerous wild animal that was rescued?
What snakes are restricted alongside dangerous wild animals?
What happens if a permitted dangerous wild animal escapes in Summit County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Summit County
Compare Summit County to another location·View the Ohio animal ordinances overview
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