Stafford County, VA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Wild pets banned
- Outright ban under Sec. 5-77
- Covered species
- Monkeys, big cats, venomous reptiles, crocodilians
- 2005 grandfather period
- 5 years to dispose, 60 days to register
- Penalty
- Class 3 misdemeanor, escalates for snakes/spiders
- Enforced by
- Animal control officer or Sheriff's Office
Summary
Stafford County flatly bans keeping any wild or exotic animal as a pet. Sec. 5-77 makes it unlawful to keep monkeys, raccoons, skunks, wolves, foxes, big cats, venomous reptiles and crocodilians for pleasure, and anyone already keeping one when the 2005 ordinance passed had five years to dispose of it and 60 days to register it with animal control.
Wild or exotic animal shall mean any live monkey (nonhuman primate), raccoon, skunk, wolf, squirrel, fox, leopard, panther, tiger, lion, lynx or any other warm-blooded animal, venomous reptile, amphibian, or invertebrate which can normally be found in the wild state, or any other member of crocodilian, including but not limited to alligators, crocodiles, caimans, and gavials. ... No person shall keep or permit to be kept ... any wild or exotic animal as a pet.
Full Breakdown
Article VI of Chapter 5, "Wild and Exotic Animals," defines "wild or exotic animal" in Sec. 5-74 to include any live monkey, raccoon, skunk, wolf, squirrel, fox, leopard, panther, tiger, lion, lynx, or other warm-blooded animal, venomous reptile, amphibian or invertebrate normally found in the wild, and any crocodilian such as alligators, crocodiles, caimans and gavials, while excluding ferrets, nonvenomous reptiles, rabbits and lab rats bred in captivity that have never known the wild. Sec. 5-77(a) states flatly that no person shall keep or permit to be kept any wild or exotic animal as a pet.
Sec. 5-77(c) gave anyone already keeping such an animal when the ordinance was adopted on June 21, 2005, five years to dispose of it by removing it from the county, giving or selling it to a zoological park, or releasing it to the animal control officer, and required registering the animal with animal control within 60 days of adoption. Sec. 5-75 separately bars keeping a wild or exotic animal for display, exhibition, sale or exchange, though it exempts licensed zoological parks, performing-animal exhibitions, circuses, licensed rehabilitators and veterinary clinics, and even those exempt animals may never be handled by anyone other than their handler or allowed to run at large.
Sec. 5-76 makes it unlawful for an owner or custodian to let any wild or exotic animal, or any nonvenomous reptile, run at large, and holds the owner liable for the county's cost of locating, capturing or disposing of it. The article is enforced by the animal control officer or the Sheriff's Office under Sec. 5-79.
Violations & Fines
Keeping a wild or exotic animal as a pet in violation of Sec. 5-77, or displaying, exhibiting or letting one run at large in violation of Sec. 5-75 or Sec. 5-76, is a Class 3 misdemeanor under Sec. 5-78, punishable by up to $500 under Sec. 1-11, with each day of continued violation a separate offense. A second violation involving venomous snakes or spiders is elevated to a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to a $2,500 fine and 12 months in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a pet monkey, wolf or big cat in Stafford County?
Are any animals excluded from the wild-animal ban?
What is the penalty for keeping a banned exotic animal?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stafford County
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