Rancho Cordova, CA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Numeric cap
- 5 exotic animals per parcel
- Definition section
- RCMC § 23.1104.040
- Use table & cap
- RCMC § 23.310.030, Note 3
- Nuisance cross-reference
- RCMC § 23.737.040
- Example covered species
- Snakes, reptiles, miniature pigs, peacocks
Summary
Rancho Cordova caps exotic animals, wild species kept as pets such as snakes, reptiles, miniature pigs and large tropical birds like peacocks, at five per parcel citywide, and only in zoning districts where the use table allows exotic animal keeping.
"Exotic animals" means wild animals not customarily confined or cultivated by man for domestic or commercial purposes, but kept as a pet or for display, including miniature pigs, snakes, reptiles, and large tropical birds (including peacocks). 3. ... Exotic animals: ... No more than five exotic animals are permitted per parcel. All exotic animals shall be kept and maintained in such a way that is consistent with the odor, particulate matter, and air contaminant standards of RCMC § 23.737.040.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4660102; v2 updated 2026-03-02; through 03-02-2026).
Full Breakdown
040). That definition is distinct from "domestic pets" (dogs, cats, fish and ordinary birds) and from "livestock animals" (cattle, sheep, swine, goats, equine and fowl), each of which carries its own allowance in the zoning tables. 737. The use tables show exotic animal keeping permitted by right (P) in the Rural Residential (RR) and Estate Residential (ER) districts, so the five-animal limit and the odor standard apply together wherever the use is allowed; in districts where the table does not list the use, keeping exotic animals is not a permitted activity regardless of the numeric cap.
030 before acquiring the animal, since a use that is over the five-animal limit or located in a non-listed district is a zoning violation independent of any state or federal wildlife permit the animal itself might require.
Violations & Fines
Keeping exotic animals in excess of the five-per-parcel limit, or in a zoning district where the use table does not list "Animal Keeping, Exotic Animals" as permitted, is a violation of RCMC Title 23 enforceable as a zoning code violation through the City's code enforcement process. Odor, particulate matter or air contaminant nuisances traced to exotic animal keeping are separately enforceable under the standards cross-referenced in RCMC § 23.737.040, meaning a property within the numeric cap can still be cited for a standards violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as an exotic animal under Rancho Cordova's zoning code?
How many exotic animals can one property keep?
Do exotic animals still have to meet nuisance standards even under the cap?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rancho Cordova
California rules heatmap·Compare Rancho Cordova to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Exotic Pets in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sacramento County handle exotic pets.