Rogers, AR Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

The City of Rogers' published Animal Services materials address dogs, cats, fowl, swine, and goats, but do not publish a broad city ordinance listing every prohibited exotic species, so exotic and wild animals are governed largely by Arkansas state law and Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) captive-wildlife rules. Under Arkansas law, a "large carnivore" is defined as a bear, lion, or tiger, and it is illegal for private individuals to own, possess, breed, or transfer one except for narrow grandfathered or institutional exemptions; a violation is a Class A misdemeanor. Arkansas also requires a Venomous Reptile Possession Permit to keep medically significant venomous reptiles, and possession of such reptiles without that permit is unlawful. For native Arkansas wildlife kept as pets, AGFC rules generally limit a household to no more than six animals of eligible native species (such as raccoons, opossums, rabbits, and squirrels). Note that one species the city does name is the pig: swine of all types, including pot-belly and miniature pigs, are prohibited within Rogers under city ordinance 6-256. Before acquiring any exotic animal, confirm both Rogers Animal Services rules and AGFC captive-wildlife requirements, since some species need state permits and others are banned outright.