Sacramento, CA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Yes, from Animal Care Services
- Application
- Fee set by council resolution
- Permit renewal
- Required periodically, § 9.44.400
- Revocation
- Manager may revoke/suspend, § 9.44.420
- Exempt
- Licensed vets, zoos, game farms
Summary
Owning a wild animal in Sacramento requires a permit from the city's animal care services manager under City Code § 9.44.380. The permit requirement doesn't apply to licensed veterinarians, accredited zoos, state-licensed game farms, research institutions and similar exempt facilities.
A. No persons shall own any wild animal without first applying to and receiving from the animal care services manager a permit to do so. The permit requirements of this article are not applicable to the following: B. Owners who use wild animals for diagnostic purposes or research, the use having been approved by the California State Board of Public Health pursuant to Section 1666 of the Health and Safety Code; owners who use wild animals for teaching purposes in recognized educational institutions; owners of establishments which treat or board animals and which are owned or operated by veterinarians licensed by the state of California; owners of game farms or game breeding establishments licensed by the state of California; owners of nonprofit zoological gardens open to the public; owners of pet shops who maintain wild animals solely at their place of business; and owners of circuses which are being presented on or in property owned by a governmental entity.
Full Breakdown
380(A) makes it unlawful for any person to own a wild animal in Sacramento without first applying to and receiving a permit from the animal care services manager. Subsection B lists the categories exempt from that permit requirement: owners using wild animals for diagnostic or research purposes approved by the California State Board of Public Health under Health and Safety Code § 1666, owners teaching at recognized educational institutions, veterinarian-owned establishments that treat or board animals, state-licensed game farms or breeding operations, nonprofit zoological gardens open to the public, pet shops keeping wild animals solely at their business location, and circuses presented on government-owned property.
390 requires a written application naming the applicant, address, and the proposed location of the animal along with a fee set by city council resolution, due at the time of application. 410 gives the animal care services manager discretion over whether to approve an application in the first place. 420 lets the manager revoke or suspend a permit already granted, meaning a wild-animal keeper's ability to keep the animal in the city can be cut off administratively even after initial approval. 44.
Violations & Fines
Owning a wild animal in the city without the required permit, or continuing to keep one after the animal care services manager suspends or revokes a permit under § 9.44.420, is enforced under the chapter's general penalty section, § 9.44.210: an infraction fined up to $100 for a first violation, up to $200 for a second within a year, and up to $500 for each further violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep an exotic pet in Sacramento?
Who is exempt from the wild animal permit?
Can the city take away a wild animal permit after it's issued?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sacramento
California rules heatmap·Compare Sacramento 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.