San Benito County, CA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

California law, not a unique San Benito County ordinance, is the main control on exotic and wild animals. Under California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 671, a long list of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and other species are classified as 'restricted' and cannot be imported, transported, possessed, or kept without a permit issued by the California Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW). CDFW does not issue permits to keep these animals as pets - permits are limited to purposes such as research, exhibition, or aquaculture - so common 'exotic pets' on the list are effectively illegal to own. Restricted species include certain wild cats, primates, bears, many non-native reptiles, and others designated as detrimental to native wildlife, agriculture, or public health, or as welfare concerns. State law also expressly allows cities and counties to prohibit possession or require a local permit for these and other species beyond the state list. We did not find a published San Benito County ordinance that expands or narrows the state restricted-species list, so the CDFW framework controls; residents considering any non-traditional animal should confirm with both CDFW and San Benito County before acquiring it.