Santa Clara County, CA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

No person shall keep, have, maintain, sell, trade, or let for hire a dangerous animal without first obtaining a permit from the Manager. An application for such permit shall be filed in accordance with Section B31-71. The application for a permit, permit conditions, inspection, denial, revocation, and appeal shall be the same as set forth in Sections B31-71-79, inclusive, of this chapter.(b)No permit shall be required of any zoo, university, college, governmental research agency, or other bona fide scientific institution, as determined by the Manager, engaging in scientific or public health research. For the purposes of this article, a zoo shall be considered any organization which exhibits animals to the general public at regular specified hours, equaling at least thirty hours a week for thirty-six weeks a year, and whose animals, whether maintained for exhibit purposes or not, are not for sale to private individuals.(c)The owner/guardian of dangerous animal shall post the entrances to the property where the animal is kept with a legible sign, provided by the Animal Care and Control Division, of at least twelve inches square, warning persons of a dangerous animal. (Ord. No. NS-300.745, § 1, 5-2-06)

Sec. B31-81. - Permit denial. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Manager may deny or revoke a permit to keep or maintain any dangerous animal when, in his or her opinion: