South Gate, CA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required from
- animal care and control director
- Covers
- wild or vicious animals
- Permit term
- up to one year
- No-permit consequence
- animal seized by director
Summary
South Gate doesn't ban wild or vicious animals outright, but no one may keep one, from venomous reptiles to big cats, within city limits without an individual permit from the animal-control director.
Except as herein provided, no person shall have, keep, maintain or have in his possession or under his control within the city any wild animal or vicious animal, without first applying to and receiving a permit from the director to do so.
4. Keeping Wild or Vicious Animal Within Or Upon Own Premises. No person owning or having charge, custody, control or possession of any wild or vicious animal, reptile or serpent as described in this code, shall allow such animal, reptile or serpent within the enclosed premises of such person unless and until he has first secured a permit to do so and complies with all terms and conditions of such permit and, in addition thereto, such wild or vicious animal, reptile or serpent shall at all times be confined, controlled and restrained in a manner that will not endanger the life, limb or property of any person lawfully entering such premises.
5. Application For Wild or Vicious Animal Permit. An application for wild or vicious animal permit required pursuant to this section shall be filed with the director in writing and upon a form furnished by the director if so required. Said application shall be verified by the person who desires to have, keep, maintain or have in his possession or under his control, in the city, the wild or vicious animal or reptile for which a permit is required and shall set forth the following information:
(a) Applicant's name, address and telephone number.
(b)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4847832; v1 updated 2026-05-12; through 05-12-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 4.01.120 requires anyone keeping a wild or vicious animal (defined broadly at § 4.01.010 to include non-domestic mammals, fowl, fish, serpents and reptiles) to first obtain an individual permit from the director of animal care and control. Applicants must disclose the animal's housing, safety precautions and any incident history, and the director can grant, condition, deny, suspend or revoke the permit to protect public health and safety. The rule exempts licensed kennels, pet shops and similar establishments (covered instead by § 4.01.130's establishment license), zoos, circuses and animals merely being transported through the city with law enforcement notified in advance (§ 4.01.120(2)).
Violations & Fines
Keeping a wild or vicious animal without a permit lets the director seize the animal and hold it until a permit is obtained and fees paid (§ 4.01.120(11)).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I own an exotic animal in South Gate?
Are zoos or circuses exempt from South Gate's wild animal permit rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in South Gate
California rules heatmap·Compare South Gate to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Exotic Pets in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle exotic pets.