Tangipahoa Parish, LA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Ban covers
- lions, tigers, primates, bears, elephants, snakes, etc.
- Exemptions
- zoos, wildlife preserves, state-permitted wildlife
- Excluded species
- domestic dogs/cats, livestock, rabbits, ferrets, cage birds
- If it bites a human
- euthanized, head sent for rabies testing (§10-86(d))
- Narrow exception
- 6-12 mo. quarantine for rare/endangered species (§10-86(e))
Summary
Owning, possessing, selling or keeping any wild or exotic animal as a pet is prohibited across unincorporated Tangipahoa Parish, covering species like lions, tigers, leopards, hyenas, primates, bears, elephants, bison, antelope, deer and poisonous snakes, with exceptions only for state-permitted wildlife, zoos and wildlife preserves, under § 10-98.
No person shall own, possess, sell, or keep any wild (other than what is permitted by the state) or exotic animal as a pet in the parish. Exotic animals are all species of vertebrate animals not naturally occurring in any ecosystem in the United States, including hybrids thereof, including, but not limited to, lions, tigers, leopards, hyenas, primates, bears, elephants, bison, antelopes, deer or poisonous snakes. This section does not apply to zoos or wildlife preserves.
Full Breakdown
Section 10-98 defines "exotic animals" broadly as all species of vertebrate animals not naturally occurring in any ecosystem in the United States, including hybrids, and lists lions, tigers, leopards, hyenas, primates, bears, elephants, bison, antelopes, deer and poisonous snakes as examples, though the list is not exhaustive. The ban exempts wild animals otherwise permitted by the state, and does not apply to zoos or wildlife preserves. Section 10-80's companion "wild animal" definition carves out common household and farm animals from the ban entirely: humans, domestic dogs (excluding wolf, coyote or other nondomestic canine hybrids), domestic cats (excluding hybrids with ocelots, margays or other nondomestic felines), livestock, guinea pigs, domesticated mice, rats or gerbils, domesticated rabbits and chinchillas, domestic ferrets and captive-bred common cage birds.
If a wild or exotic animal bites a human, § 10-86(d) requires it be euthanized and its head sent for rabies testing, or if found dead after biting, the head is still sent for testing; § 10-86(e) allows a narrow exception, a six-month to one-year quarantine instead of euthanasia, only for rare, endangered or threatened animals bred in captivity, and only if a licensed veterinarian requests observation, the bite victim consents, and the owner agrees to indemnify the parish.
Violations & Fines
Keeping a prohibited wild or exotic animal as a pet under § 10-98 is enforced by the parish animal control department established under § 10-79, with a conviction under the article's general penalty provision, § 10-100(b), carrying a fine of not more than $500.00, imprisonment for not more than six months, or both, and each day of continued violation counted separately. If the animal bites a human, § 10-86(d) mandates euthanasia and rabies testing unless the narrow six-month to one-year quarantine exception in § 10-86(e) is met.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a pet tiger, monkey or other exotic animal in unincorporated Tangipahoa Parish?
Are there any exceptions to the exotic animal ban?
What happens if a prohibited exotic animal bites someone?
Who enforces the exotic animal ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tangipahoa Parish
Compare Tangipahoa Parish to another location·View the Louisiana animal ordinances overview
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