Greenville County, SC Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Section 4-20(a) states that no person shall keep or permit to be kept on his premises any wild, dangerous or vicious animal as a pet, for display or exhibition purposes, without first obtaining a permit. To get one, Sec. C. Code Sec. 47-3-760(E) and all state and federal wildlife regulations; applicants must be at least 18. The county's definition of wild animal in Sec. 4-11 is specific: it includes alligators and crocodiles, bears, the cat family other than domesticated cats (bobcats, tigers, leopards, lions, panthers), coyotes, foxes, wolves and their hybrids where the wild proportion exceeds one-quarter, porcupines, non-human primates, raccoons, skunks, venomous snakes, constrictor snakes over 5 feet, venomous lizards, and weasels other than European ferrets.

The animal control office can deny or revoke a permit under Sec. 4-20(c) if fees go unpaid by July 1 or if the animal cannot be safely cared for, with a written explanation either way; a denied applicant gets fees refunded, a revoked one does not. An aggrieved applicant can appeal to the County Administrator, who may modify, overturn or affirm the decision. Section 4-20(g) exempts animal shelters, publicly owned zoos, veterinary hospitals, public and scientific research labs, government entities, licensed film productions, and Mustelidae pelt operations from the permit requirement altogether.