Tustin, CA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Tustin City Code Section 4223 defines a wild animal as any animal, reptile, fowl or fish that is not naturally tame or gentle, is of a wild nature or disposition, or is known to be vicious or dangerous to people who come into contact with it, and that must be confined to be kept within the owner's control. Section 4223(b) then makes it unlawful for anyone to keep or maintain such an animal anywhere within the City of Tustin. The ordinance carves out five narrow exceptions: animals held in a bona fide zoo; animals in a licensed veterinary hospital for treatment; animals kept at an entertainment establishment under a conditional use permit that specifically authorizes the use; animals kept at a bona fide educational institution for instruction, provided they are securely confined to the satisfaction of the Orange County Pound Master; and a defined list of small creatures, including hamsters, guinea pigs, white rats, mice, turtles, salamanders, newts, chameleons, kangaroo rats, nonpoisonous reptiles under six feet and no more than three in number, and nonpoisonous toads, lizards or spiders.

This section sits in Article 4, Chapter 2, Part 2 of the Tustin City Code alongside the City's general pet-count limits in Section 4221, which caps most households at three dogs or three cats and ten smaller animals combined. Community Development's code enforcement staff and the Tustin Police Department handle complaints about wild animal keeping, while OC Animal Care, operating under the City's animal control contract, is the referenced authority for the educational-institution exception.