Vestavia Hills, AL Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Section 4-16 defines "exotic/wild animals" to include, but not be limited to, raccoons, bobcats, coyotes, wolves, piranhas, barracudas, sharks, scorpions, tarantulas, tigers, hybrid wolves, monkeys, squirrels or chipmunks, and separately sweeps in any poisonous, venomous or inherently dangerous member of the reptile or amphibian family, naming rattlesnakes, other pit vipers, cobras, poisonous frogs, crocodiles and alligators, and any snake longer than five feet. Domestic farm animals customarily kept in Alabama, aquarium fish, birds and insects are carved out of the definition. Section 4-17(e) then bans the keeping itself in three separate clauses: it is unlawful for an owner or person in charge to keep any wild or exotic animal on premises in the city, unlawful for a private individual to keep, maintain or house a venomous reptile, and unlawful to keep or permit any vicious or poisonous animal on any premises for display or exhibition, gratuitously or for a fee.

The section carves out lawfully operated pet shops, zoological gardens, scientific research laboratories, circuses, veterinarians treating such animals, and permitted wildlife rehabilitators, but even those exempt operators must meet state wildlife commission rules, federal Animal Welfare Act minimums and USDA rules, and must confine the animals in fully-enclosed quarters so no person lawfully on the premises is endangered and the animal cannot escape. Enforcement runs through the city's animal control officer, police officers or other designated agents named in Section 4-17(a), who may enter private property when necessary to apprehend an animal in violation.