Sacramento County, CA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- County Exotic Ordinance
- None specific found; defers to CA law
- State Law
- CA Fish & Game Code 2118; CCR Title 14 sec. 671
- Restricted Examples
- Big cats, primates, alligators, rattlesnakes/vipers
- Exotic-Pet Permits
- CDFW does not issue them for pets
- Caged Indoor Pets
- Unregulated by County if safe and nuisance-free
Summary
Sacramento County publishes no separate exotic-pet ordinance for unincorporated areas; exotic and wild animals are governed mainly by California law. Under Fish & Game Code 2118 and CCR Title 14 section 671, 'restricted species' (big cats, primates, alligators, venomous snakes such as rattlesnakes and other Viperidae) may not be kept as pets, and the state issues no exotic-pet permits.
Restricted Species Permits are required for every person who imports, exports, transports, or possesses any restricted animal listed in Section 671(c), Title 14, of the California Code of Regulations (CCR) (PDF) .
Entitlements Fee Description Restricted Species Permit Application/Amendment New: $155.53 Renewal and Amendment: $80.60
Required for every new permit, permit renewal or amendment of an existing permit, nonrefundable.
Restricted Species Permit Inspection 1-5 Enclosures: $319.50 6-25 Enclosures: $448.00 26-50 Enclosures: $730.00 51-100 Enclosures: $1,147.50 101-500+ Enclosures: $4,234.50 Aquaculture: $2,124.75 ELE/MOU: $619.25
Required for every new permit or renewal of an existing permit.
Full Breakdown
Research of Sacramento County's published animal and code-enforcement materials did not identify a county-specific exotic-pet licensing or ban ordinance for unincorporated areas; instead, exotic and wild animals are controlled primarily by California state law, which the County enforces alongside the Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). California Fish & Game Code section 2118 and California Code of Regulations Title 14 section 671 designate 'restricted species' that cannot be imported, transported, or possessed without a CDFW permit, and CDFW does not issue permits to keep restricted species as personal pets.
The restricted list includes large cats, bears, primates, crocodilians (alligators/caimans), and venomous reptiles, all species in the family Viperidae (vipers and rattlesnakes) are restricted live wildlife. State law expressly allows cities and counties to prohibit possession or require a permit for species that do not already require a state permit, so a resident should confirm with County Code Enforcement before keeping any unusual animal. Conventional caged pets, those 'kept for pleasure, in a cage, terrarium, aquarium or other confinement within the primary dwelling', are not regulated by the County so long as they are kept safely and without creating nuisance conditions. Note: the County's standard pet limit of four dogs and four cats does not authorize restricted wildlife.
Violations & Fines
Possessing a restricted/exotic species without a CDFW permit violates California Fish & Game Code 2118 and CCR Title 14 section 671 and can lead to seizure of the animal, citation, fines, and misdemeanor charges. The County may add local enforcement for nuisance or for species it separately chooses to restrict.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I own an exotic animal like a monkey or big cat in unincorporated Sacramento County?
What about a pet rattlesnake or other venomous snake?
Are my caged reptiles, fish, or small pets regulated?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sacramento County
California rules heatmap·Compare Sacramento County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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