Jackson County, MI Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Regulated cats
- Lions, leopards, jaguars, tigers, cougars, panthers, cheetahs
- Also covers
- Bears and wolf-dog hybrid crosses
- State acts incorporated
- PA 274 of 2000; PA 246 of 2000
- Local citation
- Ordinance No. 1, §7.1(17) and §7.1(22)
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to $500/90 days
Summary
Jackson County bans keeping lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cougars, panthers, cheetahs, or bears as pets by making any violation of Michigan's Large Carnivore Act (PA 274 of 2000) a local ordinance violation, and does the same for wolf-dog hybrids under the Wolf-Dog Cross Act (PA 246 of 2000).
"Large Carnivore" means either of the following: (i) Any of the following cats of the Felidae family, whether wild or captive bred, including a hybrid cross with such a cat: (1) A lion. (2) A leopard, including, but not limited to, a snow leopard or clouded leopard. (3) A jaguar. (4) A tiger. (5) A cougar. (6) A panther. (7) A cheetah. (ii) A bear of a species that is native or nonnative to this state, whether wild or captive bred. ... It shall be a violation of this Ordinance: ... 17) To violate any section of Public Act 274 of 2000, as amended, which regulates the ownership, possession and care of large carnivores, specifically large cats and bears. ... 22) To violate any section of the Wolf-Dog Cross Act, Public Act 246 of 2000 as amended, which regulates the ownership, possession and care of Wolf-Dog Crosses.
Full Breakdown
Jackson County does not write its own list of banned exotic pets; instead its Animal Control and Protection Ordinance (Ordinance No. 1) folds two Michigan statutes directly into local enforcement. 1(17) then makes it a violation of the Ordinance 'to violate any section of Public Act 274 of 2000, as amended, which regulates the ownership, possession and care of large carnivores, specifically large cats and bears,' Michigan's Large Carnivore Act, which bars new private possession of those animals outside licensed exhibitors and registered pre-2000 owners.
' Because both clauses are phrased as incorporation-by-reference, the County does not need its own permit scheme; a Sheriff's deputy or Animal Control Officer can cite a violation directly under the county ordinance while the underlying prohibition and any registration exceptions remain governed by the state acts. 00, community service, or a combination, plus court costs, with continuing violations chargeable day by day.
Violations & Fines
Violating either incorporated state act, Section 7.1(17) for large carnivores or Section 7.1(22) for wolf-dog crosses, is charged as an ordinance violation under Article 13: a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail, a fine of up to $500.00, community service, or a combination, plus court costs, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a pet tiger or lion in Jackson County?
Are wolf-dog hybrids covered too?
Who enforces the large carnivore rule locally?
Does the ordinance define which cats count as 'large carnivores'?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jackson County
Compare Jackson County to another location·View the Michigan animal ordinances overview
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