Walker County, GA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Walker County Code § 6-23(a) makes it unlawful to own, harbor, or permit at large any exotic animal or wild animal in the unincorporated county without written permission from the Director of Animal Control, who may attach confinement conditions tied to the risk the species poses from attacks, bites, disease, nuisance, noise, or odor. Section 6-21 defines exotic animal broadly to include alligators, crocodiles, caymans, foxes, bears, sea mammals, poisonous snakes, non-domestic cats and dogs, and any animal needing a higher standard of care than customary household pets or farm animals, plus anything meeting the state definition under O.C.G.A. title 27, chapter 5.

Wild animal covers monkeys, raccoons, skunks, foxes, leopards, panthers, tigers, lions, and lynx, among other species normally found in the wild, but excludes ordinary domestic dogs and cats. Section 6-23(b) then draws a harder line for wild carnivores, a defined list running from tigers and cheetahs to wolves, bears, raccoons, weasels, badgers, skunks, mongooses, and hyenas: these may not be kept as pets or for any other purpose in Walker County, with no permission process available. The Animal Control Director resolves any dispute over whether a given animal counts as domestic or exotic.

Violations of Chapter 6 are enforced by Animal Control Officers and Law Enforcement Officers, subject to Section 6-148's minimum fines and impoundment under Section 6-110, and disputes over exotic-animal keeping conditions can be appealed to the Animal Control Board under Section 6-109(d).