Waterloo, IA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Waterloo's dangerous animal ban sits in article B of the animal control chapter. Section 5-1B-1 deems an entire list of species dangerous per se regardless of individual temperament: all felids except domestic cats, all ursids (bears), all canids except dogs, all nonhuman primates, all crocodilians, all venomous and constricting snakes, all venomous reptiles, all venomous arachnids, and all mustelids except domestic ferrets. The same definition carves out farm animals such as cattle, poultry, goats and llamas, small constricting species under six feet such as corn snakes, king snakes, garter snakes and ball pythons, and common pocket pets like hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, domestic rabbits and domestic rats, none of which count as dangerous animals.

Section 5-1B-2 then makes it unlawful to keep, shelter or harbor any dangerous animal as a pet, guard animal or for any other purpose anywhere in the city, with narrow exceptions: a licensed veterinary hospital treating the animal, the state natural resources commission's jurisdiction under Iowa Code chapters 481A and 481B, the Cedar Bend Humane Society, a public zoo or bona fide educational or research institution, bona fide religious practice, or a city-licensed traveling circus or exhibit. Anyone lawfully keeping a dangerous animal under those exceptions must report the species, number, description and exact location to the animal control officer under section 5-1B-3, keep it securely caged at all times, stock ten doses of current anti-venom if it is poisonous, and never let it enter public property uncaged.

A dangerous animal found at large and unattended, creating a hazard, may be destroyed at the animal control officer's discretion without any duty to attempt capture or notify the owner first. The animal control officer can order removal or destruction of an unlawfully kept dangerous animal, appealable to the city council within seven days under section 5-1-13.