Westminster, CA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

The City of Westminster regulates exotic and wild animals under its own Municipal Code, Chapter 6.12 (Animals). The code makes it unlawful for any person to keep or maintain any wild animal within the city. It then lists certain household and small pets that are permitted, including any hamster, guinea pig, white rat and/or mouse, turtle, salamander, newt, chameleon or kangaroo rat, any non-venomous reptile not exceeding six feet in length, and any non-venomous toad, lizard or spider. Wild and exotic fowl are addressed by reference to the California Fish and Game Code. Anyone who wants to keep an animal that the code otherwise prohibits must apply to Westminster Animal Control for a permit and may not keep the animal unless and until a permit is issued. On top of the city rule, California state law independently restricts exotic ownership: the Department of Fish and Wildlife's restricted-species regulations (California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 671) prohibit private possession of many wild animals, including large cats, bears, primates, venomous reptiles and others, except under a state permit. So a Westminster resident is bound both by the city's wild-animal prohibition and permit process and by the state restricted-species list. Venomous reptiles and reptiles longer than six feet fall outside the city's allowed-pet list and would require, at minimum, a city permit and may be barred entirely under state law.