Westminster, CO Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- W.M.C. § 6-7-12(C)
- Violation class
- Criminal offense, not civil infraction
- Legal presumption
- Uncertain animals presumed prohibited
- Exotic animal sale
- Only via Class B pet shop license
- Exempt species
- Ferrets, rabbits, dogs, cats, small rodents
- Exceptions
- Zoos, research, circuses, vets, CPW permit holders
Summary
Westminster bans importing, selling, or keeping any 'prohibited animal', a defined list running from big cats and bears to venomous snakes and large constrictors, anywhere in the city. Presumed-prohibited animals stay banned until an owner proves otherwise in Municipal Court.
Prohibited animal shall mean any animal that is ordinarily found in an unconfined state and is usually not kept as a household pet, including, but not limited to, lions, tigers, cheetahs, panthers, leopards, cougars, mountain lions, ocelots, any wild members of the genus felis, lynx, bobcats, foxes, minks, skunks, raccoons, bears, nonhuman primates, wolves and coyotes; poisonous or venomous snakes and lizards; lethal toads and venomous arachnids (spiders, scorpions, and tarantulas), crocodilians and nonpoisonous snakes over six feet in length... In the event of uncertainty whether a particular animal is a prohibited animal, it shall be presumed prohibited until proven not prohibited by a preponderance of the evidence to the satisfaction of the municipal court.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12).
Full Breakdown
Section 6-7-12(C) of the Westminster Municipal Code makes it unlawful for anyone to import, offer for sale, sell, keep, maintain, or harbor any 'prohibited animal' or endangered species anywhere in the city, and separately bars selling any 'exotic animal' outside a Class B licensed pet shop. The Code's definitions section spells out what counts: a prohibited animal is one ordinarily found unconfined and not usually kept as a household pet, expressly naming lions, tigers, cheetahs, panthers, leopards, cougars, ocelots, other wild Felis species, lynx, bobcats, foxes, minks, skunks, raccoons, bears, nonhuman primates, wolves, coyotes, poisonous or venomous snakes and lizards, lethal toads, venomous spiders and scorpions and tarantulas, crocodilians, and nonpoisonous snakes over six feet.
Domestic ferrets, rabbits, dogs, cats, and small rodents are carved out of that definition. ' Narrow exceptions exist for zoos, licensed research institutions, authorized circuses, licensed veterinary hospitals, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife-licensed rehabilitators, falconers, and collection permit holders.
Violations & Fines
Violating the prohibited/endangered/exotic animal ban in Section 6-7-12(C) is a criminal offense under Section 1-8-1, W.M.C., punishable by fine or confinement, unlike most Chapter 7 pet violations, which are only civil infractions. A prohibited animal seized under this section may be impounded and, on conviction, forfeited to the shelter under Section 6-7-9(E)(5).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a pet fox, monkey, or big snake in Westminster, Colorado?
What if I'm not sure whether my exotic pet is legal in Westminster?
Is keeping a prohibited exotic animal a serious charge in Westminster?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Westminster
Compare Westminster to another location·View the Colorado animal ordinances overview
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Exotic Pets in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Adams County handle exotic pets.