Weston, FL Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 53.02, Ord. 2010-12, amended Ord. 2013-09
- Where allowed
- Only Agricultural/Estate (AE) zoning district
- AE condition
- Must still meet all state wildlife laws
- Covered animals
- Primates, raccoons, skunks, foxes, venomous snakes, big cats
- Enforcement tool
- Civil nuisance action under § 53.04
Summary
Weston bans keeping or confining wild animals anywhere in the city except the Agricultural/Estate (AE) zoning district, where owners must still meet all state wildlife laws and permits. City Code § 53.02 covers primates, raccoons, skunks, foxes, venomous snakes and big cats among the animals classified as wild.
§ 53.02 WILD ANIMALS. The keeping or confinement of Wild Animals shall be prohibited in all zoning districts, except the Agricultural/Estate District (AE), where Wild Animals may be kept provided that all applicable State Laws and regulations are met.
Full Breakdown
Section 53.02 of the Weston Code of Ordinances, adopted by Ordinance 2010-12 and amended by Ordinance 2013-09, flatly prohibits keeping or confining a Wild Animal in every zoning district in the city except the Agricultural/Estate District (AE), the large-lot farm and ranch zone along the city's western edge. Even in the AE district, the exception only holds if the owner satisfies all applicable state laws and regulations, meaning a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission captive-wildlife license or permit is still required on top of the local zoning allowance.
The code's definitions section defines a Wild Animal to include any nonhuman primate, raccoon, skunk, fox, poisonous snake, leopard, panther, tiger, lion, or lynx, plus any other animal the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission classifies as wild, so the ban reaches common exotic pets like monkeys and big cats as well as venomous reptiles. Because AE zoning covers only a small strip of Weston, most residential neighborhoods, including the Bonaventure and Weston Town Center areas, fall under the outright prohibition with no local permitting pathway available.
The section sits in Chapter 53, Animal Care and Regulation, alongside the city's adoption of the Broward County Animal Care and Adoption Ordinance and its ban on public commercial animal displays, and it is enforced together with those provisions under the chapter's civil-action authority in § 53.04.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 53 does not list a standalone fine schedule for keeping a wild animal outside the AE district, so the citywide general penalty in § 2.99 applies: up to $1,000 per day for a first violation, up to $5,000 per day for a repeat violation, and up to $15,000 for an irreparable violation, plus up to 60 days in jail. Section 53.04 separately lets the City pursue civil action to abate the violation as a nuisance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep an exotic pet in Weston?
What counts as a 'wild animal' under Weston's code?
What happens if code enforcement finds a wild animal outside the AE district?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Weston
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Weston to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
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Exotic Pets in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Broward County handle exotic pets.