Montgomery County, MD Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Montgomery County Code Section 5-202(a)
- Enforcing agency
- Office of Animal Services
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine or 6 months jail
- Exempt species
- Kangaroos, wallabies, sugar gliders
- Waiver possible
- Executive Director may grant limited waiver
Summary
Montgomery County bans importing, selling, breeding, or keeping any wild animal as a pet, with narrow exceptions for kangaroos, wallabies, and sugar gliders under County Code Section 5-202.
Except as provided in subsection (h), a person must not import, sell, trade, buy, barter, breed, raise, keep, or possess: (A) a wild animal; or (B) any animal that the County or any other jurisdiction finds is dangerous or a threat to public health or safety, including types of animals excluded from State law prohibitions on dangerous animals.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-90: Montgomery County Code contains legislation effective through May 7, 2026 | Zoning Updated Effective: April 13, 2026 | COMCOR Regulations effective as of July 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
County Code Section 5-202(a) makes it illegal to import, sell, trade, buy, barter, breed, raise, keep, or possess a wild animal: defined as any species of untamable disposition, in a state of nature, or a native self-sustaining species, even if the individual animal seems tame. The Office of Animal Services enforces the ban, and the Executive Director may grant a limited waiver only if the specific animal is found not to be a threat to public health or safety. Kangaroos, wallabies, and sugar gliders are excluded from the 'wild animal' definition, and nonprofit wildlife sanctuaries that don't run commercial animal operations are exempt.
Violations & Fines
Keeping a prohibited wild animal is a Class A violation: up to a $1,000 criminal fine and 6 months in jail, or a $500 civil penalty for a first offense and $750 for a repeat offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a wild animal as a pet in Montgomery County?
Are any animals exempt from the wild animal ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Montgomery County
Compare Montgomery County to another location·View the Maryland animal ordinances overview
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