Michigan's Large Carnivore Act bans owning big cats, bears, and similar large carnivores as pets statewide, including Washtenaw County. Local Ann Arbor rules further limit residential animals to common household pets.
Washtenaw County has no standalone exotic-pet ordinance, but state law controls the most dangerous animals. The Large Carnivore Act (MCL 287.1101 et seq.) prohibits owning or possessing a large carnivore, defined to include big cats such as lions and tigers and bears, except in narrow grandfathered or licensed circumstances. Ann Arbor's animal ordinance separately restricts what may be kept in a residence to dogs, cats, rabbits, canaries, and small animals commonly kept as pets. Anyone wanting a reptile, primate, or unusual species should verify both state law and their municipality's list of allowed animals.
Violating the Large Carnivore Act is a misdemeanor under MCL 287.1117, and the animal may be seized; Ann Arbor can cite keeping a prohibited animal as a civil infraction.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Washtenaw County, MI
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See how Washtenaw County's exotic pets rules stack up against other locations.
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