Bloomington, IN Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Rescue Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Section 7.40.010
- First-offense fine
- $500.00
- Repeat offense
- Doubles within 12 months
- Exempt rescuers
- Licensed wildlife rehabilitators, educators
- Enforcing agency
- Animal Care and Control
Summary
In the City of Bloomington it is unlawful to keep any wild or exotic animal on your property under Bloomington Municipal Code Section 7.40.010, enforced by Bloomington Animal Care and Control. That same section carves out the people who actually rescue wildlife: zoological parks, circuses, research laboratories, and anyone holding the state and federal licenses a wildlife rehabilitator or wildlife educator needs. There is no separate city rescue permit; the exemption rides entirely on outside licensing.
No person shall keep or permit to be kept on their premises any wild or exotic animal for any purpose. This section shall not be construed to apply to zoological parks, circuses, animal exhibitions, research laboratories, licensed wildlife rehabilitators, or a wildlife educator who is in possession of all necessary federal or state licenses, permits, and/or approvals. ... Wild Animal Violations in Chapter 7.40 $500.00 for the first offense. Second and subsequent offenses within twelve months of the first offense shall be double the fine associated with the most recent offense.
Full Breakdown
40 (Wild Animals, Exotic Animals, Prohibited Reptiles, and Deer Feeding) of Title 7, bans keeping "any wild or exotic animal for any purpose" anywhere within the City of Bloomington. The Common Council wrote the exemption into the same sentence rather than a separate rescue-permit chapter: zoological parks, circuses, animal exhibitions, research laboratories, licensed wildlife rehabilitators, and wildlife educators are excused, but only if they already hold all necessary federal or state licenses, permits, and approvals. 010 defines a wildlife rehabilitator as someone who has acquired the necessary state and federal permits to rehabilitate wildlife at home, on their property, or in a professional facility, with the intent of releasing the animals under state and federal guidelines.
16 for zoos, exhibitions, and pet shops, but it does not run a parallel rescue-permit track for individual rehabilitators. 40, doubling for each repeat offense within twelve months.
Violations & Fines
Keeping a wild or exotic animal without a qualifying exemption draws a $500.00 civil penalty for a first offense under Section 7.56.030(b), doubling for any second or subsequent offense within twelve months. Bloomington Animal Care and Control officers investigate, inspect, and issue notices of violation under Section 7.56.010, and the animal control commission can order removal of a non-exempt animal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Bloomington issue its own wildlife rescue permit?
What happens if I keep an injured wild animal without those licenses?
Who enforces the wild animal ban in Bloomington?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bloomington
Compare Bloomington to another location·View the Indiana animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.