St. Louis County, MO Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Rescue Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- State permit required first
- Rehab, breeder, collector, or hobby permit (§629.070.2)
- Application fee
- $25, nonrefundable (§629.055)
- Liability coverage
- $100,000 combined single limit (§629.060)
- Enclosure setback
- 100 feet from property line
- Exempt entities
- Zoos, museums, circuses, licensed pet shops
- Penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine or 1 year jail (§629.120)
Summary
St. Louis County will not license a wildlife rehabilitator, breeder, or collector under its Nondomestic Animal Code until the applicant first produces a valid Missouri wildlife permit. Section 629.070 of the county code requires proof of the state credential before the Department of Community Health and Medical Care issues or amends the county license needed to keep any nondomestic animal.
Prior to the granting of a license or amendment the applicant shall be required to present to the Director, for his inspection, a State of Missouri wildlife breeder permit, wildlife collector's permit, wildlife rehabilitation permit, or a wildlife hobby permit, if the keeping of such animal in this state requires any such permit.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 85 | Traffic: Supplement 80).
Full Breakdown
St. 030 as felines other than the house cat, nonhuman primates, bears, wolves, coyotes, foxes and venomous reptiles. 2 requires the applicant to first present a State of Missouri wildlife breeder permit, wildlife collector permit, wildlife rehabilitation permit, or wildlife hobby permit, whichever the state requires for that species. 3, confirming the animal will be confined to the 1975 American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums cage-size standards and the federal Animal Welfare Act of 1970; any outdoor enclosure needing at least eighty square feet of space must sit at least one hundred feet from a property line.
060. 080. The Director can refuse or revoke a license for misstatements in the application, a prior revocation, or a finding that the animal cannot be kept without menacing public safety, with a right to request a hearing within ten days of the denial or revocation notice.
Violations & Fines
Keeping a nondomestic animal in unincorporated St. Louis County without first securing the required state wildlife permit and the county license is a misdemeanor under Section 629.120: a fine of up to one thousand dollars, up to one year in the County Jail, or both, with each day of continued violation charged as a separate offense. The County Counselor can also seek injunctive relief in circuit court to force compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a state permit before St. Louis County will license my wildlife rescue?
What does the county license application cost?
Are zoos or wildlife rehab nonprofits exempt from the county license?
What happens if I keep a wild animal without the required permits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Louis County
Compare St. Louis County to another location·View the Missouri animal ordinances overview
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