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California Exotic Animal Regulations
The following is an excerpt of California’s exotic animal regulations. This is not the complete regulation and should not be considered as such. The purpose of providing you, the reader, with this information is to encourage you to contact state authorities in California with any further questions you might have. We are unable to provide any legal advice regarding California’s laws (or the laws of any other state). Below the regulations we have included the contact information for the California Dept. of Fish & Game who we believe is the agency best suited to assist regarding these regulations. Please note also that the information provided is in good faith and is accurate to the best of our knowledge however we DO NOT guarantee or make claims about the accuracy of the information.
Related Code and Regulations
Ca. Admin. Code Title 14 section 671 – PDF
(A) It shall be unlawful to import, transport,or possess alive animals restricted in subsection (C) below except under permit issued by the Department of Fish and Game. Permits may be issued by the department as specified herein and for purposes designated in Section 671.1 subject to the conditions and restrictions designated by the department. Except for mammals listed in Fish and Game Code Section 3950 or live aquatic animals requiring a permit pursuant to Fish and Game Code Section 2271, no permit is required by this section for any animal being imported, transported, or possessed pursuant to any other permit issued by the department. Cities and counties may also prohibit possession or require a permit for these and other species not requiring a state permit.
(B) The commission has determined the below listed animals are not normally domesticated in this state. Mammals listed to prevent the depletion of wild populations and to provide for animal welfare are termed "welfare animals", and are designated by the letter "W". Those species listed because they pose a threat to native wildlife, the agriculture interests of the state or to public health or safety are termed "detrimental animals" and are designated by the letter "D". The department shall include the list of welfare and detrimental wild animals as part of DFG MANUAL NO. 671 (2/25/92)
IMPORTATION, TRANSPORTATION AND POSSESSION OF RESTRICTED SPECIES, to be made available to all permittees and other interested individuals.
(c) Restricted species include:
(7) Class Reptilia -Reptiles
(A) Order Crocodilia -Crocodiles, Caimans, Alligators and Gavials – All species (D).
(B) Family Chelyridae -Snapping Turtles – All species (D).
(C) Family Elapidae -Cobras, Coral Snakes, Mambas, Kraits, etc. - All species (D).
(D) Family Viperidae -Adders and Vipers - All species (D).
(E) Family Crotalidae -Pit Vipers
All species (D), except Crotalus viridis (Western rattlesnake), Crotalus atrox (Western diamondback rattlesnake), Crotalus ruber (red diamondback rattlesnake),Crotalus scutulatus (Mojave rattlesnake), Crotalus mitchelli (speckled rattlesnake) and Crotalus cerastes (Sidewinder) not restricted.
(F) Family Colubridae -Colubrids
1. Dispholidus typus (Boomslang) (D).
2. Theoltornis kitlandii (Bird or vine snake) (D).
3. All species of genus Nerodia (watersnakes) (D).
(G) Family Helodermatidae
1. Heloderma suspectum suspectum (reticulate Gila monster) (D).
Contact
California Dept. of Fish & Game 1416 9th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 445-0411
