Definitions.
Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 35-213
in effect§ 35-213. - Definitions.
(a) The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
(1) Animal shall mean a member of the Animal Kingdom.
(2) Animal welfare division shall mean the Oklahoma City animal welfare division.
(3) Exotic wildlife shall mean any of the following animals:
a. a lion, tiger, leopard, panther, cougar, bobcat, ocelot, cheetah, margay, mountain lion, lynx, jaguar, jaguarundi, or any and all other felines (family Felidae), except the domestic cat (species Felis domesticus);
b. a grizzly bear, black bear, or any and all other bears (family Ursidae);
c. a wolf, coyote, jackal, hyena, or any and all other canines (family Canidae), except the domestic dog (species Canis familiaris) or the fox;
d. any and all venomous reptiles (venomous members of the class Reptilia), including, without limitation, Gila monsters (species Heloderma suspectum), beaded lizards (species Heloderma horridum), and venomous snakes (venomous members of the suborder Serpentes);
e. any anaconda (species Eunectes murinus);
f. any and all crocodiles, caimans, or alligators (family Crocodilia); provided, alligators kept in a secure container by a currently established commercial business on commercial zoned land pursuant to a State commercial breeder's license shall be excluded from this definition;
g. gorillas, orangutans, baboons, macaques or chimpanzees; or any non-human primate (order Primata) that is not licensed pursuant to the provisions of Article VIII of Chapter 8 of this Code; or any non-human primate (order Primata) that tests positive for tuberculosis or herpes B; provided, macaques that were kept or harbored within the City limits prior to October 12, 1999, and that are duly licensed pursuant to the provisions of Article VIII of Chapter 8 of this Code shall be excluded from this definition;
h. cassowaries (genus Casuarius); or
i. any cross-breed or hybrid of any two animals defined as exotic wildlife in Paragraphs a. through h., inclusive, of this section.
Provided, exotic wildlife shall not include native wildlife that is living in the wild and is not owned or possessed or intentionally being kept by any person.
(4) Native wildlife means any and all species of wildlife that are indigenous to or occur naturally within the State of Oklahoma.
(5) Superintendent or superintendent of the animal welfare division shall mean the person appointed and designated by the City Manager as the director of the animal welfare division.
(b) The City Manager and the superintendent shall have no power to add animals to the definition of exotic wildlife as set forth above, and only the animals specified above shall be considered exotic wildlife for purposes of this article; provided, however, the City Manager may recommend to the Council of the City that animals be added to the definition of exotic wildlife as specified above if any mammal, reptile, bird, or other animal is found to pose a serious threat to the public health, safety and/or general welfare of the residents of the City; provided, further, no such additions shall be made by Council except upon public notice and public hearing as otherwise required for the formal adoption of a City ordinance.
(Ord. No. 21334, § 1, 10-12-99; Ord. No. 21388, § 1, 12-21-99)
Source: City of Oklahoma City, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ok/oklahoma_city/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=OKMUCO2020_CH35NU_ARTVIIIEXWI_DIV1GE_S35-213DEFetched: 10/28/2026