Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.38.010 Wild animals—Permit required.
7.38.010 - Wild animals—Permit required.
(A) No wild animal shall be exhibited in public or private or kept anywhere within the City unless and until the owner thereof has obtained a wild animal permit from the Animal Regulation Officer.
(B) Such wild animal permit shall not be issued for the keeping or exhibiting of a wild animal until an investigation has been made to ascertain what precautions shall be reasonable and necessary to protect the health, safety and general welfare of the public and of the animal.
(C) The Animal Regulation Officer may issue a permit for each wild animal or reptile that meets the below listed conditions. The application for permit shall have attached thereto a veterinarian's certificate, certifying that said animal is properly vaccinated and possesses no health hazard to itself, other animals, or the general public, for each animal to be covered by the permit. Each permit application shall contain the following information and documentation:
(1) Type of animal(s) to be covered by the permit;
(2) Purpose of keeping such animals, with particular emphasis on the knowledge of such person about the animals in question, and the experience of such person in handling the animals in question;
(3) Period and location for which the permit is requested;
(4) Description of the quarters in which the animal will be kept and/or exhibited, including plans and specifications, where appropriate;
(5) Documentation from the City's Department of Community Development that the location in question complies with zoning regulations and requirements applicable to the keeping of wild animals;
(6) Circumstances, if any, under which the animal will be removed from quarters;
(7) Name and address of applicant and any other person to be placed in charge of the animal; and
(8) Any other conditions or restrictions as set forth by the Animal Regulation Officer.
(D) After a review of all available information, including the permit application, the criteria or standards of recognized societies or groups dealing with the animal in question, and any citizen input, the Animal Regulation Officer may issue a permit for the keeping or exhibiting of such animal if, in the Animal Regulation Officer's considered judgment, such animal does not constitute a danger or nuisance to the general public.
(E) A permit to keep one or more wild animals, with no exhibition intended, may be issued for the period prescribed by the Animal Regulation Officer upon payment of a twenty-five-dollar fee and a favorable inspection by an Animal Protection Services Officer. The permit authorizes the keeping of the animal(s) only, in accordance with the conditions and restrictions imposed thereon, and does not authorize exhibition. A new application and a new fee is required in order to extend the time period or to change or remove any condition or restriction. The quarters for the animals must be adequate to ensure public safety and the safety, health and welfare of the animals. The owner or keeper of a wild animal not intended for exhibition shall:
(1) Have the animal implanted with an electronic microchip from a manufacturer approved by the Animal Regulation Officer. The implantation must be performed by a licensed veterinarian and must conform to procedures recommended by the manufacturer. The owner or keeper shall register the microchip number in a national database in accordance with instructions from the manufacturer, and shall provide the number to the Animal Protection Services Officer.
(2) Obtain and maintain in effect a policy of liability insurance in the amount of not less than one hundred thousand dollars insuring against possible injuries inflicted by the wild animal. The liability insurance shall be maintained in effect as long as the owner or keeper maintains possession of the wild animal.
(F) A permit to exhibit one or more wild animals may be issued for the period prescribed by the Animal Regulation Officer upon payment of a twenty-five-dollar fee and a favorable inspection by an Animal Protection Services Officer. The permit authorizes the keeping and exhibiting of the animal in accordance with this Section and with the conditions and restrictions imposed upon the permit. The twenty-five-dollar fee includes an inspection of one location and the animals to be exhibited at that location. If the permittee proposes to change the location or to exhibit additional animals, the Animal Regulation Officer is authorized to require an additional inspection and an additional twenty-five-dollar fee. The exhibit site, the quarters for the animals and the exhibition facilities must be adequate to ensure public safety and the safety, health and welfare of the animals. Before and with respect to the period of any exhibition, the permittee must obtain and maintain in effect liability insurance coverage for the exhibition in an amount not less than one million dollars.
(Ord. No. 6816, § 72, 8-17-22; Ord. 5497 § 9, 2002: Ord. 5220 § 36, 2000: Ord. 5055 § 1, 1998: Ord. 3804 § 1, 1994: Ord. 3618 § 158, 1991)