Exemptions.
Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 35-217
in effect§ 35-217. - Exemptions.
The following persons or organizations shall be exempt from the provisions of this article:
(a) the Oklahoma City Zoological Park and the OMNIPLEX;
(b) the Oklahoma City animal welfare division;
(c) any circus appearing in The City of Oklahoma City for less than 30 days;
(d) any agency or official of the Federal, State or local government acting in an official capacity;
(e) a licensed veterinarian while providing treatment for exotic wildlife;
(f) a duly licensed and authorized research facility, including without limitation a university or college research facility;
(g) nature parks or centers professionally qualified to handle exotic animals (such as Bob Jenni Nature Center, Inc.) when presenting educational programs or performing other public services within the City; and
(h) any person who:
(1) keeps or harbors no more than one lion, tiger, leopard, panther, cougar, bobcat, ocelot, cheeta, margay, mountain lion, lynx, jaguar, or jaguarundi; and
(2) keeps or harbors such animal on a tract of land that is not less than five acres in size; and
(3) has obtained the written consent of all abutting landowners for the keeping or harboring of such animal on such tract of land; and
(4) has been issued all Federal and State permits and licenses necessary to authorize the possession of such animal; and
(5) has caused an identification microchip to be implanted in the animal's withers by a licensed veterinarian and has provided satisfactory proof of such implantation to the superintendent; and
(6) has registered such animal with the City by providing all of the following to the superintendent:
1. all information required under Subsection (a) of Section 35-216 of this article; and
2. documentation satisfactory to demonstrate compliance with Subsections (h)(1) through (h)(5), inclusive, of this section; and
3. clear 5-inch-x-7-inch photographs showing front and side views of the animal and showing the animal's cage(s) and other enclosure(s);
provided, nothing in this Subsection (h) shall prevent the Animal Welfare Division Superintendent or his designated animal control officers from impounding any such animal pursuant to Section 35-230 of Division 2 of this article if the animal is found to be running at-large, diseased or inadequately restrained, provided further, nothing in this Subsection (h) shall prevent the superintendent or his designated animal control officers from enforcing the provisions of Section 35-219 of this article if any such animal is found running at-large.
(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_S35-217EXFetched: 10/28/2026