Oklahoma State Statutes and City Ordinances Regarding Herps

Scott,

Ask your agent to examine the abstracts of the houses your interested in.

That needs to be done before you purchase the house anyway.

It would be nice if you could see them also.

I didn't really want to start a new topic just for this so hopefully it will get answered here... Are venomous colubrids included in the permit? Specifically things like Boiga sp.

I figured it out// you call the county assessor and she will tell you exactly where the property falls - within this city limits or no city limits and watch out for townships too. So far Ive been pretty lucky and found some that I thought were out of the running in cleveland county either outside city limits or some other way out. Ive gotten to know Cheryl very well at Norman -Cleveland county's assessor.

Also, I called my insurance company to find out quotes on this home or that...they asked Will you house any animal known to bite? I said no. Anything with teeth CAN bite, but ball pythons and friendly rats aren't KNOWN for it! =)

Sylvias,

Please refer to the regulations below.

Although these regulations was originally written to only cover native (Oklahoma) species, it actually covers ALL venomous species including the colubrids you're referring to.

An application for the NBL can be picked up from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. ($10.00)


21.) Q: CAN YOU KEEP VENOMOUS REPTILES (NATIVE AND/OR EXOTIC) ?

A: YES. IF YOU LIVE IN A CITY/TOWN WHERE THE LOCAL LAWS/ORDINANCES
ALLOW YOU TO DO SO.
YOU CAN KEEP VENOMOUS REPTILES, INCLUDING THOSE THAT YOU HAVE
COLLECTED IN OKLAHOMA.
YOU MUST HAVE A "NONCOMMERCIAL BREEDER'S LICENSE", EVEN IF YOU DO
NOT INTEND TO BREED THEM. CAPT. DAVID DECKARD (ODWC - LAW
ENFORCEMENT) ; (405) 522-0871.


22.) Q: IF YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP VENOMOUS REPTILES, DO THEY REQUIRE SPECIAL
CAGING ?

A: YES. A VENOMOUS REPTILE MUST "BE KEPT IN A SOLID ENCLOSURE THAT IS
STRUCTURALLY SOUND SO THAT IT RESTRICTS ACCESS AND CONTAINS THE
ANIMAL. ANY VENTILATION PORTS SHALL BE CONSTRUCTED OF A DOUBLE
LAYER OF FINE MESH SCREEN OR A SIMILAR SUITABLE MATERIAL FIRMLY
SECURED TO THE CAGE, AND ANY TRANSPARENT SIDES SHALL BE OF A
THICKNESS OF NO LESS THAN 1/4" GLASS OR PLEXIGLASS. ADDITIONALLY,
EACH CAGE DOOR SHALL BE KEY LOCKED OR SECURED WITH A SIMILAR
TYPE MECHANICAL LOCK." DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, OAC
SUBCHAPTER 27, SECTION: 800:25-27-2. PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES (E).

thanks, wasn't sure if the semi hots like that would be included but wanted to find out before I get one heh

"Anything with teeth CAN bite,"

Scott,

It's anything with a mouth can bite.

Just ask some of our senior citizens.

Snakeman wrote:Sylvias,

Please refer to the regulations below.

Although these regulations was originally written to only cover native (Oklahoma) species, it actually covers ALL venomous species including the colubrids you're referring to.

An application for the NBL can be picked up from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. ($10.00)


21.) Q: CAN YOU KEEP VENOMOUS REPTILES (NATIVE AND/OR EXOTIC) ?

A: YES. IF YOU LIVE IN A CITY/TOWN WHERE THE LOCAL LAWS/ORDINANCES
ALLOW YOU TO DO SO.
YOU CAN KEEP VENOMOUS REPTILES, INCLUDING THOSE THAT YOU HAVE
COLLECTED IN OKLAHOMA.
YOU MUST HAVE A "NONCOMMERCIAL BREEDER'S LICENSE", EVEN IF YOU DO
NOT INTEND TO BREED THEM. CAPT. DAVID DECKARD (ODWC - LAW
ENFORCEMENT) ; (405) 522-0871.


22.) Q: IF YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP VENOMOUS REPTILES, DO THEY REQUIRE SPECIAL
CAGING ?

A: YES. A VENOMOUS REPTILE MUST "BE KEPT IN A SOLID ENCLOSURE THAT IS
STRUCTURALLY SOUND SO THAT IT RESTRICTS ACCESS AND CONTAINS THE
ANIMAL. ANY VENTILATION PORTS SHALL BE CONSTRUCTED OF A DOUBLE
LAYER OF FINE MESH SCREEN OR A SIMILAR SUITABLE MATERIAL FIRMLY
SECURED TO THE CAGE, AND ANY TRANSPARENT SIDES SHALL BE OF A
THICKNESS OF NO LESS THAN 1/4" GLASS OR PLEXIGLASS. ADDITIONALLY,
EACH CAGE DOOR SHALL BE KEY LOCKED OR SECURED WITH A SIMILAR
TYPE MECHANICAL LOCK." DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, OAC
SUBCHAPTER 27, SECTION: 800:25-27-2. PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES (E).

Do they include rear-fanged venomous in this, or only "medically significant" species? I doubt very many people buy permits to keep hognose or ringneck snakes.

Michael,

At this time, Oklahoma "rear-fanged", venomous species are not included in this

regulation because they are not recognized as venomous.

(At least for now.)

so that would or would not include mangroves then? Their not really... 'fanged' one way or another but are still mild venomous....
Seems like they would be considered rear fanged though...

Sylvias,

The snakes of the genera Boiga, which includes Mangrove Snakes, are considered

rear-fanged and mildly venomous.

That being said, it would be up to ODWC interpretation and therefore I would consider

them venomous.

In the literature it seems more attention is paid to their toxicity than that of Hog-

nosed Snakes.

I really should just go ahead and get the permit huh? especially since i will be needing it for other things anyways...

If it were me, I would, taking into consideration your future plans.

i'm just worried about the whole inspection part.... my apartment isn't really together still (although it is looking more like a home) and some of my cages are suited for hots... but not all... I don't know if they are super strict on everything as they are in florida or if they just take a quick glance and get it over with or what...

" I don't know if they are super strict on everything as they are in florida or if they just take a quick glance and get it over with or what..."

Sylvias,

This is second hand information since I've never gone through an inspection myself,

but based on what I've been told over the years from a lot of herpers who have been

inspected, in Oklahoma, it depends.

To mention a few; one friend of mine, about two years ago, said the inspector did not

even come in.

He stood at the door, ask a few questions and that was it.

However, another individual told me the inspector came in and "went over

everything with a fine-tooth comb".

We have quite a few members in our society who have gone through the inspection.

You might want to talk with some of them.

Is it legal to keep venomous in Stillwater ?

yeah, if I remember correctly it probably is...... seems like it's illegal in most of the cities here regardless of state permits.....

*illegal that is.... i misread your post.

Sylvias,

I went ahead and printed it for you.

Stillwater:

Definitions and Laws:

Sec. 6-2. Prohibited in certain areas.
(a) It is unlawful for any person to allow or permit any fowl, including, but not limited to, chickens, turkeys, pigeons, ducks and geese, or any domestic livestock, including, but not limited to, horses, mules, donkeys, cows, sheep and goats, within one hundred fifty (150) feet of any dwelling, house trailer, hotel, motel, grocery store, supermarket, or food service establishment, except in a duly established A-Agricultural District wherein such distance limitation shall be fifty (50) feet.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to keep and maintain swine, hogs, shoats, or pigs within the corporate limits of the city; provided, however, that such prohibition shall not apply in any duly established A-Agriculture zoned district, but rather swine, hogs, shoats, or pigs shall be maintained within said A-Agriculture zoned district in accordance with the city's zoning ordinance.
(c) It shall be unlawful for any person to keep and maintain within the corporate limits of the city any poisonous and/or dangerous animals, including but not limited to snakes longer than fifteen (15) feet or over forty (40) pounds; bears, cougars, African lions, leopards, tigers, or any large, nondomestic cat over twenty-five (25) pounds; wolves or wolf hybrids, coyotes or coyote hybrids.(d) Subsections (a) through (c) of this section shall not apply so as to prohibit the use of any animal or fowl named therein for educational or laboratory purposes in any educational institution within the corporate limits of the city.
(e) It shall be unlawful for any person to release or abandon any nonindigenous animals, including but not limited to fish and reptiles, within the corporate limits of Stillwater.
(f) It shall be unlawful for any person to deposit any live dog, cat or other domestic animal along any private or public roadway, or in any other private or public place with the intention of abandoning the domestic animal.

hmm.. i see a loophole >.>
snakes ain't poisonous....
don't suppose that would hold up though if they came for me huh....

Random other note... what the hell is a "shoat"?

It's funny you should mention that.

Some time ago we had a very interesting discussion about that on our former forum.

After all was said and done, I decided to contact my law firm.

In our world (the herpers' world) there is a distinction.

In a court of law, not so much.

For what it's worth, after talking with my law firm and therefore in my opinion, it's not

worth the risk.

A shoat is a young pig in Okie Land.

aww... that's kinda depressing... I would imagine that stillwater law then includes semi hots like mangroves as well -.-
The laws here are so vague compared to what i am used to.... and i have never paid attention to city laws before... because the cities i have known have never really enforced their laws if you where legal with the state....





i was thinking a shoat was like... a cross between a sheep and a goat >.>

"i was thinking a shoat was like... a cross between a sheep and a goat."

Sylvias,

Personally, I like your definition a lot better.

It sounds much more appropriate.

Just thought I'd add Woodward, OK to the list...
______________________________________________
(A) No person shall own, harbor or keep any animal, except a dog, cat, or other household pet, within the corporate limits of the City without a permit as provided in section 90.55.

(B) (1) Notwithstanding division (A) above, it shall be unlawful to own, or in any way possess, within the corporate limits of the City:

(a) Any warm-blooded carnivorous or omnivorous, wild or exotic animal;

(b) Any animal having a poisonous bite; or

(c) Any vicious or dangerous animal.

(2) This division shall not apply to properly permitted exhibitions, animal shows and circuses.
______________________________________________________________
Permits are available at the city clerk's office and I was told too that unless there is a complaint, they, obviously, cannot search private property. Yes, the "poisonous" makes me twitch too. I work with the city animal control staff there regularly and they're a good group of folks.
Tandy

Anybody knows the city ordinance for mannford?