Sec. 5-204. Traveling Animal Act - Prohibited.
Montgomery County, Md., Code § 5-204 (2026)
Sec. 5-204. Traveling Animal Act - Prohibited.LinkCopy Citation
(a)
Definitions. In this section, the following words have the meanings indicated:
(1)
Exhibition means an act, circus, ride, or similar undertaking in which a wild animal is required to perform tricks, give rides, or participate as accompaniments for the entertainment, amusement, or benefit of any live audience.
(2)
Mobile or traveling housing facility means a transporting vehicle such as a heavy commercial vehicle as defined by Section 59.1.4.2, trailer, or railway car, used to move or house wild animals.
(3)
Traveling animal act means the exhibition of a wild animal where the animal is transported to, from, or between locations for exhibition, in a mobile or traveling housing facility.
(4)
Wild animal means all animals classified in the following orders or families except the species noted:
(A)
non-human primates and prosimians;
(B)
felidae, except domestic cats;
(C)
canidae, except domestic dogs;
(D)
ursidae;
(E)
marsupialia;
(F)
proboscidea;
(G)
crocodilia;
(H)
artiodactyla, except domestic cattle, bison, American buffalo, water buffalo, yak, zebu, gayal, bali cattle, suidae, sheep, goats, llamas, or alpacas;
(I)
perissodactyla, except domestic horses, ponies, donkeys, or mules;
(J)
elasmobranchii; and
(K)
pinnipedia.
(b)
Prohibition. A person or business must not charge guests or visitors a fee to attend the exhibition of a wild animal in a traveling animal act.
(c)
Any activity, including agriculture and farming uses defined by Chapter 59, that uses animals other than those identified as wild under Subsection 5-204(a)(4) is exempt from the prohibition in Subsection 5-204(b).
(d)
Regulations. The County Executive may issue regulations under Method (2), to interpret and enforce this subsection.