1. Federal Laws
  2. Provincial Laws
  3. Municipal Laws

Under construction.

Federal Laws

The two Canadian federal statutes of interest to reptile and amphibian keepers are the Species at Risk Act (SARA) and the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA). The former addresses species native to Canada; the latter regulates species covered under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

SARA regulates migratory birds and endangered species on federal lands, and would not normally affect private individuals.

Provincial Laws

Provincial laws generally regulate wildlife found in that province, but in some cases can also regulate the keeping of exotic animals in captivity.

Ontario

Species native to Ontario are regulated under the Endangered Species Act and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997.

Ontario reptile and amphibian keepers who live in a rental unit benefit from section 14 of the Residential Tenancies Act, which renders void any lease provision that prohibits animals; landlords cannot force you to move or get rid of your animals except under certain conditions. Note that one of the conditions is that your pet is dangerous, so you can be evicted for keeping a cobra. But when you consider that no-pet lease provisions are more likely to have an impact on reptile keepers than any municipal by-law, this is a very good thing.

Quebec

In Quebec, the keeping of animals in captivity is regulated by the Règlement sur les animaux en captivité, issued under the authority of the Loi sur la conservation et la mise en valeur de la faune. The Regulations apply to both exotic and native species.

Exotic species are straightforward. Under Schedule II of the Regulations, all exotic reptiles and amphibians may be kept in captivity without a licence, with the exception of crocodilians, venomous lizards and snakes, sea turtles and soft-shelled turtles. For the most part (see below), this is province-wide: ...

Native species.

Licences aren’t available to private individuals; they’re meant for public displays and zoos. There is no provision to allow someone to keep a native turtle or milk snake, or a venomous snake, in a private home.

Municipal By-laws

Ontario

Ontario municipalities almost always have an animal control by-law on their books, and frequently that by-law establishes restrictions on the keeping of reptiles and amphibians. The most frustrating thing for reptile keepers is that there is no consistency: one municipality may ban all reptiles, no matter how harmless; the municipality next door may not have any restrictions at all, which means that even venomous snakes may be kept legally. It’s very hard to understand why this is the case: whether or not there is an outright ban may come down to a particularly ophidiophobic animal control officer, or a particularly persuasive reptile educator.

Reptile keepers who work with dangerous species invariably figure out which municipalities are safe to live in, but nevertheless keep a low profile: the quickest way to get a venomous reptile ban passed by a municipal council is for them to discover someone keeping them in their midst.

The most commonly banned combination of reptiles is boas and pythons, venomous reptiles and crocodilians: these are prohibited in Brantford, Burlington, King Township, Richmond Hill and, I believe, Timmins. Kitchener bans venomous and poisonous animals, crocodilians, tuataras and caecilians; Peterborough bans venomous reptiles and crocodilians; boas and pythons require a permit, and other snakes may require registration.

Several cities ban animals on the basis of size or by taxonomy. Toronto’s by-law is simplest, banning, in addition to venomous reptiles and crocodilians, snakes over three metres and lizards over two metres. Stratford is similar, banning snakes longer than two metres, lizards with a snout-vent-length greater than 65 cm, venomous reptiles, crocodilians, tuataras and caecilians.

(What is it about caecilians?)

Ottawa’s by-law is even more complicated: snapping turtles, iguanids and teiids are banned, as are monitors longer than one metre. Boas and pythons over two metres are out, as are other snakes longer than three metres. Naturally, venomous reptiles and crocodilians are also prohibited.

Woodstock bans all reptiles.

Quebec

Last updated: March 17, 2008.