Grand Junction, Colorado, is modifying its animal ordinance primarily to reflect the transfer of animal control services from Mesa County to the city, following Mesa County’s notification that it would no longer provide those services. Much of the ordinance remains the same, but there are some additions to species prohibitions and license fees. Anyone with pets in the city should review. There is no listed grandfather clause for current owners whose species will be banned. This will be introduced at the June 17 meeting, with a public hearing on July 1.
Public meeting on this issue: Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at 5:30 PM MDT, 250 N 5th Street, Grand Junction, CO 81501
The current ordinance is below (this is already banned):
(1) All poisonous snakes and poisonous reptiles; and all nonpoisonous snakes with a length greater than six feet; (2) Gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, and any other primates; (3) Any species of feline not falling within the categories of ordinary domesticated house cats; (4) Bears of any species; (5) Raccoons, porcupines, skunks, badgers, or other similar species, except ferrets (Mustela putruis); or (6) Foxes, wolves, coyotes, or other species of canines other than dogs.
The text in bold below will be added, which additionally bans lizards and crocodilians over 3′. Most venomous and crocodilian species are banned by the state.:
(1) All poisonous or venomous animals, anacondas, reticulated pythons, Burmese pythons and amethystine pythons; (2) All other non-venomous snakes with a length greater than six (6) feet measured from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail; (3) All other reptiles with a length greater than three (3) feet measured from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail; (4) Gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, baboons and any other primates; (5) Any species of feline not falling within the categories of ordinary domesticated house cats; (6) Bears of any species; (7) Marsupials, squirrels, minks, raccoons, porcupines, skunks, badgers or other like species, except ferrets (Mustela furo); (8) Foxes, wolves, coyotes or other species of canines other than dogs; (9) Crocodilians and monitor lizards; (10) Any animal that is not indigenous to the state and is not classified as a domesticated animal or pet.
Relevant definitions:
“Domesticated Animal” or “Pet Animal” means any domesticated animal commonly kept in a household, excluding livestock, such as: dogs; cats; chinchillas; domestic rabbits; guinea pigs; hamsters; domestic mice; domestic rats; gerbils; domestic ferrets; hedgehogs; sugar gliders; canaries, finches, parakeets, doves, domesticated parrots (or the like), aquarium fish; nonpoisonous amphibians; nonvenomous snakes; nonvenomous invertebrates; and turtles of a species and size which is permissible under state law.
“Exotic Animal” means an animal introduced from another country not normally kept as a household pet or farm animal. (While this does have a broad definition, reference with the definition of Domesticated/Pet Animal. Most pets are allowed under that definition.)
Read the agenda and proposal text at https://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/26-grand-junction-co.pdf. You may need to zoom in. The animal ordinance is on pages 21-55.
City agendas and minutes are posted at https://www.gjcity.org/129/Agendas-Minutes.
The City Council calendar is at https://www.gjcity.org/calendar.aspx.
City Council Member information at https://www.gjcity.org/313/City-Council.
Sample Letter (Please edit and personalize. Be civil and professional.)
Email list: laurel.cole@gjcity.org, ben.vandyke@gjcity.org, codyken@gjcity.org, jasonn@gjcity.org, annas@gjcity.org, scottb@gjcity.org, robert.ballard@gjcity.org, cityclerk@gjcity.org
Subject line: NO to reptile ban
Grand Junction Council Members,
I am a responsible Grand Junction pet owner who opposes some proposed and current animal bans. The new ban would prohibit lizards over 3′. This is an arbitrary number with no basis and does not equate to any public or other risk factors. For example, some tree monitors are more than 3′ long while weighing less than one pound. This is because 2/3 of their length is the tail, yet the new law would ban them. I also oppose the current and proposed bans on certain non-venomous snakes, as well as the current prohibition of non-venomous snakes over 6 feet. Again, these bans are arbitrary and baseless.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife bans many species at the state level. I request that the City ban reflect that CPW regulation, which bans certain animals, including venomous reptiles and crocodilians. Please reconsider these changes to the new Animal Code and have it reflect state law. Thank you, and have a good day.
