California · Penal Code

PEN §602.13: (a) Every person who enters into an animal enclosure at a zoo, circus, or traveling animal exhibit, if the zoo, circus, or exhibit is licensed or permitted to display living animals to the public, and

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

Entering an animal enclosure at a licensed zoo, circus, or animal exhibit without permission—where warning signs are posted—is guilty of an infraction or misdemeanor, excluding employees and officers acting in their official capacity.

Read the full statutory text
(a) Every person who enters into an animal enclosure at a zoo, circus, or traveling animal exhibit, if the zoo, circus, or exhibit is licensed or permitted to display living animals to the public, and if signs prohibiting entrance into the animal enclosures have been posted either at the entrance to the zoo, circus, or traveling animal exhibit, or on the animal enclosure itself, without the consent of the governing authority of the zoo, circus, or traveling animal exhibit, or a representative authorized by the governing authority, is guilty of an infraction or a misdemeanor, subject to Section 19.8. This subdivision shall not apply to an employee of the zoo, circus, or traveling animal exhibit, or to a public officer acting within the course and scope of his or her employment. (b) For purposes of this section, “zoo” means a permanent or semipermanent collection of living animals kept in enclosures for the purpose of displaying the animals to the public. The term “zoo” includes a public aquarium displaying aquatic animals. (c) For purposes of this section, an “animal enclosure” means the interior of any cage, stall, container, pen, aquarium or tank, or other discrete containment area that is used to house or display an animal and that is not generally accessible to the public. (d) Prosecution under this section does not preclude prosecution under any other provision of law.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.