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Lincoln County delays final vote on exotic-animal ordinance after heated public comment
Summary
The Board of Commissioners introduced amendments to Chapter 92 (exotic animals) but failed to secure the unanimous vote required for immediate adoption. Dozens of residents and business owners voiced concerns about vague language, enforcement, and business impacts; the ordinance will return for a vote in January 2026.
Lincoln County commissioners held a contentious public discussion in December over proposed amendments to Chapter 92 of the county code that would change how exotic animals are permitted and regulated. County Attorney Megan (speaker 5) introduced the second reading and described edits that remove certain venomous reptiles, drop transportation language raised earlier, and add authority for the animal services director to deny permits and to create the application form.
The ordinance required a unanimous vote to adopt at this meeting. Commissioners debated the measure and then took public comment, which included repeated objections from hobbyists, breeders and representatives of reptile-keeping organizations. Phil Goss, president of the United States Association of Reptile Keepers, told the commissioners he had traveled from Indiana to speak and strongly criticized the ordinance as "a work of fiction," calling its taxonomy and lists unscientific and warning it would be difficult for law enforcement to administer. Jesse Putnam of Viper Farms provided a line-item estimate of his business investments and argued the ordinance would "choke my business to death," describing facility, van, caging and animal retail values and monthly operating costs.
Other speakers, including Elizabeth Castleley and Britney Felt, urged clearer language and raised constitutional or public-safety concerns that poorly defined bans can push animals into hiding and make enforcement inconsistent. Several speakers called for exemptions for businesses and for clearer grandfathering provisions.
When the board voted, Commissioner Patton opposed final adoption. The chair noted the ordinance did not receive the unanimous approval required at this meeting and said the item will be brought back for a vote at the board's first meeting in January 2026.
What commissioners said: County Attorney Megan described the technical edits made since the prior hearing, including removing specific venomous reptiles from the prohibited list and requiring Animal Services to provide a formal application form. Commissioners asked about fee schedule placement and enforcement details; those fee changes will be considered with an amendment to the fee schedule at a later meeting.
What happens next: The ordinance will return to the board in January 2026 for another opportunity to adopt after further revisions and public feedback. County staff indicated an amended fee schedule will be presented when the board takes the item up again.
Sources: County staff presentation, public-comment remarks, and the board vote at the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners meeting.
