(A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, a person that has been issued a permit under this chapter for a dangerous wild animal or animals shall comply with the requirements regarding the care and housing of dangerous wild animals established in rules.

(B) A person that has been issued a wildlife shelter, wildlife propagation permit, or rescue facility permit under this chapter for a dangerous wild animal or animals specified in division (C)(20) of section 935.01 of the Revised Code shall comply with both of the following:

(1) The requirements regarding the care of those animals established in regulations adopted under the federal animal welfare act;

(2) The requirements regarding the housing of those animals established in rules.

(C) A person that has been issued a restricted snake possession or restricted snake propagation permit under this chapter shall comply with all of the following regarding the housing of those snakes:

(1) An enclosure shall be provided with an environment or devices that allow for temperature regulation necessary to ensure the well-being of the snakes. The environment or devices shall be noninjurious and may include hot rocks, artificial lights, natural sunlight, and heat strips.

(2) An enclosure shall be provided with noninjurious substrate such as newspaper, processed wood shavings, rocks, sand, indoor-outdoor carpet, or other equivalent material. The substrate shall be disposed of or sanitized at intervals sufficient to ensure the health of the snakes.

(3) An enclosure shall be constructed in a manner that offers enough space and complexity to allow free movement and access to varying thermal gradients as follows:

(a) If a snake is a restricted snake specified in division (L)(2), (3), or (4) of section 935.01 of the Revised Code and lives in a primarily terrestrial habitat, all of the following apply:

(i) The perimeter of the enclosure shall be not less than the length of the snake.

(ii) The height of the enclosure shall be not less than five inches.

(iii) For each additional snake permanently housed in an enclosure, the perimeter of the enclosure shall be increased by ten per cent of the perimeter of an enclosure that permanently houses only one snake.

(b) If a snake is a restricted snake specified in division (L)(2), (3), or (4) of section 935.01 of the Revised Code and lives in a primarily arboreal habitat, all of the following apply:

(i) The perimeter of the enclosure shall not be less than the length of the snake.

(ii) The height of the enclosure shall be not less than twelve inches.

(iii) For each additional snake permanently housed in an enclosure, the perimeter of the enclosure shall be increased by ten per cent of the perimeter of an enclosure that permanently houses only one snake.

(c) If the snake is a restricted snake specified in division (L)(1) of section 935.01 of the Revised Code, all of the following apply:

(i) The length of the enclosure shall not be less than forty per cent of the length of the snake.

(ii) The width of the enclosure shall not be less than two feet.

(iii) The height of the enclosure shall be not less than twelve inches.

(iv) For each additional snake permanently housed in an enclosure, the length of the enclosure shall be increased by ten per cent of the length of an enclosure that permanently houses only one snake.

(4) An enclosure shall be constructed of material that securely and effectively contains the snakes. The material used to construct the enclosure may include plastic, tempered or laminated glass, wood, or other equivalent material. The enclosure shall have surfaces that are nonporous and that can be thoroughly and repeatedly cleaned and disinfected.

(5) The door or lid of an enclosure shall have a secure latch or lock attached to the exterior of the enclosure that when latched or locked prevents a snake from leaving the enclosure.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 483, §101.01, eff. 9/15/2014.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. 25, HB 59, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2013.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.113, SB 310, §1, eff. 9/5/2012.