Exotic pet laws in Arkansas
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
The table lists every animal we cover and what Arkansas law says about keeping it as a pet. Each row links to the rule it rests on; animals link to their own state-by-state guide.
Animal by animal in Arkansas
| Animal | Status | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capybara | Banned | Capybaras are on the prohibited list. Possession is barred and the Commission will not issue permits to breed, sell or import them. Ask the Commission before buying. | AGFC Code Addendum R1.03 (Prohibited Captive... |
| Skunk | Banned | Skunks are on the prohibited list, so the Commission issues no permits to breed, sell or import them. The native-wildlife pet exception does not name skunks. | AGFC Code Addendum R1.03 (Prohibited Captive... |
| Big cat | Banned | Tigers and lions are banned for individuals except animals held since 2005 under a sheriff's permit. Mountain lions, jaguars, leopards and snow leopards are prohibited. Cheetahs are unlisted, which also makes them prohibited until evaluated.Statute: personal possession permit only for animals held on or before 2005-08-12 (Ark. Code 20-19-504, FindLaw copy only). | AGFC Code 09.02(B)-(C); AGFC Addendum R1.03;... |
| Prairie dog | Banned | Black-tailed prairie dogs are on the prohibited list and the Commission issues no permits to breed, sell or import them. Other prairie dog species are not listed and are also prohibited until evaluated. | AGFC Code Addendum R1.03 (Prohibited Captive... |
| Alligator or other crocodilian | Banned | It is unlawful to possess an American alligator, with narrow exceptions such as permitted display or education by established facilities. Dwarf caimans are on the permit-required list; crocodilians on no list are prohibited until evaluated. | AGFC Code 12.01; Addendum R1.02; Addendum R1.03 |
| Giant constrictor | Banned | Anacondas and the large Asian and African pythons (reticulated, Burmese and rock) are on the prohibited list, and no permits are issued for them. Boa constrictors are unrestricted. | AGFC Code Addendum R1.03 (Prohibited Captive... |
| Bear | Banned | Bears are banned for individuals. Only owners who held a bear on or before August 12, 2005 could obtain a sheriff's personal possession permit, and no new animals can be added.Statute: personal possession permit only for animals held on or before 2005-08-12. | AGFC Code 09.02(C); Ark. Code 20-19-502, 20-1... |
| Axolotl | Banned for new owners | Axolotls are on the prohibited list. Only animals owned before May 16, 2024 may be kept, and owners had to register them with the Commission by June 30, 2025. New purchases are not allowed.Grandfathering only: owned before 2024-05-16 and registered by 2025-06-30. | AGFC Code Addendum R1.03 (Prohibited Captive... |
| Red fox | Banned for new owners | Red foxes captured by hand before July 1, 2022 may be kept for life. Foxes from or previously living in listed states or Canada are on the prohibited list. Whether a captive-bred Arkansas fox may be bought is unclear.Grandfathering for hand-captured animals (before 2022-07-01); max 6 per household (Code 09.14). | AGFC Code 09.14(A)(1)(iii); AGFC Code Addendu... |
| Bobcat | Banned for new owners | Bobcats captured by hand before July 1, 2022 may be kept for life. Whether a captive-bred bobcat can be bought under the native-wildlife rules is not clear from the rules read, so ask the Commission.Grandfathering for hand-captured animals (before 2022-07-01); max 6 per household (Code 09.14). | AGFC Code 09.14(A)(1)(iii) |
| Tegu | Banned for new owners | Tegus are on the prohibited list. Only people who owned one before April 16, 2026 and register it with the Commission by June 30, 2027 may keep it. New purchases are not allowed.Grandfathering only: owned before 2026-04-16 and registered by 2027-06-30. | AGFC Code Addendum R1.03 (Prohibited Captive... |
| Venomous snake | Permit needed | A Venomous Reptile Permit is required to possess any medically significant venomous snake, native or not. Applicants must be 18, have a clean wildlife record, and show local ordinance compliance.Venomous Reptile Permit; secure caging and signage (Addendum F1.08); native venomous snakes kept under Code 09.14 are exempt. | AGFC Code 09.17; Addendum F1.08 |
| Fennec fox | Depends | The fennec fox is on the permit-required list, which controls breeders, sellers and importers. A buyer must get one from a permitted dealer and keep records and a vet certificate.Buy from a Commission-permitted Wildlife Breeder/Dealer or import under a Wildlife Importation Permit; keep acquisition records; vet certificate of freedom from diseases and parasites; separate sexes or neuter (Code 09.02). | AGFC Code Addendum R1.02 (Permit Required Cap... |
| Serval or savannah cat | Depends | Servals are on the permit-required list, which controls breeders, sellers and importers. A buyer must get one from a permitted dealer and keep records and a vet certificate. The lists read do not mention savannah cats or hybrids.Buy from a Commission-permitted Wildlife Breeder/Dealer or import under a Wildlife Importation Permit; keep acquisition records; vet certificate of freedom from diseases and parasites; separate sexes or neuter (Code 09.02). | AGFC Code Addendum R1.02 (Permit Required Cap... |
| Wallaby | Depends | Only the red-necked (Bennett's) wallaby is on the permit-required list, so it can be bought from a permitted dealer. Other wallaby species are not listed and are prohibited until evaluated.Red-necked wallaby only. Buy from a Commission-permitted Wildlife Breeder/Dealer or import under a Wildlife Importation Permit; keep acquisition records; vet certificate of freedom from diseases and parasites; separate sexes or neuter (Code 09.02). | AGFC Code Addendum R1.02 (Permit Required Cap... |
| Raccoon | Depends | Raccoons are on the prohibited list, so none can be bred or sold. The only pet route is hand-capturing a wild Arkansas raccoon, up to 6 per household with other listed animals. Wild-caught pets cannot be sold.Hand-captured in Arkansas only; maximum 6 per household; no sale or transfer; separate sexes or neuter (Code 09.14). | AGFC Code 09.14(A)(1)(i); AGFC Code Addendum... |
| Pet monkey | Depends | Apes, baboons and macaques are banned. Several other monkeys (capuchin, squirrel, spider, owl, marmoset and others) are on the permit list and must come from a permitted dealer. Public contact and tethering are restricted.Macaques, baboons and apes prohibited (Ark. Code 20-19-602). Listed monkeys: buy from permitted dealer, records, vet certificate (Code 09.02). Unlisted primates prohibited until evaluated. | Ark. Code 20-19-602(a); AGFC Code Addendum R1... |
| Kangaroo | Depends | Only the red kangaroo is on the permit-required list, so it can be bought from a permitted dealer. Other kangaroo species are not listed and are prohibited until evaluated.Red kangaroo only. Buy from a Commission-permitted Wildlife Breeder/Dealer or import under a Wildlife Importation Permit; keep acquisition records; vet certificate of freedom from diseases and parasites; separate sexes or neuter (Code 09.02). | AGFC Code Addendum R1.02 (Permit Required Cap... |
| Kinkajou | Depends | The kinkajou is on the permit-required list. It must be bought from a Commission-permitted dealer or imported under a permit, with records and a vet certificate kept.Buy from a Commission-permitted Wildlife Breeder/Dealer or import under a Wildlife Importation Permit; keep acquisition records; vet certificate of freedom from diseases and parasites; separate sexes or neuter (Code 09.02). | AGFC Code Addendum R1.02 (Permit Required Cap... |
| Otter | Depends | Captive-born river otters, which are native, may be bought from a permitted dealer or importer, up to six per household. The Asian small-clawed otter is on the prohibited list.River otter: captive-born, commercially obtained, max 6 per household, acquisition records, separate sexes or neuter (Code 09.14(B)); non-native vet certificate rule is in Code 09.02. Asian small-clawed otter: prohibited (R1.03). | AGFC Code Addendum R1.02, part B(1); Code 09.... |
| Lemur | Depends | Ring-tailed, brown and ruffed lemurs are on the permit-required list and must come from a permitted dealer. Other lemur species are not listed and are prohibited until evaluated. State primate rules on contact and tethering also apply.Listed species only. Buy from a Commission-permitted Wildlife Breeder/Dealer or import under a Wildlife Importation Permit; keep acquisition records; vet certificate of freedom from diseases and parasites; separate sexes or neuter (Code 09.02). | AGFC Code Addendum R1.02 (Permit Required Cap... |
| African pygmy hedgehog | No state restriction found | The African pygmy hedgehog is on the state's unrestricted list, so it needs no Commission permit to keep, breed, sell or import. | AGFC Code Addendum R1.01 (Unrestricted Captiv... |
| Ferret | No state restriction found | The domestic ferret is on the state's unrestricted list, so no Commission permit is needed to keep, breed, sell or import it. | AGFC Code Addendum R1.01 (Unrestricted Captiv... |
| Chinchilla | No state restriction found | The long-tailed chinchilla is on the state's unrestricted list, so no Commission permit is needed to keep, breed, sell or import it. | AGFC Code Addendum R1.01 (Unrestricted Captiv... |
| Wolfdog | No state restriction found | Wolf-dog hybrids are on the state's unrestricted list, so no Commission permit is needed. State law requires health and transaction records, and strict fencing for owners of four or more adults. Pure wolves need a permitted dealer.Ark. Code 20-19-403 records; 20-19-404 double fencing and den apply to owners of four or more adult wolves or hybrids (404(f)); 20-19-405 vet certificate to enter the state (FindLaw copies). | AGFC Code Addendum R1.01 (Unrestricted Captiv... |
| Sugar glider | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Arkansas's rule for this animal yet. Ask Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Captive Wildlife before you buy. | Agency page |
| Tarantula | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Arkansas's rule for this animal yet. Ask Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Captive Wildlife before you buy. | Agency page |
Who regulates exotic pets in Arkansas
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Captive Wildlife is the agency to ask. Code 09.02 requires non-native wildlife to be acquired from a Commission-permitted Wildlife Breeder/Dealer or imported under a Wildlife Importation Permit, with written records, a veterinary certificate of freedom from diseases and parasites that risk native wildlife, and separate sexes or neutering. Species on no list are prohibited until evaluated (R1.01 part C). Importing wildlife needs a Wildlife Importation Permit (Code 09.10). Fish and aquatic wildlife follow separate chapters.
The main texts:
- Code 09.01 Possession of Certain Wildlife in Captivity Prohibited
- Code 09.02 Possession of Non-Native Wildlife in Captivity Restricted
- Code 09.07 Wildlife Breeder/Dealer Permit Required
- Code 09.10 Wildlife Importation Permit Required
- Code 09.14 Native Wildlife Pets Restricted
- Code 09.17 Venomous Reptile Possession Permit Required
- Code 12.01 Taking of Alligator Prohibited
- Ark. Code 20-19-502 Large carnivores (FindLaw copy)
Before you buy in Arkansas
- Ask the state agency above, in writing if you can, and keep the answer.
- Ask your county and city: local ordinances can ban an animal the state allows.
- Check your lease, homeowners or renters insurance and any homeowner association rules.
- Buy only from a seller who can show the animal is captive-bred and legal to ship to Arkansas.
See every state in exotic pet laws by state, or test one animal in the legality checker.
How we checked. For each state we read the statutes, administrative code and agency lists that govern keeping wild or exotic animals, and every row above links to the text it rests on. A second, independent reviewer then re-read the same sources, and a row is shown only if it survived that check. "Not verified yet" means a state's rule could not be read or confirmed, which is a gap in our data and not a green light. County and city ordinances, landlord and insurance rules, and federal law sit on top of the state rule. Read how we check. See an error? Email hello@creaturesincrisis.org with the link.
Quick answers
- Is it legal to own a raccoon in Arkansas?
- Depends. Raccoons are on the prohibited list, so none can be bred or sold. The only pet route is hand-capturing a wild Arkansas raccoon, up to 6 per household with other listed animals. Wild-caught pets cannot be sold.
- Is it legal to own a monkey in Arkansas?
- Depends. Apes, baboons and macaques are banned. Several other monkeys (capuchin, squirrel, spider, owl, marmoset and others) are on the permit list and must come from a permitted dealer. Public contact and tethering are restricted.
- Is it legal to own a fox in Arkansas?
- Banned for new owners. Red foxes captured by hand before July 1, 2022 may be kept for life. Foxes from or previously living in listed states or Canada are on the prohibited list. Whether a captive-bred Arkansas fox may be bought is unclear.
- Is it legal to own a skunk in Arkansas?
- Banned. Skunks are on the prohibited list, so the Commission issues no permits to breed, sell or import them. The native-wildlife pet exception does not name skunks.
- Is it legal to own a ferret in Arkansas?
- No state restriction found. The domestic ferret is on the state's unrestricted list, so no Commission permit is needed to keep, breed, sell or import it.
- Is it legal to own a capybara in Arkansas?
- Banned. Capybaras are on the prohibited list. Possession is barred and the Commission will not issue permits to breed, sell or import them. Ask the Commission before buying.
- Who do I ask about exotic pets in Arkansas?
- Start with Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Captive Wildlife. Then ask your county and city.