Exotic pet laws in Colorado
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
The table lists every animal we cover and what Colorado 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 Colorado
| Animal | Status | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capybara | Banned | Colorado bars private pet possession of capybaras. They are not on the domestic or unregulated lists, so they count as regulated wildlife, and CPW issues no licence for pet possession. | 2 CCR 406-11 Introduction; C.R.S. 33-6-109(4) |
| Fennec fox | Banned | Colorado does not allow private pet possession of any animal that is not on its domestic or unregulated lists. CPW issues no licence for pet possession of other wildlife. | CPW Wildlife and Animal Possession page; C.R.... |
| Raccoon | Banned | Raccoons are on Colorado's prohibited species list. Only animals owned with proof of possession before September 1, 1990 may be kept for life, and they cannot be sold or moved within the state.Grandfathered only (possessed before 1 Sept 1990); no sale or transport | 2 CCR 406-0 #008(B)(6) |
| Red fox | Banned | Red foxes are not on any Colorado list of animals that may be kept without a licence, and CPW issues no licence for pet possession of regulated wildlife. State law restricts possession of native wildlife. | C.R.S. 33-6-109(1); 2 CCR 406-11 Intro |
| Skunk | Banned | Striped skunks are on Colorado's prohibited species list. Only animals owned with proof of possession before September 1, 1990 may be kept for life, and they cannot be sold or moved within the state.Grandfathered only (possessed before 1 Sept 1990) | 2 CCR 406-0 #008(B)(8) |
| Pet monkey | Banned | Colorado bans all nonhuman primates as pets under both wildlife rules and the pet animal law. Only federally licensed research facilities and exhibitors are exempt. | C.R.S. 35-80-108(1)(j); 2 CCR 406-0 #008(B)(19) |
| Big cat | Banned | Colorado does not allow private pet possession of any animal that is not on its domestic or unregulated lists. CPW issues no licence for pet possession of other wildlife. | CPW Wildlife and Animal Possession page; C.R.... |
| Bobcat | Banned | Bobcats are native wildlife and are not on any Colorado no-licence list. Colorado restricts live possession of native wildlife, and CPW issues no licence for pet possession. | C.R.S. 33-6-109(1); 2 CCR 406-11 Intro |
| Prairie dog | Banned | Prairie dogs are on Colorado's prohibited species list. The pre-1990 grandfather clause covers only items 1 to 8, not prairie dogs. Native prairie dogs may be held only under scientific, relocation or rehabilitation licences or permits.No grandfathering; native prairie dogs only under Division scientific, relocation or rehabilitation permits | 2 CCR 406-0 #008(B)(18) |
| Kinkajou | Banned | Colorado does not allow private pet possession of any animal that is not on its domestic or unregulated lists. CPW issues no licence for pet possession of other wildlife. | CPW Wildlife and Animal Possession page; C.R.... |
| Otter | Banned | Otters are not on any Colorado no-licence list, and the river otter is native wildlife. CPW issues no licence for pet possession of regulated wildlife. | CPW Wildlife and Animal Possession page; C.R.... |
| Lemur | Banned | Lemurs are primates, and Colorado bans all nonhuman primates as pets. Only federally licensed research facilities and exhibitors are exempt. | C.R.S. 35-80-108(1)(j); 2 CCR 406-0 #008(B)(19) |
| Venomous snake | Banned | Venomous snakes are not on Colorado's lists of reptiles that may be kept. Live herpetofauna not listed in Chapter W-7 may not be possessed, and no pet licence exists. | 2 CCR 406-7 #701(A), #703 |
| Tegu | Banned | Teiid lizards are legal only if native entirely within 26 degrees north and south latitude. The Argentine black and white tegu ranges farther south, so it is not on the list and is unlawful to possess. | 2 CCR 406-7 #701(A), Appendix A(B)(17) |
| Bear | Banned | Colorado does not allow private pet possession of any animal that is not on its domestic or unregulated lists. CPW issues no licence for pet possession of other wildlife. | CPW Wildlife and Animal Possession page; C.R.... |
| Serval or savannah cat | Depends | Servals are prohibited as pets. Savannah cats of any generation are treated as domestic cats, because the domestic cat exemption includes hybrids with wild felines, so no state licence is required for them.Serval prohibited; savannah (serval x domestic cat) hybrids exempt at state level, any generation | 2 CCR 406-11 #1103(A) |
| Wallaby | Depends | Only three wallabies are on Colorado's unregulated list: dama (tammar), swamp and Bennett's (red-necked). Those need no licence. Any other wallaby species is regulated wildlife and not available to pet owners.Dama, swamp and Bennett's wallabies only | 2 CCR 406-11 #1103(B) |
| Kangaroo | Depends | Only red kangaroos and wallaroos are on Colorado's unregulated list and need no licence. Other kangaroo species, such as eastern grey, are regulated wildlife and not available to pet owners.Red kangaroo and wallaroo only | 2 CCR 406-11 #1103(B) |
| Alligator or other crocodilian | Depends | Only caimans (subfamily Caimaninae) are on Colorado's no-licence reptile list. Alligators and crocodiles are not listed, so possessing them is unlawful for private owners.Caimans only; alligators and crocodiles prohibited | 2 CCR 406-7 #701(A), Appendix A(E)(5) |
| Giant constrictor | Depends | Boas and pythons are legal without a licence only if the species is native entirely within 26 degrees north and south latitude. Whether a given species qualifies depends on its native range, so confirm the species with CPW.Species must be native only to the tropical and subtropical region (26 N to 26 S) | 2 CCR 406-7 #703(A), Appendix A(A)(3),(5) |
| Axolotl | No state restriction found | Axolotls are on Colorado's no-licence list for salamanders (order Urodela), which excludes only tiger salamanders. No licence or paperwork is required, though CPW suggests keeping proof of purchase. | 2 CCR 406-7 #703(A), Appendix A(E)(3) |
| African pygmy hedgehog | No state restriction found | African pygmy hedgehogs are on Colorado's unregulated wildlife list, so no state licence is needed. Other hedgehog species are prohibited.African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) only | 2 CCR 406-11 #1103(B) |
| Ferret | No state restriction found | Domesticated European ferrets are on Colorado's domestic animal list and are exempt from state wildlife licensing. No state licence is required. | 2 CCR 406-11 #1103(A) |
| Sugar glider | No state restriction found | Sugar gliders are on Colorado's unregulated wildlife list, so no state licence is needed. They must be lawfully imported and may never be released. | 2 CCR 406-11 #1103(B) |
| Chinchilla | No state restriction found | Domesticated chinchillas are on Colorado's domestic animal list and are exempt from state wildlife licensing. Pet-trade chinchillas are domesticated races.Domesticated races only | 2 CCR 406-11 #1103(A) |
| Tarantula | No state restriction found | Colorado's wildlife rules cover wild vertebrates, mollusks and crustaceans only, so spiders such as tarantulas fall outside CPW licensing. Check with the state agriculture department on any import requirements. | C.R.S. 33-1-102(51) |
| Wolfdog | No state restriction found | Colorado's domestic dog exemption expressly includes hybrids with wild canids, so wolfdogs need no state licence. Local rules and rabies requirements may still apply. | 2 CCR 406-11 #1103(A) |
Who regulates exotic pets in Colorado
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is the agency to ask. Any live wildlife not named on the W-11 domestic or unregulated lists or in W-7 Appendix A or B is regulated and needs a CPW licence, and CPW will not issue one for pet possession (C.R.S. 33-6-109(4) makes possessing nonnative wildlife outside the rules a misdemeanor). Unregulated animals must still meet import and health rules and may never be released.
The main texts:
- 2 CCR 406-11 Chapter W-11 Wildlife Parks and Unregulated Wildlife (approved 03/04/2026)
- 2 CCR 406-7 Chapter W-7 Herpetofauna (effective 1 May 2026)
- 2 CCR 406-0 #008 Possession of terrestrial wildlife
- C.R.S. 35-80-108 unlawful acts (nonhuman primates)
- C.R.S. 33-1-102 definitions
- C.R.S. 33-6-109 illegal possession
Before you buy in Colorado
- 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 Colorado.
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 Colorado?
- Banned. Raccoons are on Colorado's prohibited species list. Only animals owned with proof of possession before September 1, 1990 may be kept for life, and they cannot be sold or moved within the state.
- Is it legal to own a monkey in Colorado?
- Banned. Colorado bans all nonhuman primates as pets under both wildlife rules and the pet animal law. Only federally licensed research facilities and exhibitors are exempt.
- Is it legal to own a fox in Colorado?
- Banned. Red foxes are not on any Colorado list of animals that may be kept without a licence, and CPW issues no licence for pet possession of regulated wildlife. State law restricts possession of native wildlife.
- Is it legal to own a skunk in Colorado?
- Banned. Striped skunks are on Colorado's prohibited species list. Only animals owned with proof of possession before September 1, 1990 may be kept for life, and they cannot be sold or moved within the state.
- Is it legal to own a ferret in Colorado?
- No state restriction found. Domesticated European ferrets are on Colorado's domestic animal list and are exempt from state wildlife licensing. No state licence is required.
- Is it legal to own a capybara in Colorado?
- Banned. Colorado bars private pet possession of capybaras. They are not on the domestic or unregulated lists, so they count as regulated wildlife, and CPW issues no licence for pet possession.
- Who do I ask about exotic pets in Colorado?
- Start with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Then ask your county and city.