Exotic pet laws in Delaware
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
The table lists every animal we cover and what Delaware 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 Delaware
| Animal | Status | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raccoon | Banned | Delaware bars possessing, importing or selling live raccoons, which are named rabies vector species. They are native wildlife, which the agency says cannot be kept as pets. | 7 DE Admin. Code 3900 sec. 15.1.3 |
| Red fox | Banned | Delaware bars possessing, importing or selling live red foxes, which are named rabies vector species. They are native wildlife, which the agency says cannot be kept as pets. | 7 DE Admin. Code 3900 sec. 15.1.3 |
| Skunk | Banned | Delaware bars possessing, importing or selling live skunks, which are named rabies vector species. They are native wildlife, which the agency says cannot be kept as pets. | 7 DE Admin. Code 3900 sec. 15.1.3 |
| Venomous snake | Banned | Delaware bars possessing nonnative poisonous snakes that pose a serious risk to humans, and no permit can be issued. Native venomous snakes are protected native wildlife.Exceptions only for research, licensed zoos and traveling circuses | 3 Del. C. 7201 |
| Capybara | Permit needed | A capybara is a nonnative wild mammal, so it needs a Delaware Individual Exotic Animal Permit, one per animal, with a $25 fee. The Department may inspect the premises.Individual Permit (Dept. of Agriculture), $25 fee, valid 3 years, one per animal | 3 Del. C. 7201, 7202; 3 DE Admin. Code 903 se... |
| Fennec fox | Permit needed | A fennec fox is a nonnative wild mammal, so it needs a Delaware Individual Exotic Animal Permit, one per animal, with a $25 fee. The Department may inspect the premises.Individual Permit (Dept. of Agriculture), $25 fee, valid 3 years, one per animal | 3 Del. C. 7201, 7202; 3 DE Admin. Code 903 se... |
| Serval or savannah cat | Permit needed | A serval is a nonnative wild mammal and needs a Delaware Exotic Animal Permit. Savannah cats are serval hybrids, which the rule also treats as exotic, so they need the permit too.Individual Exotic Animal Permit; hybrid of a nonnative wild mammal also covered | 3 Del. C. 7201; 3 DE Admin. Code 903 sec. 3.0... |
| Wallaby | Permit needed | A wallaby is a nonnative wild mammal, so it needs a Delaware Individual Exotic Animal Permit, one per animal, with a $25 fee. The Department may inspect the premises.Individual Permit (Dept. of Agriculture), $25 fee, valid 3 years, one per animal | 3 Del. C. 7201, 7202; 3 DE Admin. Code 903 se... |
| Pet monkey | Permit needed | A nonhuman primate is a nonnative wild mammal, so it needs a Delaware Individual Exotic Animal Permit, one per animal, with a $25 fee. The Department may inspect the premises.Individual Permit (Dept. of Agriculture), $25 fee, valid 3 years, one per animal | 3 Del. C. 7201, 7202; 3 DE Admin. Code 903 se... |
| Kangaroo | Permit needed | A kangaroo is a nonnative wild mammal, so it needs a Delaware Individual Exotic Animal Permit, one per animal, with a $25 fee. The Department may inspect the premises.Individual Permit (Dept. of Agriculture), $25 fee, valid 3 years, one per animal | 3 Del. C. 7201, 7202; 3 DE Admin. Code 903 se... |
| Big cat | Permit needed | Tigers, lions, leopards, jaguars and cheetahs are nonnative wild mammals and need a Delaware Individual Exotic Animal Permit, one per animal. The Department may inspect the premises. Cougar status is unclear, so ask the state.Individual Permit (Dept. of Agriculture), $25 fee; cougar status unclear | 3 Del. C. 7201, 7202; 3 DE Admin. Code 903 se... |
| Prairie dog | Permit needed | A prairie dog is a nonnative wild mammal, so it needs a Delaware Individual Exotic Animal Permit, one per animal, with a $25 fee. The Department may inspect the premises.Individual Permit (Dept. of Agriculture), $25 fee, valid 3 years, one per animal | 3 Del. C. 7201, 7202; 3 DE Admin. Code 903 se... |
| Kinkajou | Permit needed | A kinkajou is a nonnative wild mammal, so it needs a Delaware Individual Exotic Animal Permit, one per animal, with a $25 fee. The Department may inspect the premises.Individual Permit (Dept. of Agriculture), $25 fee, valid 3 years, one per animal | 3 Del. C. 7201, 7202; 3 DE Admin. Code 903 se... |
| Lemur | Permit needed | A lemur is a nonnative wild mammal, so it needs a Delaware Individual Exotic Animal Permit, one per animal, with a $25 fee. The Department may inspect the premises.Individual Permit (Dept. of Agriculture), $25 fee, valid 3 years, one per animal | 3 Del. C. 7201, 7202; 3 DE Admin. Code 903 se... |
| Alligator or other crocodilian | Permit needed | Alligators and other crocodilians are nonnative reptiles and need a Delaware Exotic Animal Permit. Delaware does not name them as exempt.Individual Exotic Animal Permit (Dept. of Agriculture) | 3 Del. C. 7201; 3 DE Admin. Code 903 sec. 3.0... |
| Giant constrictor | Permit needed | Giant snakes such as pythons and anacondas are nonnative reptiles and need a Delaware Exotic Animal Permit. They are not named as exempt.Individual Exotic Animal Permit (Dept. of Agriculture) | 3 Del. C. 7201; 3 DE Admin. Code 903 sec. 6.2 |
| Otter | Depends | The Asian small-clawed otter is a nonnative mammal needing a Delaware Exotic Animal Permit. The North American river otter is native wildlife, which the state restricts and the agency says cannot be a pet.Asian small-clawed: Exotic Animal Permit; river otter: native wildlife, not for pet owners | 3 Del. C. 7201; 3 DE Admin. Code 903 sec. 6.2... |
| Axolotl | No state restriction found | Delaware's exotic permit rule covers only nonnative wild mammals and reptiles, so an axolotl falls outside it. The agency's web page reads broader than the rule, so confirm with the Department of Agriculture before buying. | 3 Del. C. 7201; 3 DE Admin. Code 903 sec. 3.0 |
| African pygmy hedgehog | No state restriction found | Hedgehogs are named as exempt from the Delaware exotic animal permit requirement. No state permit is needed. | 3 DE Admin. Code 903 sec. 6.1.1 |
| Ferret | No state restriction found | Ferrets are named as exempt from the Delaware exotic animal permit requirement. No state permit is needed. | 3 DE Admin. Code 903 sec. 6.1.1 |
| Sugar glider | No state restriction found | Sugar gliders are named as exempt from the Delaware exotic animal permit requirement. No state permit is needed. | 3 DE Admin. Code 903 sec. 6.1.1 |
| Chinchilla | No state restriction found | Chinchillas are named as exempt from the Delaware exotic animal permit requirement. No state permit is needed. | 3 DE Admin. Code 903 sec. 6.1.1 |
| Tarantula | No state restriction found | Delaware's exotic permit rule covers only nonnative wild mammals and reptiles, so tarantulas fall outside it, and no ban on them was found. The agency's web page reads broader than the rule, so confirm with the Department of Agriculture. | 3 Del. C. 7201; 3 DE Admin. Code 903 sec. 3.0 |
| Tegu | No state restriction found | Tegus are named as exempt from the Delaware exotic animal permit requirement. No state permit is needed. | 3 DE Admin. Code 903 sec. 6.1.2 |
| Bobcat | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Delaware's rule for this animal yet. Ask Delaware Department of Agriculture, Poultry and Animal Health Section before you buy. | Agency page |
| Bear | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Delaware's rule for this animal yet. Ask Delaware Department of Agriculture, Poultry and Animal Health Section before you buy. | Agency page |
| Wolfdog | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Delaware's rule for this animal yet. Ask Delaware Department of Agriculture, Poultry and Animal Health Section before you buy. | Agency page |
Who regulates exotic pets in Delaware
Delaware Department of Agriculture, Poultry and Animal Health Section is the agency to ask. Any live wild mammal, hybrid of a wild mammal or reptile not native to or generally found in Delaware needs an Exotic Animal Permit ($25, three years, home inspection) unless exempt. Gila monsters, beaded lizards and Komodo dragons get no permit. Native wildlife needs a DNREC Director permit.
The main texts:
- 3 Del. C. ch. 72 (exotic mammals and reptiles)
- 3 DE Admin. Code 903 Exotic Animal Regulations
- 3 DE Admin. Code 906 Invasive animal species
- 7 DE Admin. Code 3900 Wildlife Regulations (native wildlife, sec. 15)
Before you buy in Delaware
- 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 Delaware.
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 Delaware?
- Banned. Delaware bars possessing, importing or selling live raccoons, which are named rabies vector species. They are native wildlife, which the agency says cannot be kept as pets.
- Is it legal to own a monkey in Delaware?
- Permit needed. A nonhuman primate is a nonnative wild mammal, so it needs a Delaware Individual Exotic Animal Permit, one per animal, with a $25 fee. The Department may inspect the premises.
- Is it legal to own a fox in Delaware?
- Banned. Delaware bars possessing, importing or selling live red foxes, which are named rabies vector species. They are native wildlife, which the agency says cannot be kept as pets.
- Is it legal to own a skunk in Delaware?
- Banned. Delaware bars possessing, importing or selling live skunks, which are named rabies vector species. They are native wildlife, which the agency says cannot be kept as pets.
- Is it legal to own a ferret in Delaware?
- No state restriction found. Ferrets are named as exempt from the Delaware exotic animal permit requirement. No state permit is needed.
- Is it legal to own a capybara in Delaware?
- Permit needed. A capybara is a nonnative wild mammal, so it needs a Delaware Individual Exotic Animal Permit, one per animal, with a $25 fee. The Department may inspect the premises.
- Who do I ask about exotic pets in Delaware?
- Start with Delaware Department of Agriculture, Poultry and Animal Health Section. Then ask your county and city.