Exotic pet laws in District of Columbia
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
The table lists every animal we cover and what District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia
| Animal | Status | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axolotl | Banned | DC bans possessing any living animal not on a short exception list. Fish are excepted but amphibians are not, so axolotls are not covered by an exception. Contact DC Health with questions. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Capybara | Banned | Only domesticated rodents and rabbits are excepted from the District ban on possessing living animals as pets. A capybara is not a domesticated rodent, so it falls under the general ban. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| African pygmy hedgehog | Banned | DC bans possessing or giving as a household pet any living animal that is not on a short exception list, including captive-bred animals. This species is not on the list. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Sugar glider | Banned | DC bans possessing or giving as a household pet any living animal that is not on a short exception list, including captive-bred animals. This species is not on the list. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Fennec fox | Banned | DC bans possessing or giving as a household pet any living animal that is not on a short exception list, including captive-bred animals. This species is not on the list. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Serval or savannah cat | Banned | A serval is barred under the general ban on living animals not on the exception list. Only domestic cats are excepted, and the statute names only ocelot and margay hybrids; how savannah cats are treated is unclear, so ask DC Health.Savannah (serval hybrid) status unclear: only ocelot and margay hybrids are named as excluded from domestic cats | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Wallaby | Banned | DC bans possessing or giving as a household pet any living animal that is not on a short exception list, including captive-bred animals. This species is not on the list. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Tarantula | Banned | Only non-venomous snakes, fish and turtles among invertebrate and reptile groups are excepted. Spiders such as tarantulas are not on the exception list, so they fall under the general ban on pet animals. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Raccoon | Banned | DC bans possessing or giving as a household pet any living animal that is not on a short exception list, including captive-bred animals. This species is not on the list. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Red fox | Banned | DC bans possessing or giving as a household pet any living animal that is not on a short exception list, including captive-bred animals. This species is not on the list. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Skunk | Banned | DC bans possessing or giving as a household pet any living animal that is not on a short exception list, including captive-bred animals. This species is not on the list. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Pet monkey | Banned | DC bans possessing or giving as a household pet any living animal that is not on a short exception list, including captive-bred animals. This species is not on the list. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Kangaroo | Banned | DC bans possessing or giving as a household pet any living animal that is not on a short exception list, including captive-bred animals. This species is not on the list. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Big cat | Banned | DC bans possessing or giving as a household pet any living animal that is not on a short exception list, including captive-bred animals. This species is not on the list. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Bobcat | Banned | DC bans possessing or giving as a household pet any living animal that is not on a short exception list, including captive-bred animals. This species is not on the list. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Prairie dog | Banned | Only domesticated rodents and rabbits are excepted from the District ban on possessing living animals as pets. Prairie dogs are wild rodents, not domesticated ones, so they are barred. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Kinkajou | Banned | DC bans possessing or giving as a household pet any living animal that is not on a short exception list, including captive-bred animals. This species is not on the list. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Otter | Banned | DC bans possessing or giving as a household pet any living animal that is not on a short exception list, including captive-bred animals. This species is not on the list. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Lemur | Banned | DC bans possessing or giving as a household pet any living animal that is not on a short exception list, including captive-bred animals. This species is not on the list. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Alligator or other crocodilian | Banned | The only reptiles excepted are non-venomous snakes and turtles kept in the home for pleasure. Alligators and other crocodilians are not excepted, so they are barred as pets. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Venomous snake | Banned | Only non-venomous snakes are excepted from the District ban on pet animals, so venomous snakes are barred for private individuals. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Tegu | Banned | Only non-venomous snakes and turtles among reptiles are excepted. Lizards such as tegus are not on the exception list, so they are barred as pets. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Bear | Banned | DC bans possessing or giving as a household pet any living animal that is not on a short exception list, including captive-bred animals. This species is not on the list. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Wolfdog | Banned | Domestic dogs are excepted but hybrids with wolves, coyotes or jackals are expressly excluded, so wolfdogs fall under the general ban on pet animals. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Ferret | No state restriction found | Ferrets are named in the exception list to the District ban on possessing living animals as pets, so no state-level permit applies. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Chinchilla | Not verified yet | We could not confirm District of Columbia's rule for this animal yet. Ask DC Department of Health (Animal Services) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Giant constrictor | Not verified yet | We could not confirm District of Columbia's rule for this animal yet. Ask DC Department of Health (Animal Services) before you buy. | Agency page |
Who regulates exotic pets in District of Columbia
DC Department of Health (Animal Services) is the agency to ask. D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) bars importing, possessing, displaying or selling any living animal not on the exception list. Exceptions for zoos, federally licensed exhibitors, licensed rehabilitators, veterinarians and shelters do not help ordinary pet owners. 8-1808(m) requires a Mayor permit for animals in circuses or special events.
The main texts:
Before you buy in District of Columbia
- 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 District of Columbia.
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 District of Columbia?
- Banned. DC bans possessing or giving as a household pet any living animal that is not on a short exception list, including captive-bred animals. This species is not on the list.
- Is it legal to own a monkey in District of Columbia?
- Banned. DC bans possessing or giving as a household pet any living animal that is not on a short exception list, including captive-bred animals. This species is not on the list.
- Is it legal to own a fox in District of Columbia?
- Banned. DC bans possessing or giving as a household pet any living animal that is not on a short exception list, including captive-bred animals. This species is not on the list.
- Is it legal to own a skunk in District of Columbia?
- Banned. DC bans possessing or giving as a household pet any living animal that is not on a short exception list, including captive-bred animals. This species is not on the list.
- Is it legal to own a ferret in District of Columbia?
- No state restriction found. Ferrets are named in the exception list to the District ban on possessing living animals as pets, so no state-level permit applies.
- Is it legal to own a capybara in District of Columbia?
- Banned. Only domesticated rodents and rabbits are excepted from the District ban on possessing living animals as pets. A capybara is not a domesticated rodent, so it falls under the general ban.
- Who do I ask about exotic pets in District of Columbia?
- Start with DC Department of Health (Animal Services). Then ask your county and city.