Exotic pet laws in Florida
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
The table lists every animal we cover and what Florida 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 Florida
| Animal | Status | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big cat | Banned | Tigers, lions, leopards, jaguars, snow leopards, cheetahs and cougars are Class I and cannot be kept as pets. Only animals held for personal use in 1980 were grandfathered.Class I; no new personal-use ownership | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.002(1)(a); 68A-6.003(6... |
| Giant constrictor | Banned | Burmese, reticulated, African rock and amethystine pythons and green anacondas cannot be kept, sold or bred, except for education, research or eradication. Yellow, Beni and DeSchauensee's anacondas are also prohibited. Pre-2010 permit holders were grandfathered.Grandfathered only for pre-July 2010 permit holders; boas and other pythons not listed | Fla. Stat. 379.372(2)(a); Fla. Admin. Code 68... |
| Tegu | Banned | Tegus (genera Salvator and Tupinambis) cannot be kept, sold or bred in Florida except for education, research or eradication. Existing animals may stay only with earlier licensees or people who lawfully held one before the listing.Prohibited species; no new pet tegus; lifetime personal permit only for animals lawfully held before listing; earlier commercial licensees grandfathered | Fla. Stat. 379.372(2)(a)9, (2)(b); Fla. Admin... |
| Bear | Banned | All bears (family Ursidae) are Class I and cannot be kept as pets. Only animals held for personal use in 1980 were grandfathered.Class I; no new personal-use ownership | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.002(1)(a)13; 68A-6.003... |
| Capybara | Permit needed | Capybaras are not named in the Florida lists, so they fall in Class III. A private owner needs a no-cost personal-use wildlife permit from the FWC and must meet caging rules.Class III personal-use permit, no fee, age 16+, approved caging | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.003(8); 68A-6.002(1)(c... |
| Fennec fox | Permit needed | Foxes are not named as Class II, but the Class II entry for wolves, coyotes and jackals cites the whole Canidae family, so the class is unclear. Either way a personal-use permit is needed; Class II adds a fee and experience or exam.Permit: Class III (no fee) or Class II ($140 a year, experience or exam) depending on how FWC reads the Canidae entry; confirm with FWC | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.003(8); 68A-6.002(1)(c... |
| Serval or savannah cat | Permit needed | Servals are Class II: a personal-use permit with a yearly fee, plus experience or an exam. Savannah cats indistinguishable from a serval are regulated as a serval; hybrids that look domestic are not covered by the hybrid rule.Class II permit, age 18+, experience or exam; hybrids regulated at wild parent's class only if indistinguishable from the wild animal | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.002(1)(b)15, (1)(d); 6... |
| Wallaby | Permit needed | Wallabies are not listed as Class I or II, so they are Class III. A private owner needs a no-cost personal-use wildlife permit and approved caging.Class III personal-use permit, no fee, age 16+, approved caging | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.003(8); 68A-6.002(1)(c... |
| Raccoon | Permit needed | A raccoon taken from the wild cannot be kept as a pet. A captive-bred raccoon is Class III and needs a no-cost personal-use permit from the FWC.Captive-bred only; wild-caught raccoons barred from personal use; Class III permit | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.003(13), (8); 68A-6.00... |
| Red fox | Permit needed | A fox taken from the wild cannot be kept as a pet. A captive-bred fox needs a personal-use permit; the class is unclear because Class II cites the Canidae family for wolves, coyotes and jackals.Captive-bred only; wild-caught foxes barred from personal use; Class III (no fee) or Class II ($140 a year, experience or exam) | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.003(13), (8); 68A-6.00... |
| Skunk | Permit needed | A skunk taken from the wild cannot be kept as a pet. A captive-bred skunk is Class III and needs a no-cost personal-use permit from the FWC.Captive-bred only; wild-caught skunks barred from personal use; Class III permit | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.003(13), (8); 68A-6.00... |
| Pet monkey | Permit needed | Most pet monkeys need an FWC permit: Class II for macaques, guenons and similar, Class III for capuchins, squirrel monkeys and marmosets. Apes, baboons, drills and mandrills are Class I and banned. Capuchin, spider and woolly monkeys need Class II experience.Class II ($140 a year, experience or exam) or Class III (no fee); Class I primates prohibited | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.002(1); 68A-6.003(6)-(... |
| Kangaroo | Permit needed | Kangaroos are not listed as Class I or II, so they are Class III. A private owner needs a no-cost personal-use wildlife permit and caging that meets FWC rules.Class III personal-use permit, no fee, age 16+, approved caging | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.003(8); 68A-6.002(1)(c... |
| Bobcat | Permit needed | Bobcats and lynx are Class II. A private owner needs a personal-use permit with a yearly fee, plus documented experience or a passed exam.Class II permit, age 18+, $140 a year, experience or exam | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.002(1)(b)16-17; 68A-6.... |
| Kinkajou | Permit needed | Kinkajous are not listed as Class I or II, so they are Class III. A private owner needs a no-cost personal-use wildlife permit and approved caging.Class III personal-use permit, no fee, age 16+, approved caging | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.003(8); 68A-6.002(1)(c... |
| Otter | Permit needed | Otters are not listed as Class I or II, so they are Class III. A private owner needs a no-cost personal-use wildlife permit and approved caging.Class III personal-use permit, no fee, age 16+, approved caging | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.003(8); 68A-6.002(1)(c... |
| Lemur | Permit needed | Most lemurs are Class III and need a no-cost personal-use permit. The indri, the largest lemur, is Class II with a fee and experience or exam.Class III permit; indri is Class II | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.003(8); 68A-6.002(1)(c... |
| Alligator or other crocodilian | Permit needed | Alligators and caimans are Class II and need a personal-use permit with experience or an exam. Crocodiles, gavials, black caimans and Komodo dragons are Class I and banned; dwarf crocodiles are Class II.Class II permit for alligators and caimans; true crocodiles and black caimans are Class I (prohibited) | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.002(1)(a)18-21, (1)(b)... |
| Venomous snake | Permit needed | Keeping any venomous reptile needs an FWC venomous reptile permit. Applicants must be 18, show a year of experience or pass an exam, and have the facility inspected.Venomous reptile permit; age 18+, experience or exam, inspected secure caging | Fla. Stat. 379.372(1)(a); Fla. Admin. Code 68... |
| Wolfdog | Depends | Wolves are Class II. A wolf hybrid indistinguishable from a wolf is regulated as Class II, needing a personal-use permit with experience or exam. A hybrid clearly unlike a wolf falls outside the hybrid rule.Regulated as Class II only if substantially similar to and indistinguishable from the wild parent | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.002(1)(b)24, (1)(d) |
| Axolotl | No state restriction found | Florida lists nonvenomous, unprotected amphibians as needing no permit for personal use. No amphibian appears on the state's prohibited or conditional species lists. Axolotls need no state permit.Applies to nonvenomous, unprotected amphibians | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.003(14)(a) |
| African pygmy hedgehog | No state restriction found | Florida names hedgehogs among animals that need no permit for personal use, unless another FWC rule regulates the species. No other rule covers African pygmy hedgehogs.No state permit needed for personal use | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.003(14)(b) |
| Ferret | No state restriction found | Domestic ferrets are named as needing no state permit for personal use. This covers the usual pet ferret only.No state permit needed for personal use | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.003(14)(h) |
| Sugar glider | No state restriction found | Sugar gliders are named as needing no state permit for personal use.No state permit needed for personal use | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.003(14)(c) |
| Chinchilla | No state restriction found | Chinchillas are named as needing no state permit for personal use.No state permit needed for personal use | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.003(14)(l) |
| Tarantula | No state restriction found | Florida's captive wildlife rules cover birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians only. Tarantulas are invertebrates, so no state possession permit applies.Invertebrates are outside the captive wildlife permit rules | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-1.004, definition of Wil... |
| Prairie dog | No state restriction found | Prairie dogs are named as needing no state permit for personal use.No state permit needed for personal use | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.003(14)(k) |
Who regulates exotic pets in Florida
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is the agency to ask. Fla. Stat. 379.3762 makes it unlawful to possess any wildlife without a personal-possession permit. Class I wildlife cannot be kept as personal pets (only animals held in 1980 are grandfathered), Class II costs $140 a year and needs experience or an exam, Class III is a no-cost permit. Wild-caught fox, skunks, bats and raccoons cannot be personal use wildlife. Hybrids indistinguishable from the wild parent take its class. Wildlife means birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians only.
The main texts:
- Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.002 Classes of Captive Wildlife
- Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.003 Permit Requirements and Exceptions
- Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.004 Permit Application Criteria
- Fla. Stat. 379.3762 Personal possession of wildlife
- Fla. Stat. 379.372 Venomous reptiles and prohibited reptiles
- Fla. Admin. Code 68-5.006 Prohibited Non-native Species
- Fla. Admin. Code 68A-1.004 Definitions
Before you buy in Florida
- 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 Florida.
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 Florida?
- Permit needed. A raccoon taken from the wild cannot be kept as a pet. A captive-bred raccoon is Class III and needs a no-cost personal-use permit from the FWC.
- Is it legal to own a monkey in Florida?
- Permit needed. Most pet monkeys need an FWC permit: Class II for macaques, guenons and similar, Class III for capuchins, squirrel monkeys and marmosets. Apes, baboons, drills and mandrills are Class I and banned. Capuchin, spider and woolly monkeys need Class II experience.
- Is it legal to own a fox in Florida?
- Permit needed. A fox taken from the wild cannot be kept as a pet. A captive-bred fox needs a personal-use permit; the class is unclear because Class II cites the Canidae family for wolves, coyotes and jackals.
- Is it legal to own a skunk in Florida?
- Permit needed. A skunk taken from the wild cannot be kept as a pet. A captive-bred skunk is Class III and needs a no-cost personal-use permit from the FWC.
- Is it legal to own a ferret in Florida?
- No state restriction found. Domestic ferrets are named as needing no state permit for personal use. This covers the usual pet ferret only.
- Is it legal to own a capybara in Florida?
- Permit needed. Capybaras are not named in the Florida lists, so they fall in Class III. A private owner needs a no-cost personal-use wildlife permit from the FWC and must meet caging rules.
- Who do I ask about exotic pets in Florida?
- Start with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Then ask your county and city.