Is it legal to own a raccoon in Indiana?

Permit needed. A raccoon needs an Indiana Class II wild animal possession permit within five days of taking possession. The animal must be legally acquired and the enclosure inspected.

Is it legal to own a monkey in Indiana?

We could not confirm Indiana's rule yet. Ask the state wildlife agency before you buy.

Is it legal to own a fox in Indiana?

Permit needed. A red fox, including colour phases, needs an Indiana Class II wild animal possession permit within five days of taking possession. The animal must be legally acquired and the enclosure inspected.

Is it legal to own a skunk in Indiana?

Permit needed. A striped skunk needs an Indiana Class II wild animal possession permit within five days of taking possession. The animal must be legally acquired and the enclosure inspected.

Is it legal to own a ferret in Indiana?

No state restriction found. Indiana does not name the domestic ferret. Mammals not named in the rules are exempted wild animals and no state permit is listed for it.

Is it legal to own a capybara in Indiana?

No state restriction found. Indiana does not name the capybara. Mammals not named in the rules are exempted wild animals and no state permit is listed for it.

Exotic pet laws in Indiana

Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.

The table lists every animal we cover and what Indiana 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 Indiana

Animal	Status	What it means	Source
Raccoon	Permit needed	A raccoon needs an Indiana Class II wild animal possession permit within five days of taking possession. The animal must be legally acquired and the enclosure inspected.Class II permit; proof of legal acquisition; inspection	312 IAC 9-11-7
Red fox	Permit needed	A red fox, including colour phases, needs an Indiana Class II wild animal possession permit within five days of taking possession. The animal must be legally acquired and the enclosure inspected.Class II permit; proof of legal acquisition; inspection	312 IAC 9-11-7
Skunk	Permit needed	A striped skunk needs an Indiana Class II wild animal possession permit within five days of taking possession. The animal must be legally acquired and the enclosure inspected.Class II permit; proof of legal acquisition; inspection	312 IAC 9-11-7
Big cat	Permit needed	Wild cats not listed as Class II need an Indiana Class III wild animal possession permit, obtained before taking possession. It requires a six foot perimeter fence, a recapture plan and an inspection.Class III permit; perimeter fence at least 6 feet; recapture plan	312 IAC 9-11-8
Bobcat	Permit needed	A bobcat is a wild cat not listed as Class II, so it needs an Indiana Class III wild animal possession permit before possession, with a six foot perimeter fence and an inspection.Class III permit; perimeter fence at least 6 feet	312 IAC 9-11-8
Venomous snake	Permit needed	Possessing a venomous reptile is banned unless the keeper holds a Class III wild animal possession permit from the Indiana DNR, obtained before possession, with secure caging and an inspection.Class III permit	312 IAC 9-5-8(b), (d)
Bear	Permit needed	Indiana requires a Class III wild animal possession permit for all bears, obtained before taking possession. It requires a six foot perimeter fence, a recapture plan and an inspection.Class III permit; perimeter fence at least 6 feet; recapture plan	312 IAC 9-11-8
Serval or savannah cat	Depends	A serval needs an Indiana Class II wild animal possession permit. A hybrid of a serval with a domestic cat, such as a savannah cat, is exempt from that permit.Serval: Class II permit; hybrids with domestic cats exempt from permit	312 IAC 9-11-7
Otter	Depends	Indiana bars possessing a live river otter except for rehabilitators, scientists, nuisance control and USDA-licensed holders, so pet owners cannot keep one. The Asian small-clawed otter is not named, so no state rule limits it.River otter: prohibited for pet owners; Asian small-clawed otter: not named	312 IAC 9-3-18.2(m); 312 IAC 9-3-20
Alligator or other crocodilian	Depends	Indiana requires a Class III permit for crocodilians that are at least five feet long. The rules name no permit for shorter ones, so length decides whether a permit is needed.Permit needed at 5 feet or longer; none named below that length	312 IAC 9-11-8(a)(5); 312 IAC 9-5-8
Wolfdog	Depends	Purebred wolves need an Indiana Class III permit, but a hybrid of a wolf with a domestic dog is exempt from that permit. Check with the DNR about proof of hybrid status.Purebred wolf: Class III permit; dog hybrids exempt from permit	312 IAC 9-11-8
Axolotl	No state restriction found	Indiana's reptile and amphibian rules protect species native to Indiana and restrict venomous reptiles and large crocodilians. Axolotls are not named, so no state permit is listed.	312 IAC 9-5-1; 312 IAC 9-5-8
Capybara	No state restriction found	Indiana does not name the capybara. Mammals not named in the rules are exempted wild animals and no state permit is listed for it.	312 IAC 9-3-20
African pygmy hedgehog	No state restriction found	Indiana does not name the African pygmy hedgehog. Mammals not named in the rules are exempted wild animals and no state permit is listed for it.	312 IAC 9-3-20
Ferret	No state restriction found	Indiana does not name the domestic ferret. Mammals not named in the rules are exempted wild animals and no state permit is listed for it.	312 IAC 9-3-20
Sugar glider	No state restriction found	Indiana does not name the sugar glider. Mammals not named in the rules are exempted wild animals and no state permit is listed for it.	312 IAC 9-3-20
Chinchilla	No state restriction found	Indiana does not name the chinchilla. Mammals not named in the rules are exempted wild animals and no state permit is listed for it.	312 IAC 9-3-20
Tarantula	No state restriction found	Indiana exempts any invertebrate its rules do not name, and tarantulas are not named. No state permit is listed.	312 IAC 9-9-5
Prairie dog	No state restriction found	Indiana does not name the prairie dog. Mammals not named in the rules are exempted wild animals and no state permit is listed for it.	312 IAC 9-3-20
Kinkajou	No state restriction found	Indiana does not name the kinkajou. Mammals not named in the rules are exempted wild animals and no state permit is listed for it.	312 IAC 9-3-20
Lemur	No state restriction found	Indiana does not name the lemur. Mammals not named in the rules are exempted wild animals and no state permit is listed for it. Lemurs are not in the primate families the exotic mammal rule lists.	312 IAC 9-3-20
Giant constrictor	No state restriction found	Indiana's reptile and amphibian rules protect species native to Indiana and restrict venomous reptiles and large crocodilians. Giant constrictors are not named, so no state permit is listed.	312 IAC 9-5-1; 312 IAC 9-5-8
Tegu	No state restriction found	Indiana's reptile and amphibian rules protect species native to Indiana and restrict venomous reptiles and large crocodilians. Tegus are not named, so no state permit is listed.	312 IAC 9-5-1; 312 IAC 9-5-8
Fennec fox	Not verified yet	We could not confirm Indiana's rule for this animal yet. Ask Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife before you buy.	Agency page
Wallaby	Not verified yet	We could not confirm Indiana's rule for this animal yet. Ask Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife before you buy.	Agency page
Pet monkey	Not verified yet	We could not confirm Indiana's rule for this animal yet. Ask Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife before you buy.	Agency page
Kangaroo	Not verified yet	We could not confirm Indiana's rule for this animal yet. Ask Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife before you buy.	Agency page

Who regulates exotic pets in Indiana

Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife is the agency to ask. A wild animal possession permit (312 IAC 9-11) is required per animal, applies to one location, lasts one year, and needs proof of lawful acquisition, a conservation officer inspection and a veterinarian check within 45 days. Class I and II permits are applied for within five days of possession, Class III before possession. Game breeder licence holders and licensed zoos, pet shops and dealers are exempt.

The main texts:

Before you buy in Indiana

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 Indiana.

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 Indiana?: Permit needed. A raccoon needs an Indiana Class II wild animal possession permit within five days of taking possession. The animal must be legally acquired and the enclosure inspected.
Is it legal to own a monkey in Indiana?: We could not confirm Indiana's rule yet. Ask the state wildlife agency before you buy.
Is it legal to own a fox in Indiana?: Permit needed. A red fox, including colour phases, needs an Indiana Class II wild animal possession permit within five days of taking possession. The animal must be legally acquired and the enclosure inspected.
Is it legal to own a skunk in Indiana?: Permit needed. A striped skunk needs an Indiana Class II wild animal possession permit within five days of taking possession. The animal must be legally acquired and the enclosure inspected.
Is it legal to own a ferret in Indiana?: No state restriction found. Indiana does not name the domestic ferret. Mammals not named in the rules are exempted wild animals and no state permit is listed for it.
Is it legal to own a capybara in Indiana?: No state restriction found. Indiana does not name the capybara. Mammals not named in the rules are exempted wild animals and no state permit is listed for it.
Who do I ask about exotic pets in Indiana?: Start with Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife. Then ask your county and city.