Is it legal to own a raccoon in Maryland?

Banned. Maryland bans possessing, selling or importing a live raccoon. Exemptions are narrow, such as DNR licence holders, and animals held before May 31, 2006 were grandfathered.

Is it legal to own a monkey in Maryland?

Banned. Maryland bans possessing, selling or importing any nonhuman primate. A narrow exception covers trained service primates for people with severe mobility disabilities. Exemptions are narrow, such as DNR licence holders, and animals held before May 31, 2006 were grandfathered.

Is it legal to own a fox in Maryland?

Banned. Maryland bans possessing, selling or importing a live fox. Exemptions are narrow, such as DNR licence holders, and animals held before May 31, 2006 were grandfathered.

Is it legal to own a skunk in Maryland?

Banned. Maryland bans possessing, selling or importing a live skunk. Exemptions are narrow, such as DNR licence holders, and animals held before May 31, 2006 were grandfathered.

Is it legal to own a ferret in Maryland?

No state restriction found. Maryland's wildlife rabies rule expressly says it does not prohibit importing or possessing European ferrets, which covers domestic ferrets. No state permit rule was found.

Is it legal to own a capybara in Maryland?

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

Exotic pet laws in Maryland

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

The table lists every animal we cover and what Maryland 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 Maryland

Animal	Status	What it means	Source
Fennec fox	Banned	Maryland bans possessing, selling or importing any member of the dog family other than the domestic dog, which includes fennec foxes. Exemptions are narrow, such as DNR licence holders, and animals held before May 31, 2006 were grandfathered.	Md. Code, Criminal Law 10-621(b)(1)(v)
Raccoon	Banned	Maryland bans possessing, selling or importing a live raccoon. Exemptions are narrow, such as DNR licence holders, and animals held before May 31, 2006 were grandfathered.	Md. Code, Criminal Law 10-621(b)(1)(i)
Red fox	Banned	Maryland bans possessing, selling or importing a live fox. Exemptions are narrow, such as DNR licence holders, and animals held before May 31, 2006 were grandfathered.	Md. Code, Criminal Law 10-621(b)(1)(i)
Skunk	Banned	Maryland bans possessing, selling or importing a live skunk. Exemptions are narrow, such as DNR licence holders, and animals held before May 31, 2006 were grandfathered.	Md. Code, Criminal Law 10-621(b)(1)(i)
Pet monkey	Banned	Maryland bans possessing, selling or importing any nonhuman primate. A narrow exception covers trained service primates for people with severe mobility disabilities. Exemptions are narrow, such as DNR licence holders, and animals held before May 31, 2006 were grandfathered.	Md. Code, Criminal Law 10-621(b)(1)(vii)
Big cat	Banned	Maryland bans possessing, selling or importing any member of the cat family other than the domestic cat, so tigers, lions, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs and cougars are covered. Exemptions are narrow, such as DNR licence holders, and animals held before May 31, 2006 were grandfathered.	Md. Code, Criminal Law 10-621(b)(1)(iii)
Bobcat	Banned	Maryland bans possessing, selling or importing any member of the cat family other than the domestic cat, which includes bobcats and lynx. Exemptions are narrow, such as DNR licence holders, and animals held before May 31, 2006 were grandfathered.	Md. Code, Criminal Law 10-621(b)(1)(iii)
Lemur	Banned	Maryland bans possessing, selling or importing any nonhuman primate, and lemurs are named in the list. Exemptions are narrow, such as DNR licence holders, and animals held before May 31, 2006 were grandfathered.	Md. Code, Criminal Law 10-621(b)(1)(vii)
Alligator or other crocodilian	Banned	Maryland bans possessing, selling or importing a live caiman, alligator or crocodile. Exemptions are narrow, such as DNR licence holders, and animals held before May 31, 2006 were grandfathered.	Md. Code, Criminal Law 10-621(b)(1)(ii)
Venomous snake	Banned	Maryland bans possessing, selling or importing poisonous snakes in the sea snake, cobra, viper and pit viper families. Exemptions are narrow, such as DNR licence holders, and animals held before May 31, 2006 were grandfathered.	Md. Code, Criminal Law 10-621(b)(1)(viii)
Bear	Banned	Maryland bans possessing, selling or importing a live bear. Exemptions are narrow, such as DNR licence holders, and animals held before May 31, 2006 were grandfathered.	Md. Code, Criminal Law 10-621(b)(1)(i)
Wolfdog	Banned	Maryland bans possessing, selling or importing any hybrid of a dog family member and a domestic dog, with no generation limit, so wolfdogs are prohibited. Exemptions are narrow, such as DNR licence holders, and animals held before May 31, 2006 were grandfathered.	Md. Code, Criminal Law 10-621(b)(1)(vi)
Serval or savannah cat	Depends	Maryland bans servals as members of the cat family. A hybrid of a wild cat and a domestic cat is banned only if it weighs over 30 pounds, so lighter savannah cats are not covered by this ban.Serval banned; hybrid with domestic cat banned only if over 30 pounds	Md. Code, Criminal Law 10-621(b)(1)(iii) and...
Axolotl	No state restriction found	The axolotl is not on Maryland's native amphibian list or its nonnative aquatic organism prohibited list. No state permit rule was found for it.	COMAR 08.03.11.01B; COMAR 08.02.19.04
African pygmy hedgehog	No state restriction found	Maryland's wildlife rabies rule expressly says it does not prohibit importing or possessing hedgehogs, and hedgehogs are not on the state prohibited animal list.	COMAR 08.03.09.03C
Ferret	No state restriction found	Maryland's wildlife rabies rule expressly says it does not prohibit importing or possessing European ferrets, which covers domestic ferrets. No state permit rule was found.	COMAR 08.03.09.03C
Sugar glider	No state restriction found	Maryland's wildlife rabies rule expressly says it does not prohibit importing or possessing sugar gliders, and they are not on the state prohibited animal list.	COMAR 08.03.09.03C
Chinchilla	No state restriction found	Maryland's wildlife rabies rule expressly says it does not prohibit importing or possessing chinchillas, and they are not on the state prohibited animal list.	COMAR 08.03.09.03C
Tarantula	No state restriction found	Maryland's wildlife possession rules cover mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles, and none of the rules read mentions tarantulas or other spiders. No state ban or permit was found.	Md. Code, Natural Resources 10-101(dd)
Giant constrictor	No state restriction found	Maryland has no state ban or permit for giant constrictors in the rules read. Its reptile rules cover only native species and its snake ban covers only venomous families. Federal rules are separate.	COMAR 08.03.11.01B; Md. Code, Criminal Law 10...
Tegu	No state restriction found	Maryland has no state ban or permit for tegus in the rules read. Its reptile possession rules cover only Maryland native species, and tegus are not on the nonnative aquatic list.	COMAR 08.03.11.01B
Capybara	Not verified yet	We could not confirm Maryland's rule for this animal yet. Ask Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service before you buy.
Wallaby	Not verified yet	We could not confirm Maryland's rule for this animal yet. Ask Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service before you buy.
Kangaroo	Not verified yet	We could not confirm Maryland's rule for this animal yet. Ask Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service before you buy.
Prairie dog	Not verified yet	We could not confirm Maryland's rule for this animal yet. Ask Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service before you buy.
Kinkajou	Not verified yet	We could not confirm Maryland's rule for this animal yet. Ask Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service before you buy.
Otter	Not verified yet	We could not confirm Maryland's rule for this animal yet. Ask Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service before you buy.

Who regulates exotic pets in Maryland

Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service is the agency to ask. Criminal Law 10-621 exempts licensed research facilities, USDA Class C exhibitors, holders of a DNR licence or permit for the animal, qualifying sanctuaries, veterinarians, and animals lawfully held on May 31, 2006 with notice to local animal control. COMAR 08.03.09.03B requires a DNR permit to harbor mammalian wildlife with no USDA rabies vaccine.

The main texts:

Before you buy in Maryland

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 Maryland.

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 Maryland?: Banned. Maryland bans possessing, selling or importing a live raccoon. Exemptions are narrow, such as DNR licence holders, and animals held before May 31, 2006 were grandfathered.
Is it legal to own a monkey in Maryland?: Banned. Maryland bans possessing, selling or importing any nonhuman primate. A narrow exception covers trained service primates for people with severe mobility disabilities. Exemptions are narrow, such as DNR licence holders, and animals held before May 31, 2006 were grandfathered.
Is it legal to own a fox in Maryland?: Banned. Maryland bans possessing, selling or importing a live fox. Exemptions are narrow, such as DNR licence holders, and animals held before May 31, 2006 were grandfathered.
Is it legal to own a skunk in Maryland?: Banned. Maryland bans possessing, selling or importing a live skunk. Exemptions are narrow, such as DNR licence holders, and animals held before May 31, 2006 were grandfathered.
Is it legal to own a ferret in Maryland?: No state restriction found. Maryland's wildlife rabies rule expressly says it does not prohibit importing or possessing European ferrets, which covers domestic ferrets. No state permit rule was found.
Is it legal to own a capybara in Maryland?: We could not confirm Maryland's rule yet. Ask the state wildlife agency before you buy.
Who do I ask about exotic pets in Maryland?: Start with Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service. Then ask your county and city.