Exotic pet laws in Nevada
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
The table lists every animal we cover and what Nevada 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 Nevada
| Animal | Status | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fennec fox | Banned | Nevada bans possessing any fox in the genera Vulpes and Fennecus, which includes the fennec fox. The only license route is for zoos, research bodies and similar institutions, not pet owners.Permits only for zoos, research institutions, aquaculture and educational nonprofits | NAC 503.110(1)(d)(10), (3) |
| Raccoon | Banned | The raccoon is on Nevada's prohibited species list, so private possession is banned. Licenses for listed species go only to zoos, research bodies and similar institutions.Permits only for zoos, research institutions, aquaculture and educational nonprofits | NAC 503.110(1)(d)(11), (3) |
| Red fox | Banned | Nevada bans possessing any fox in the genus Vulpes, which includes the red fox. The only license route is for zoos, research bodies and similar institutions, not pet owners.Permits only for zoos, research institutions, aquaculture and educational nonprofits | NAC 503.110(1)(d)(10), (3) |
| Skunk | Banned | Skunks are on Nevada's prohibited species list, so private possession is banned. Licenses for listed species go only to zoos, research bodies and similar institutions.Permits only for zoos, research institutions, aquaculture and educational nonprofits | NAC 503.110(1)(d)(12), (3) |
| Alligator or other crocodilian | Banned | All crocodilians, including alligators, caimans and gharials, are on Nevada's prohibited list. Licenses for listed species go only to zoos, research bodies and similar institutions.Permits only for zoos, research institutions, aquaculture and educational nonprofits | NAC 503.110(1)(b)(1), (3) |
| Capybara | Permit needed | Nevada requires a noncommercial wildlife possession license from NDOW for wild mammals that are not on the prohibited list, and the capybara is not listed. Approval is at the Department's discretion.Noncommercial license for possession of live wildlife (NRS 504.295); the Department must find the species not detrimental to Nevada wildlife | NRS 504.295(1)(a); NAC 504.460(2)(b) |
| Bobcat | Permit needed | Bobcats can be kept only under an NDOW noncommercial wildlife license, and the license requires a cage or enclosure meeting set fence and floor standards.Noncommercial license (NRS 504.295); cage or enclosure standards in NAC 504.476 | NRS 504.295(1)(a); NAC 504.476 |
| Prairie dog | Permit needed | The prairie dog is not on Nevada's prohibited list, but it is a wild mammal, so a noncommercial wildlife possession license from NDOW is required. Approval is discretionary.Noncommercial license for possession of live wildlife (NRS 504.295); the Department must find the species not detrimental to Nevada wildlife | NRS 504.295(1)(a); NAC 504.460(2)(b) |
| Kinkajou | Permit needed | Nevada requires a noncommercial wildlife possession license from NDOW for wild mammals not on the prohibited list, and the kinkajou is not listed. Approval is at the Department's discretion.Noncommercial license for possession of live wildlife (NRS 504.295); the Department must find the species not detrimental to Nevada wildlife | NRS 504.295(1)(a); NAC 504.460(2)(b) |
| Otter | Permit needed | River otters are fur-bearing mammals and the Asian small-clawed otter is unlisted, so Nevada requires an NDOW noncommercial wildlife possession license for either. Approval is discretionary.Noncommercial license (NRS 504.295); river otter is a classified fur-bearing mammal | NRS 504.295(1)(a); NAC 504.460(2)(b); NAC 503... |
| Bear | Permit needed | Black bears can be kept only under an NDOW noncommercial wildlife license, and the license requires a cage or enclosure meeting set fence and floor standards. Other bears are unlisted and also need a license.Noncommercial license (NRS 504.295); cage or enclosure standards in NAC 504.476 | NRS 504.295(1)(a); NAC 504.476 |
| Venomous snake | Depends | Cobras, mambas, coral snakes, kraits, burrowing asps and non-native vipers are prohibited, as are Gila monsters. Native vipers such as rattlesnakes may be kept without a license within Commission possession limits, with no sale or trade. The limits were not found.Prohibited: Elapidae, Atractaspidae, non-native Viperidae, Helodermatidae; native vipers only within Commission possession limits, no sale or trade | NAC 503.110(1)(b)(5)-(7), (9), (3); NAC 504.461 |
| Wolfdog | Depends | Nevada lets people keep wolves, including wolf-dog hybrids, without an NDOW license only if lawfully acquired and bred in captivity. Coyotes are prohibited.Wolf or wolf-dog hybrid must be lawfully acquired and bred in captivity | NAC 503.140(1)(r), (5)(b) |
| Axolotl | No state restriction found | Nevada lets people keep nonindigenous amphibians without an NDOW license, except bullfrogs and species on the prohibited list. The axolotl is not excluded, so no state license applies.No NDOW license needed; animals may not be released into the wild | NAC 503.140(1)(qq) |
| African pygmy hedgehog | No state restriction found | African pygmy hedgehogs are named on Nevada's list of animals that may be kept without an NDOW license. Other hedgehog species are not named.No NDOW license needed; animals may not be released into the wild | NAC 503.140(1)(rr) |
| Ferret | No state restriction found | Nevada names the European ferret (Mustela putorius), which includes the domestic ferret, as an animal that may be kept without an NDOW license.No NDOW license needed; animals may not be released into the wild | NAC 503.140(1)(t) |
| Sugar glider | No state restriction found | Nevada lets people keep marsupials, which includes sugar gliders, without an NDOW license. Marsupials are not on the prohibited list.No NDOW license needed; animals may not be released into the wild | NAC 503.140(1)(o) |
| Serval or savannah cat | No state restriction found | Nevada lets people keep all felines except mountain lions and bobcats without an NDOW license, which covers the serval. The rule does not mention savannah cat hybrids. Ask NDOW about hybrids.No NDOW license needed for the serval; savannah hybrids not addressed | NAC 503.140(1)(q) |
| Wallaby | No state restriction found | Nevada lets people keep marsupials, which includes wallabies, without an NDOW license. Marsupials are not on the prohibited list.No NDOW license needed; animals may not be released into the wild | NAC 503.140(1)(o) |
| Chinchilla | No state restriction found | Nevada lets people keep domesticated races of chinchillas, the kind sold as pets, without an NDOW license.No NDOW license needed for domesticated chinchillas | NAC 503.140(1)(hh) |
| Tarantula | No state restriction found | Nevada's wildlife possession license applies only to wild mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, mollusks and crustaceans. Spiders are none of these and are not on the prohibited list, so no state license applies. | NRS 501.097; NRS 504.295; NAC 503.110 |
| Pet monkey | No state restriction found | Nevada lets people keep monkeys and other primates without an NDOW license. Primates are not on the prohibited list. State rules do not override federal law or local ordinances.No NDOW license needed; animals may not be released into the wild | NAC 503.140(1)(m) |
| Kangaroo | No state restriction found | Nevada lets people keep marsupials, which includes kangaroos, without an NDOW license. Marsupials are not on the prohibited list.No NDOW license needed; animals may not be released into the wild | NAC 503.140(1)(o) |
| Big cat | No state restriction found | Nevada lets people keep all felines except mountain lions and bobcats without an NDOW license, so lions, tigers and leopards need no state license. Mountain lions and bobcats do need one.No NDOW license for felines other than mountain lions and bobcats | NAC 503.140(1)(q) |
| Lemur | No state restriction found | Nevada lets people keep monkeys and other primates, which includes lemurs, without an NDOW license. Primates are not on the prohibited list. State rules do not override federal law or local ordinances.No NDOW license needed; animals may not be released into the wild | NAC 503.140(1)(m) |
| Giant constrictor | No state restriction found | Nevada lets people keep nonvenomous, nonindigenous reptiles, which includes pythons and anacondas, without an NDOW license. They are not on the prohibited list.No NDOW license needed; animals may not be released into the wild | NAC 503.140(1)(aa) |
| Tegu | No state restriction found | Nevada lets people keep nonvenomous, nonindigenous reptiles, which includes tegus, without an NDOW license. Tegus are not on the prohibited list.No NDOW license needed; animals may not be released into the wild | NAC 503.140(1)(aa) |
Who regulates exotic pets in Nevada
Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) is the agency to ask. NRS 504.295 bars possessing any live wildlife without an NDOW license unless a regulation says otherwise. Importing live wildlife needs an importation permit, a health certificate and 30 days prior disclosure (NAC 504.464). Licenses expire June 30 each year (NAC 504.456). Unprotected reptiles and amphibians kept under NAC 504.461 cannot be sold or traded.
The main texts:
- NRS 504.295 (license required to possess live wildlife)
- NRS 501.097 (wildlife defined)
- NAC 503.110 (prohibited species)
- NAC 504.460 (species that may be possessed)
- NAC 504.461 (unprotected reptiles and amphibians)
- NAC 504.476 (bobcat, mountain lion, black bear cages)
Before you buy in Nevada
- 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 Nevada.
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 Nevada?
- Banned. The raccoon is on Nevada's prohibited species list, so private possession is banned. Licenses for listed species go only to zoos, research bodies and similar institutions.
- Is it legal to own a monkey in Nevada?
- No state restriction found. Nevada lets people keep monkeys and other primates without an NDOW license. Primates are not on the prohibited list. State rules do not override federal law or local ordinances.
- Is it legal to own a fox in Nevada?
- Banned. Nevada bans possessing any fox in the genus Vulpes, which includes the red fox. The only license route is for zoos, research bodies and similar institutions, not pet owners.
- Is it legal to own a skunk in Nevada?
- Banned. Skunks are on Nevada's prohibited species list, so private possession is banned. Licenses for listed species go only to zoos, research bodies and similar institutions.
- Is it legal to own a ferret in Nevada?
- No state restriction found. Nevada names the European ferret (Mustela putorius), which includes the domestic ferret, as an animal that may be kept without an NDOW license.
- Is it legal to own a capybara in Nevada?
- Permit needed. Nevada requires a noncommercial wildlife possession license from NDOW for wild mammals that are not on the prohibited list, and the capybara is not listed. Approval is at the Department's discretion.
- Who do I ask about exotic pets in Nevada?
- Start with Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW). Then ask your county and city.