Exotic pet laws in New Jersey
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
The table lists every animal we cover and what New Jersey 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 New Jersey
| Animal | Status | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fennec fox | Banned | The fennec fox is on New Jersey's potentially dangerous species list. A permit is possible only for experienced keepers, and the rule says these animals may not be kept as a pet or hobby animal.Potentially dangerous species; permit criteria bar pet or hobby keeping | N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.8(a); 7:25-4.9(a)3 |
| Serval or savannah cat | Banned | The serval is a nondomestic cat and is on the potentially dangerous species list, which may not be kept as a pet. The rules do not say how savannah cat hybrids are treated, so ask the Division.Savannah hybrids: not addressed by name; ask the Division | N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.8(a); 7:25-4.9(a)3 |
| Red fox | Banned | The red fox is a game animal, but nondomestic dogs are also a potentially dangerous game species. Those animals may not be kept as a household pet except when compelled by the infancy of the animal.Potentially dangerous game species; no household pets | N.J.A.C. 7:25-10.10(a); 10.11(a)6 |
| Pet monkey | Banned | Non-human primates such as New World and Old World monkeys are on New Jersey's potentially dangerous species list. A permit is possible only for experienced keepers, and the rule says these animals may not be kept as a pet or hobby animal.Potentially dangerous species; permit criteria bar pet or hobby keeping | N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.8(a); 7:25-4.9(a)3 |
| Big cat | Banned | Big cats are on New Jersey's potentially dangerous species list. A permit is possible only for experienced keepers, and the rule says these animals may not be kept as a pet or hobby animal.Potentially dangerous species; permit criteria bar pet or hobby keeping | N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.8(a); 7:25-4.9(a)3 |
| Bobcat | Banned | The bobcat is a game animal and a nondomestic cat, so it is a potentially dangerous game species. Those may not be kept as a household pet except when compelled by the infancy of the animal.Potentially dangerous game species; no household pets | N.J.A.C. 7:25-10.10(a); 10.11(a)6 |
| Prairie dog | Banned | Prairie dogs are on New Jersey's potentially dangerous species list. A permit is possible only for experienced keepers, and the rule says these animals may not be kept as a pet or hobby animal.Potentially dangerous species; permit criteria bar pet or hobby keeping | N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.8(a); 7:25-4.9(a)3 |
| Alligator or other crocodilian | Banned | Alligators, caiman and crocodiles are on New Jersey's potentially dangerous species list. A permit is possible only for experienced keepers, and the rule says these animals may not be kept as a pet or hobby animal.Potentially dangerous species; permit criteria bar pet or hobby keeping | N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.8(a); 7:25-4.9(a)3 |
| Venomous snake | Banned | Venomous snakes (cobras, coral snakes, vipers, pit vipers) are on New Jersey's potentially dangerous species list. A permit is possible only for experienced keepers, and the rule says these animals may not be kept as a pet or hobby animal.Potentially dangerous species; permit criteria bar pet or hobby keeping | N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.8(a); 7:25-4.9(a)3 |
| Bear | Banned | Bears are on New Jersey's potentially dangerous lists, and those animals may not be kept as a household pet except when compelled by the infancy of the animal.Potentially dangerous species; no household pets | N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.8(a); 7:25-10.10(a); 10.11(a)6 |
| Axolotl | Permit needed | Under the written rules axolotls are exotic amphibians that need an Individual Hobby permit. A Division notice to pet shops says axolotls cannot be sold or possessed, so confirm with the Division before buying.Rules require an exotic permit (4.5); Division notice to pet shops says not to be sold or possessed (updated 11/2021) | N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.5; 7:25-4.2(a); 7:25-4.6(a)1;... |
| Capybara | Permit needed | The capybara is an exotic animal that is not on New Jersey's exempt list, so a state possession permit is required. The Individual Hobby permit is the pet route.Individual Hobby permit from the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife; $10 per year, expires December 31 | N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.5; 7:25-4.2(a); 7:25-4.6(a) |
| African pygmy hedgehog | Permit needed | The African pygmy hedgehog is an exotic animal that is not on New Jersey's exempt list, so a state possession permit is required. The Individual Hobby permit is the pet route. Only the European hedgehog is named, but the general rule covers it.Individual Hobby permit from the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife; $10 per year, expires December 31 | N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.5; 7:25-4.2(a); 7:25-4.6(a) |
| Ferret | Permit needed | Domestic ferrets are named on New Jersey's list of exotic species requiring a possession permit. A pet owner needs an Individual Hobby permit from the state.Individual Hobby permit; $10 per year | N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.3(a)2 |
| Sugar glider | Permit needed | The sugar glider is an exotic animal that is not on New Jersey's exempt list, so a state possession permit is required. The Individual Hobby permit is the pet route. The exempt list covers only native flying squirrels, not sugar gliders.Individual Hobby permit from the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife; $10 per year, expires December 31 | N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.5; 7:25-4.2(a); 7:25-4.6(a) |
| Wallaby | Permit needed | The wallaby is an exotic animal that is not on New Jersey's exempt list, so a state possession permit is required. The Individual Hobby permit is the pet route.Individual Hobby permit from the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife; $10 per year, expires December 31 | N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.5; 7:25-4.2(a); 7:25-4.6(a) |
| Chinchilla | Permit needed | The chinchilla is an exotic animal that is not on New Jersey's exempt list, so a state possession permit is required. The Individual Hobby permit is the pet route. Among rodents, only hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, mice and rats, and certain squirrels are exempt.Individual Hobby permit from the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife; $10 per year, expires December 31 | N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.5; 7:25-4.2(a); 7:25-4.6(a) |
| Raccoon | Permit needed | The raccoon is a game animal in New Jersey, and possession needs a state captive game permit. The Individual Hobby permit covers pets, and the animal may not come from wild stock.Captive game Individual Hobby permit; animal must not be taken from the wild | N.J.A.C. 7:25-10.5(a); 7:25-10.6(a); 7:25-10.... |
| Skunk | Permit needed | The striped skunk is a game animal in New Jersey, and possession needs a state captive game permit. The Individual Hobby permit covers pets, and the animal may not come from wild stock.Captive game Individual Hobby permit; animal must not be taken from the wild | N.J.A.C. 7:25-10.5(a); 7:25-10.6(a); 7:25-10.... |
| Kangaroo | Permit needed | The kangaroo is an exotic animal that is not on New Jersey's exempt list, so a state possession permit is required. The Individual Hobby permit is the pet route.Individual Hobby permit from the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife; $10 per year, expires December 31 | N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.5; 7:25-4.2(a); 7:25-4.6(a) |
| Kinkajou | Permit needed | Kinkajous are named on New Jersey's list of exotic species requiring a possession permit. A pet owner needs an Individual Hobby permit from the state.Individual Hobby permit; $10 per year | N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.3(a)2 |
| Otter | Permit needed | The river otter is a game animal needing a captive game permit, and the Asian small-clawed otter is an exotic mammal needing an exotic permit. Individual Hobby permits cover pets.Individual Hobby permit (captive game for river otter, exotic for small-clawed otter) | N.J.A.C. 7:25-10.6(a)8; 7:25-4.5 |
| Tegu | Permit needed | The Argentine black and white tegu is an exotic animal that is not on New Jersey's exempt list, so a state possession permit is required. The Individual Hobby permit is the pet route. Tegus are not named, so the general rule applies.Individual Hobby permit from the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife; $10 per year, expires December 31 | N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.5; 7:25-4.2(a); 7:25-4.6(a) |
| Giant constrictor | Depends | Burmese and reticulated pythons need an Individual Hobby permit. A Division notice says green and yellow anacondas are potentially dangerous and may not be possessed or sold. Other boas need a permit under the rule.Pythonidae and Boidae: Individual Hobby permit; green and yellow anacondas barred per Division notice (not rule text) | N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.3(a)3; N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.6(a)1;... |
| Tarantula | No state restriction found | New Jersey's possession permit rules cover only mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. The state agency lists tarantulas among exempt wildlife that need no sales receipt or permit. | N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.2(a); NJ Division of Fish and... |
| Lemur | Not verified yet | We could not confirm New Jersey's rule for this animal yet. Ask New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, Wildlife Permits Unit before you buy. | Agency page |
| Wolfdog | Not verified yet | We could not confirm New Jersey's rule for this animal yet. Ask New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, Wildlife Permits Unit before you buy. | Agency page |
Who regulates exotic pets in New Jersey
New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, Wildlife Permits Unit is the agency to ask. No person may possess any exotic or nongame mammal, bird, reptile or amphibian without a Department permit (N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.2), and any species not on the exempt list needs one (4.5). Game animals need a captive game permit (7:25-10.5). Pet shops give buyers a 20-day temporary permit, then the owner needs a permanent permit.
The main texts:
- N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.2 Permit required
- N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.5 Additional species
- N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.6 Permit categories
- N.J.A.C. 7:25-10.5 Captive game permit required
- NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife notice to pet shops and animal dealers
Before you buy in New Jersey
- 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 New Jersey.
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 New Jersey?
- Permit needed. The raccoon is a game animal in New Jersey, and possession needs a state captive game permit. The Individual Hobby permit covers pets, and the animal may not come from wild stock.
- Is it legal to own a monkey in New Jersey?
- Banned. Non-human primates such as New World and Old World monkeys are on New Jersey's potentially dangerous species list. A permit is possible only for experienced keepers, and the rule says these animals may not be kept as a pet or hobby animal.
- Is it legal to own a fox in New Jersey?
- Banned. The red fox is a game animal, but nondomestic dogs are also a potentially dangerous game species. Those animals may not be kept as a household pet except when compelled by the infancy of the animal.
- Is it legal to own a skunk in New Jersey?
- Permit needed. The striped skunk is a game animal in New Jersey, and possession needs a state captive game permit. The Individual Hobby permit covers pets, and the animal may not come from wild stock.
- Is it legal to own a ferret in New Jersey?
- Permit needed. Domestic ferrets are named on New Jersey's list of exotic species requiring a possession permit. A pet owner needs an Individual Hobby permit from the state.
- Is it legal to own a capybara in New Jersey?
- Permit needed. The capybara is an exotic animal that is not on New Jersey's exempt list, so a state possession permit is required. The Individual Hobby permit is the pet route.
- Who do I ask about exotic pets in New Jersey?
- Start with New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, Wildlife Permits Unit. Then ask your county and city.