Exotic pet laws in North Dakota
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
The table lists every animal we cover and what North Dakota 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 North Dakota
| Animal | Status | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raccoon | Banned | North Dakota law bars keeping a raccoon in captivity. Only a USDA-licensed zoo is excepted, and the State Veterinarian can confiscate animals kept in violation. | N.D. Cent. Code 36-01-08.4; N.D. Admin. Code... |
| Skunk | Banned | North Dakota law bars keeping a skunk in captivity. Only a USDA-licensed zoo is excepted, and the State Veterinarian can confiscate animals kept in violation. | N.D. Cent. Code 36-01-08.4; N.D. Admin. Code... |
| Pet monkey | Banned | Primates are Category 3. The state license also requires a USDA exhibitor's license, which ordinary pet owners generally cannot get, so a pet monkey is effectively barred. No service monkey exception was found.State license plus USDA exhibitor license required | N.D. Admin. Code 48.1-09-06-01(6)(f); 48.1-09... |
| Lemur | Banned | Lemurs are primates, which are Category 3. The state license also requires a USDA exhibitor's license, which ordinary pet owners generally cannot get, so a pet lemur is effectively barred.State license plus USDA exhibitor license required | N.D. Admin. Code 48.1-09-06-01(6)(f); 48.1-09... |
| Venomous snake | Banned | Venomous reptiles are Category 3, and the license is issued only for an educational purpose such as research or school displays, not for pet keeping.Educational purpose required | N.D. Admin. Code 48.1-09-06-01(5)(a) |
| Serval or savannah cat | Permit needed | Servals are nondomestic cats not listed in Category 3, so they are Category 2 and need a state license. Category 2 covers these species and their hybrids, so savannah cats appear covered. Ask the State Veterinarian about generations.Needs a nontraditional livestock license from the State Board of Animal Health, with inspected facilities, fencing and a quarantine plan. Hybrid generation rules are not stated | N.D. Admin. Code 48.1-09-01-02(2)(b), 48.1-09... |
| Red fox | Permit needed | Red foxes are Category 2 nontraditional livestock, so a state license is required. A Game and Fish permit may also apply because the red fox is a protected species. Ranch foxes are Category 1.Needs a nontraditional livestock license from the State Board of Animal Health, with inspected facilities, fencing and a quarantine plan; Game and Fish permit to possess protected animals may also apply | N.D. Admin. Code 48.1-09-01-02(2)(b); N.D. Ce... |
| Big cat | Permit needed | Big cats are Category 3. A private owner needs a state license with inspected enclosures, a perimeter fence and a veterinary import permit. Cougars, lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars and cheetahs are all named.Needs a nontraditional livestock license from the State Board of Animal Health, with inspected facilities, fencing and a quarantine plan; large cat housing rules | N.D. Admin. Code 48.1-09-01-02(3)(b)(2); 48.1... |
| Bobcat | Permit needed | Bobcats are nondomestic cats not listed in Category 3, which makes them Category 2. A state license is required, and a Game and Fish permit may also apply to this protected species.Needs a nontraditional livestock license from the State Board of Animal Health, with inspected facilities, fencing and a quarantine plan; Game and Fish permit to possess protected animals may also apply | N.D. Admin. Code 48.1-09-01-02(2)(b), 48.1-09... |
| Prairie dog | Permit needed | Prairie dogs are Category 2 nontraditional livestock, so a state license is required before acquiring one.Needs a nontraditional livestock license from the State Board of Animal Health, with inspected facilities, fencing and a quarantine plan | N.D. Admin. Code 48.1-09-01-02(2)(b); 48.1-09... |
| Otter | Permit needed | Otters are Category 2 nontraditional livestock, so a state license is required. A Game and Fish permit may also apply to this protected species.Needs a nontraditional livestock license from the State Board of Animal Health, with inspected facilities, fencing and a quarantine plan; Game and Fish permit to possess protected animals may also apply | N.D. Admin. Code 48.1-09-01-02(2)(b); N.D. Ce... |
| Bear | Permit needed | Bears are Category 3. A private owner needs a state license with inspected enclosures and a veterinary import permit.Needs a nontraditional livestock license from the State Board of Animal Health, with inspected facilities, fencing and a quarantine plan; bear housing rules | N.D. Admin. Code 48.1-09-01-02(3)(b)(3); 48.1... |
| Wolfdog | Permit needed | Wolves and wolf hybrids are Category 3, and state law defines a wolf hybrid as any animal that is any part wolf. A state license is required, with inspected enclosures and an import permit.Needs a nontraditional livestock license from the State Board of Animal Health, with inspected facilities, fencing and a quarantine plan; wolf housing rules | N.D. Cent. Code 36-01-08.4; N.D. Admin. Code... |
| African pygmy hedgehog | No state restriction found | Hedgehogs are listed as Category 1 nontraditional livestock, which needs no license. Owners must still follow the board's other rules, such as import health paperwork.Category 1 | N.D. Admin. Code 48.1-09-01-02(1) |
| Ferret | No state restriction found | The State Board of Animal Health's page lists ferrets under Category 1, which needs no license. The rule text itself does not name ferrets, but a domestic ferret is not a nondomestic species.Category 1 per agency page | N.D. Admin. Code 48.1-09-01-02(1); agency Non... |
| Sugar glider | No state restriction found | The State Board of Animal Health lists sugar gliders as exempt from nontraditional livestock and importation requirements, unless the State Veterinarian decides otherwise for disease or safety reasons. No license is listed for them.Exempt unless State Veterinarian decides otherwise | Agency Non-Traditional Livestock page; N.D. A... |
| Chinchilla | No state restriction found | Chinchillas are listed as Category 1 nontraditional livestock, which needs no license. Owners must still follow the board's other rules.Category 1 | N.D. Admin. Code 48.1-09-01-02(1) |
| Tarantula | No state restriction found | The State Board of Animal Health lists arachnids and invertebrates as exempt from nontraditional livestock and importation requirements, unless the State Veterinarian decides otherwise for disease or safety reasons.Exempt unless State Veterinarian decides otherwise | Agency Non-Traditional Livestock page; N.D. A... |
| Axolotl | Not verified yet | We could not confirm North Dakota's rule for this animal yet. Ask North Dakota Department of Agriculture, State Board of Animal Health (State Veterinarian) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Capybara | Not verified yet | We could not confirm North Dakota's rule for this animal yet. Ask North Dakota Department of Agriculture, State Board of Animal Health (State Veterinarian) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Fennec fox | Not verified yet | We could not confirm North Dakota's rule for this animal yet. Ask North Dakota Department of Agriculture, State Board of Animal Health (State Veterinarian) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Wallaby | Not verified yet | We could not confirm North Dakota's rule for this animal yet. Ask North Dakota Department of Agriculture, State Board of Animal Health (State Veterinarian) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Kangaroo | Not verified yet | We could not confirm North Dakota's rule for this animal yet. Ask North Dakota Department of Agriculture, State Board of Animal Health (State Veterinarian) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Kinkajou | Not verified yet | We could not confirm North Dakota's rule for this animal yet. Ask North Dakota Department of Agriculture, State Board of Animal Health (State Veterinarian) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Alligator or other crocodilian | Not verified yet | We could not confirm North Dakota's rule for this animal yet. Ask North Dakota Department of Agriculture, State Board of Animal Health (State Veterinarian) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Giant constrictor | Not verified yet | We could not confirm North Dakota's rule for this animal yet. Ask North Dakota Department of Agriculture, State Board of Animal Health (State Veterinarian) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Tegu | Not verified yet | We could not confirm North Dakota's rule for this animal yet. Ask North Dakota Department of Agriculture, State Board of Animal Health (State Veterinarian) before you buy. | Agency page |
Who regulates exotic pets in North Dakota
North Dakota Department of Agriculture, State Board of Animal Health (State Veterinarian) is the agency to ask. Category 2 and 3 species need a Board of Animal Health license before acquisition, after facility inspection, and imported animals need a veterinary inspection certificate and import permit number. Unlisted nondomestic species must be reviewed by the board before importation and licensure. Game and Fish requires a permit to possess live protected animals under NDCC 20.1-09-02. The board may prohibit any animal that is a significant threat.
The main texts:
- NDAC chapter 48.1-09-01 Nontraditional Livestock, definitions and categories
- NDAC chapter 48.1-09-06 Category 3 species
- NDCC 36-01-08.4 skunks and raccoons
- NDCC chapter 20.1-09 protected birds and animals (Game and Fish permit)
Before you buy in North Dakota
- 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 North Dakota.
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 North Dakota?
- Banned. North Dakota law bars keeping a raccoon in captivity. Only a USDA-licensed zoo is excepted, and the State Veterinarian can confiscate animals kept in violation.
- Is it legal to own a monkey in North Dakota?
- Banned. Primates are Category 3. The state license also requires a USDA exhibitor's license, which ordinary pet owners generally cannot get, so a pet monkey is effectively barred. No service monkey exception was found.
- Is it legal to own a fox in North Dakota?
- Permit needed. Red foxes are Category 2 nontraditional livestock, so a state license is required. A Game and Fish permit may also apply because the red fox is a protected species. Ranch foxes are Category 1.
- Is it legal to own a skunk in North Dakota?
- Banned. North Dakota law bars keeping a skunk in captivity. Only a USDA-licensed zoo is excepted, and the State Veterinarian can confiscate animals kept in violation.
- Is it legal to own a ferret in North Dakota?
- No state restriction found. The State Board of Animal Health's page lists ferrets under Category 1, which needs no license. The rule text itself does not name ferrets, but a domestic ferret is not a nondomestic species.
- Is it legal to own a capybara in North Dakota?
- We could not confirm North Dakota's rule yet. Ask the state wildlife agency before you buy.
- Who do I ask about exotic pets in North Dakota?
- Start with North Dakota Department of Agriculture, State Board of Animal Health (State Veterinarian). Then ask your county and city.