Exotic pet laws in Ohio
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
The table lists every animal we cover and what Ohio 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 Ohio
| Animal | Status | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serval or savannah cat | Banned for new owners | Servals are dangerous wild animals in Ohio and cannot be newly acquired. Savannah cats, serval and domestic cat hybrids, are expressly excluded from that definition, so the state list does not bar them.Serval prohibited (grandfathered only); savannah cat hybrids excluded from the list | ORC 935.01(C)(7)(e), 935.02 |
| Raccoon | Permit needed | This native fur-bearer needs a Division of Wildlife noncommercial propagating license ($25). Only captive-bred animals from a licensed source qualify, and wild-caught animals never do. Imported raccoons need origin-state papers.Noncommercial propagating license; captive-bred only; imported raccoons need origin-state documents | ORC 1533.71(A)(2); ORC 1531.01(W); OAC 1501:3... |
| Red fox | Permit needed | This native fur-bearer needs a Division of Wildlife noncommercial propagating license ($25). Only captive-bred animals from a licensed source qualify, and wild-caught animals never do.Noncommercial propagating license; captive-bred only | ORC 1533.71(A)(2); ORC 1531.01(W) |
| Skunk | Permit needed | This native fur-bearer needs a Division of Wildlife noncommercial propagating license ($25). Only captive-bred animals from a licensed source qualify, and wild-caught animals never do.Noncommercial propagating license; captive-bred only | ORC 1533.71(A)(2); ORC 1531.01(W) |
| Bobcat | Permit needed | The bobcat is not on Ohio's dangerous wild animal list, but it is a native fur-bearing animal. A private owner needs a noncommercial propagating license ($25), and only captive-bred animals from a licensed source qualify.Noncommercial propagating license; captive-bred only | ORC 1533.71(A)(2); ORC 1531.01(W) |
| Lemur | Permit needed | Ohio does not list lemurs as dangerous wild animals, but anyone who possesses a lemur must register it with the Department of Agriculture, including a microchip implant. Check the process with the department before buying.Registration with the Ohio Department of Agriculture and microchip (ORC 935.041, 935.04(D)); lemurs excluded from the primate ban | ORC 935.01(C)(19), 935.041, 935.04 |
| Giant constrictor | Depends | Green and yellow anacondas and reticulated, Indian, Burmese, African rock and amethystine pythons are restricted snakes only at twelve feet or longer. Those need an Agriculture restricted snake possession permit. Shorter snakes are not on the state list.Permit needed only at 12 feet or longer; named species only | ORC 935.01(L)(1), 935.08, 935.09 |
| Capybara | No state restriction found | Ohio does not list capybaras or other rodents as dangerous wild animals, and the native wildlife licence does not cover them. No state permit was found. | ORC 935.01(C) |
| African pygmy hedgehog | No state restriction found | Hedgehogs are not on Ohio's dangerous wild animal list and are not native, so no state permit was found. | ORC 935.01(C) |
| Ferret | No state restriction found | Domestic ferrets are not on Ohio's dangerous wild animal list and need no state permit or licence. | ORC 935.01(C) |
| Sugar glider | No state restriction found | Sugar gliders are not named in Ohio's dangerous wild animal or restricted snake lists. Ohio's native flying squirrel rules do not cover this Australian marsupial. No state permit was found. | ORC 935.01(C) |
| Wallaby | No state restriction found | Wallabies are not on Ohio's dangerous wild animal list and are not native wildlife. No state permit was found. | ORC 935.01(C) |
| Chinchilla | No state restriction found | Chinchillas are not regulated by Ohio's dangerous wild animal law or the native wildlife licence. No state permit was found. | ORC 935.01(C) |
| Tarantula | No state restriction found | Ohio's wildlife and dangerous animal laws do not list tarantulas, spiders or other arachnids. No state permit was found. | ORC 935.01(C), (L); ORC 1531.01(X) |
| Kangaroo | No state restriction found | Kangaroos are not on Ohio's dangerous wild animal list and are not native wildlife. No state permit was found. | ORC 935.01(C) |
| Prairie dog | No state restriction found | Prairie dogs are not on Ohio's dangerous wild animal list and are not native to Ohio. No state permit was found. | ORC 935.01(C); ORC 1531.01(V) |
| Kinkajou | No state restriction found | Kinkajous are not on Ohio's dangerous wild animal list and are not native wildlife. No state permit was found. | ORC 935.01(C) |
| Axolotl | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Ohio's rule for this animal yet. Ask Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife (native wildlife); Ohio Department of Agriculture (dangerous wild animals and restricted snakes) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Fennec fox | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Ohio's rule for this animal yet. Ask Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife (native wildlife); Ohio Department of Agriculture (dangerous wild animals and restricted snakes) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Pet monkey | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Ohio's rule for this animal yet. Ask Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife (native wildlife); Ohio Department of Agriculture (dangerous wild animals and restricted snakes) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Big cat | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Ohio's rule for this animal yet. Ask Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife (native wildlife); Ohio Department of Agriculture (dangerous wild animals and restricted snakes) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Otter | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Ohio's rule for this animal yet. Ask Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife (native wildlife); Ohio Department of Agriculture (dangerous wild animals and restricted snakes) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Alligator or other crocodilian | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Ohio's rule for this animal yet. Ask Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife (native wildlife); Ohio Department of Agriculture (dangerous wild animals and restricted snakes) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Venomous snake | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Ohio's rule for this animal yet. Ask Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife (native wildlife); Ohio Department of Agriculture (dangerous wild animals and restricted snakes) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Tegu | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Ohio's rule for this animal yet. Ask Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife (native wildlife); Ohio Department of Agriculture (dangerous wild animals and restricted snakes) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Bear | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Ohio's rule for this animal yet. Ask Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife (native wildlife); Ohio Department of Agriculture (dangerous wild animals and restricted snakes) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Wolfdog | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Ohio's rule for this animal yet. Ask Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife (native wildlife); Ohio Department of Agriculture (dangerous wild animals and restricted snakes) before you buy. | Agency page |
Who regulates exotic pets in Ohio
Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife (native wildlife); Ohio Department of Agriculture (dangerous wild animals and restricted snakes) is the agency to ask. Possession of a dangerous wild animal has been banned since 2014 and new acquisition is barred (ORC 935.02). Native reptiles, amphibians, game animals and fur-bearing animals need a propagating licence (ORC 1533.71). Wild-caught native wildlife can never be kept by individuals as pets, per ODNR.
The main texts:
- ORC 935.01 definitions (FindLaw copy)
- ORC 935.02 possession ban
- ORC 935.08 restricted snake possession permit
- ORC 1533.71 propagating licenses
- OAC 1501:31-19-01 (raccoons, invasive aquatic species)
Before you buy in Ohio
- 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 Ohio.
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 Ohio?
- Permit needed. This native fur-bearer needs a Division of Wildlife noncommercial propagating license ($25). Only captive-bred animals from a licensed source qualify, and wild-caught animals never do. Imported raccoons need origin-state papers.
- Is it legal to own a monkey in Ohio?
- We could not confirm Ohio's rule yet. Ask the state wildlife agency before you buy.
- Is it legal to own a fox in Ohio?
- Permit needed. This native fur-bearer needs a Division of Wildlife noncommercial propagating license ($25). Only captive-bred animals from a licensed source qualify, and wild-caught animals never do.
- Is it legal to own a skunk in Ohio?
- Permit needed. This native fur-bearer needs a Division of Wildlife noncommercial propagating license ($25). Only captive-bred animals from a licensed source qualify, and wild-caught animals never do.
- Is it legal to own a ferret in Ohio?
- No state restriction found. Domestic ferrets are not on Ohio's dangerous wild animal list and need no state permit or licence.
- Is it legal to own a capybara in Ohio?
- No state restriction found. Ohio does not list capybaras or other rodents as dangerous wild animals, and the native wildlife licence does not cover them. No state permit was found.
- Who do I ask about exotic pets in Ohio?
- Start with Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife (native wildlife); Ohio Department of Agriculture (dangerous wild animals and restricted snakes). Then ask your county and city.