Exotic pet laws in Oregon
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
The table lists every animal we cover and what Oregon 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 Oregon
| Animal | Status | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capybara | Banned | Oregon names the capybara on its prohibited species list. It may not be possessed, sold or imported, and permits go only to zoos, universities and similar facilities. | OAR 635-056-0050(1)(a)(J)(vii) |
| Red fox | Banned | Oregon prohibits keeping native wild canids, and names the red fox. Exceptions cover only commercial fur farms and licensed wildlife rehabilitators. Offering a fox for sale as a household pet is also illegal. | OAR 635-056-0050(1)(a)(B)(i) |
| Prairie dog | Banned | Oregon names prairie dogs (all Cynomys species and hybrids) on its prohibited species list. They may not be possessed or sold, and permits go only to zoos, universities and similar facilities. | OAR 635-056-0050(1)(a)(J)(xvii) |
| Otter | Banned | Oregon names the Asian small-clawed otter and the eastern subspecies of the North American river otter on its prohibited list. Permits go only to zoos, universities and similar facilities. | OAR 635-056-0050(1)(a)(B)(iii)-(iv) |
| Fennec fox | Banned for new owners | Fennec foxes count as non-indigenous canines under Oregon's exotic animal law. Agriculture permits only people who held one before 2010 or qualify for an exemption, so a new owner cannot get one.Existing animals only, no new acquisition: pre-2010 ODA permit holders and exempt facilities; Class 2 exotic canine (under 50 lb); no new permits since the 2010 window (ORS 609.351) | ORS 609.305(3); ORS 609.341; ORS 609.351; OAR... |
| Serval or savannah cat | Banned for new owners | Servals are exotic felines in Oregon, kept only by holders of a pre-2010 permit or exempt facilities, so a new owner cannot get one. A savannah cat, a serval and domestic cat cross, is regulated as a domestic animal.Serval: existing animals only, no new acquisition (pre-2010 ODA permit or exempt facility; Class 3 feline). Savannah hybrid: treated as domestic, no exotic permit | ORS 609.305(1); ORS 609.341; ORS 609.351; OAR... |
| Pet monkey | Banned for new owners | Nonhuman primates are exotic animals in Oregon. Agriculture permits only people who held one before 2010, plus exempt facilities and certain disability service monkey users, so a new pet owner cannot get one.Existing animals only, no new acquisition: pre-2010 ODA permit holders, exempt facilities, and Cebus service monkeys for qualifying disabled persons; no new permits since the 2010 window (ORS 609.351) | ORS 609.305(2); ORS 609.341; ORS 609.345; ORS... |
| Big cat | Banned for new owners | Tigers, lions, leopards, jaguars and cheetahs are exotic felines kept only by pre-2010 permit holders or exempt facilities. Cougars are limited to grandfathered pets, zoos and exhibitors, so new buyers cannot get any.Existing animals only, no new acquisition. Non-native big cats: pre-2010 ODA permit or exempt facility. Cougar: pets legally held before 20 Jan 2017; new cougars only at AZA zoos or exhibitor/sanctuary facilities | ORS 609.305(1); ORS 609.341; ORS 609.351; OAR... |
| Bobcat | Banned for new owners | Oregon allows only bobcats held as pets before January 20, 2017, under an annual ODFW permit. New bobcats may be held only at AZA zoos or approved exhibitor or sanctuary facilities.Existing animals only, no new acquisition: pets legally held before 20 Jan 2017 under an annual Wildlife Holding Permit; no breeding or sale; new bobcats only at AZA or exhibitor/sanctuary facilities | OAR 635-044-0460(3); OAR 635-044-0470(2) |
| Lemur | Banned for new owners | Lemurs are nonhuman primates, so Oregon treats them as exotic animals. Agriculture permits only people who held one before 2010 or exempt facilities, so a new pet owner cannot get one.Existing animals only, no new acquisition: pre-2010 ODA permit holders and exempt facilities; Class 3 primate (prosimian); no new permits since the 2010 window (ORS 609.351) | ORS 609.305(2); ORS 609.341; ORS 609.351; OAR... |
| Alligator or other crocodilian | Banned for new owners | Crocodilians, including alligators, are exotic animals in Oregon. Agriculture permits only people who held one before 2010 or exempt facilities, so a new pet owner cannot get one. Release is unlawful.Existing animals only, no new acquisition: pre-2010 ODA permit holders and exempt facilities; no new permits since the 2010 window (ORS 609.351) | ORS 609.305(5); ORS 609.341; ORS 609.351; OAR... |
| Bear | Banned for new owners | Oregon allows only black bears held as pets before January 20, 2017, under an ODFW permit. New black bears go only to AZA zoos or exhibitor or sanctuary facilities. Other bears are exotic animals, permitted only to pre-2010 holders.Existing animals only, no new acquisition. Black bear: pets legally held before 20 Jan 2017; new bears only at AZA or exhibitor/sanctuary facilities. Other bears: pre-2010 ODA permit or exempt facility | OAR 635-044-0460(3); OAR 635-044-0470(2); ORS... |
| Wolfdog | Banned for new owners | Oregon treats a wolf-cross as a wolf unless the owner proves it is a hybrid. Pure wolves are limited to existing holders and AZA zoos, with no new permits. The rules do not say how a proven hybrid is treated.Wolf-cross classed as wolf unless owner proves hybridity. Pure wolves: existing animals only, no new acquisition (holders as of 31 Dec 2009, otherwise AZA only) | OAR 635-044-0460(5); OAR 635-044-0460(7)(a);... |
| Raccoon | Permit needed | A raccoon needs an ODFW Wildlife Holding Permit and an approved enclosure. It must come from an out-of-state USDA licensed breeder, cannot be bred, and Oregon bars offering raccoons for sale as household pets.Wildlife Holding Permit; approved enclosure; microchip or tattoo; sterilization if mixed sexes; no breeding | OAR 635-044-0460; ORS 498.029 |
| Skunk | Permit needed | A skunk needs an ODFW Wildlife Holding Permit and an approved enclosure. It must come from an out-of-state USDA licensed breeder, cannot be bred, and Oregon bars offering skunks for sale as household pets.Wildlife Holding Permit; approved enclosure; microchip or tattoo; sterilization if mixed sexes; no breeding | OAR 635-044-0460; ORS 498.029 |
| Venomous snake | Depends | Oregon bans copperheads, cottonmouths, lanceheads, sand vipers and most nonnative rattlesnakes by name, but lists several others, including cobras and gaboon vipers, as noncontrolled. Species on neither list are unclassified and get no permit for pet owners.Species by species: check OAR 635-056-0050 and 0060; unclassified species get no permit for pet owners | OAR 635-056-0050(1)(d)(C); OAR 635-056-0060(4... |
| Axolotl | No state restriction found | Oregon names the axolotl on its noncontrolled list, so no Fish and Wildlife permit is needed to keep one. Other tiger salamanders are banned, but the axolotl is listed separately. | OAR 635-056-0060(3)(b)(A) |
| African pygmy hedgehog | No state restriction found | The African pygmy hedgehog (four-toed hedgehog) is on Oregon's noncontrolled list, so no state wildlife permit is needed. Eurasian hedgehog species are prohibited, so check the species when buying.Eurasian hedgehogs (Erinaceus) are prohibited | OAR 635-056-0060(1)(i) |
| Ferret | No state restriction found | Oregon lists the ferret as a domestic animal exempt from its wildlife rules, so no wildlife permit is needed to keep one as a pet. | OAR 635-056-0020(10) |
| Sugar glider | No state restriction found | The sugar glider is named on Oregon's noncontrolled list, so no state wildlife permit is needed to keep one. Native flying squirrels are treated differently. | OAR 635-056-0060(1)(h)(D) |
| Wallaby | No state restriction found | Oregon names kangaroos and wallabies (all Macropodidae species) on its noncontrolled list, so no state wildlife permit is needed to keep one. | OAR 635-056-0060(1)(h)(B) |
| Chinchilla | No state restriction found | Oregon lists the chinchilla as a domestic animal exempt from its wildlife rules, so no wildlife permit is needed. | OAR 635-056-0020(7) |
| Tarantula | No state restriction found | Oregon wildlife law covers fish, shellfish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, not spiders. Tarantulas are not on any wildlife list, so the state requires no wildlife permit. | ORS 496.004(19) |
| Kangaroo | No state restriction found | Oregon names kangaroos and wallabies (all Macropodidae species) on its noncontrolled list, so no state wildlife permit is needed to keep one. | OAR 635-056-0060(1)(h)(B) |
| Kinkajou | No state restriction found | The kinkajou is named on Oregon's noncontrolled list, so no state wildlife permit is needed to keep one. | OAR 635-056-0060(1)(b)(F) |
| Giant constrictor | No state restriction found | Oregon lists pythons and boas, all nonnative species, as noncontrolled, so no state wildlife permit is needed for a Burmese python, reticulated python or anaconda. Check federal rules separately. | OAR 635-056-0060(4)(c)(B) |
| Tegu | No state restriction found | Oregon lists tegus as noncontrolled under the genus Tupinambis, and its rules keep the older taxonomy even if names change later, so no state wildlife permit is needed. Check federal and local rules separately. | OAR 635-056-0060(4)(b)(V); OAR 635-056-0002(2) |
Who regulates exotic pets in Oregon
Oregon Department of Agriculture (exotic animals) and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (wildlife) is the agency to ask. Species not yet classified by ODFW are treated like prohibited species: OAR 635-056-0040 says no permit is issued for them except to AZA zoos, colleges, universities and facilities meeting OAR 635-056-0050(2). Selling or offering a fox, skunk or raccoon as a household pet is illegal (ORS 498.029). Sellers of nonnative wildlife must post common and scientific names.
The main texts:
- OAR 635-056 nonnative wildlife rules (ODFW)
- OAR 635-044-0460 holding of bear, cougar, bobcat, wolf, raccoon, skunk
- ORS 609.341 permit requirement for exotic animals (ODA)
- OAR 603-015 exotic animal rules (ODA)
Before you buy in Oregon
- 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 Oregon.
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 Oregon?
- Permit needed. A raccoon needs an ODFW Wildlife Holding Permit and an approved enclosure. It must come from an out-of-state USDA licensed breeder, cannot be bred, and Oregon bars offering raccoons for sale as household pets.
- Is it legal to own a monkey in Oregon?
- Banned for new owners. Nonhuman primates are exotic animals in Oregon. Agriculture permits only people who held one before 2010, plus exempt facilities and certain disability service monkey users, so a new pet owner cannot get one.
- Is it legal to own a fox in Oregon?
- Banned. Oregon prohibits keeping native wild canids, and names the red fox. Exceptions cover only commercial fur farms and licensed wildlife rehabilitators. Offering a fox for sale as a household pet is also illegal.
- Is it legal to own a skunk in Oregon?
- Permit needed. A skunk needs an ODFW Wildlife Holding Permit and an approved enclosure. It must come from an out-of-state USDA licensed breeder, cannot be bred, and Oregon bars offering skunks for sale as household pets.
- Is it legal to own a ferret in Oregon?
- No state restriction found. Oregon lists the ferret as a domestic animal exempt from its wildlife rules, so no wildlife permit is needed to keep one as a pet.
- Is it legal to own a capybara in Oregon?
- Banned. Oregon names the capybara on its prohibited species list. It may not be possessed, sold or imported, and permits go only to zoos, universities and similar facilities.
- Who do I ask about exotic pets in Oregon?
- Start with Oregon Department of Agriculture (exotic animals) and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (wildlife). Then ask your county and city.