Exotic pet laws in Tennessee
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
The table lists every animal we cover and what Tennessee 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 Tennessee
| Animal | Status | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skunk | Banned | It is unlawful to import, possess, buy, sell or transfer any live skunk, with exceptions only for zoological parks, research institutions and licensed rehabilitators. | Tenn. Code 70-4-208(a) |
| Big cat | Banned | Lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs and cougars are Class I, only for zoos, circuses and commercial propagators. Personal permits cover only animals owned before June 25, 1991, and no new animals.Personal possession permit only for animals held before 25 June 1991 | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(1)(A)(ii)(c), 70-4-404(c)(1) |
| Alligator or other crocodilian | Banned | Crocodiles and alligators, all species, are Class I, only for zoos, circuses and commercial propagators. Caimans and gavials are listed in Class III by rule, which may differ. Personal permits cover only animals held before 1991.Caimans and gavials are Class III by rule | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(1)(B)(i); Tenn. Comp. R.... |
| Venomous snake | Banned | All venomous snakes are Class I, which only zoos, circuses and commercial propagators may keep. Personal permits cover only animals held before June 25, 1991.Personal possession permit only for animals held before 25 June 1991 | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(1)(B)(ii), 70-4-404(c)(1) |
| Bear | Banned | All bears are Class I, and the native black bear is also Class IV, which only zoos and temporary exhibitors may hold. Pet owners cannot get a permit for a new bear. | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(1)(A)(ii)(b), (4)(A) |
| Raccoon | Permit needed | A raccoon is native wildlife, so it is Class II. A TWRA personal possession permit is required, plus papers showing the supplier and date of acquisition.Class II personal possession permit ($10 per animal); proof of legal source | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(2), 70-4-404(d)(1)(B); Te... |
| Red fox | Permit needed | A red fox is treated as native wildlife, so it is Class II. A TWRA personal possession permit is required, plus papers showing the supplier and date of acquisition.Class II personal possession permit ($10 per animal); proof of legal source | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(2), 70-4-404(d)(1)(B); Te... |
| Bobcat | Permit needed | A bobcat is native wildlife, so it is Class II and needs a TWRA personal possession permit plus proof of legal source. A bobcat and domestic cat hybrid is Class III.Class II personal possession permit ($10 per animal); proof of legal source | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(2), (3)(N); Tenn. Comp. R... |
| Pet monkey | Depends | Most monkeys fall under primates not otherwise listed in Class III, with no TWRA permit. Gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees, gibbons, siamangs, mandrills, drills and baboons are Class I, barred for private owners. Check agriculture import rules.Class III for monkeys; apes, baboons, mandrills, drills are Class I (not available to pet owners) | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(1)(A)(i), (3)(M) |
| Otter | Depends | The native river otter is Class II and needs a TWRA personal possession permit. The Asian small-clawed otter is nonnative and falls in Class III with no TWRA permit.River otter: Class II permit; Asian small-clawed otter: Class III | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(2), (3); Tenn. Comp. R. &... |
| Capybara | No state restriction found | Not named or restricted. Tennessee puts every species not listed in another class into Class III, which needs no TWRA permit. The state agriculture department may have its own import rules.Class III; no TWRA permit | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(3) |
| African pygmy hedgehog | No state restriction found | Not named or restricted. A nonnative mammal not listed in another class falls in Class III, which needs no TWRA permit. The state agriculture department may have its own import rules.Class III; no TWRA permit | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(3) |
| Ferret | No state restriction found | Ferrets are named as Class III wildlife, which needs no TWRA permit. Tennessee rabies and agriculture import rules may still apply.Class III; no TWRA permit | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(3)(D) |
| Sugar glider | No state restriction found | Marsupials are listed as Class III wildlife, which needs no TWRA permit. The state agriculture department may have its own import rules.Class III; no TWRA permit | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(3)(J) |
| Fennec fox | No state restriction found | Only wolves are named among the dog family in Class I. A fennec fox is not native or listed elsewhere, so it falls in Class III, which needs no TWRA permit.Class III; no TWRA permit | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(3) |
| Serval or savannah cat | No state restriction found | Serval is not in the Class I cat list (lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, cougars), so it is Class III with no TWRA permit. Savannah hybrids with a Class III parent are also Class III.Class III; no TWRA permit; hybrid with domestic cat treated by the least restrictive class involved | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(3) |
| Wallaby | No state restriction found | Marsupials are listed as Class III wildlife, which needs no TWRA permit. The state agriculture department may have its own import rules.Class III; no TWRA permit | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(3)(J) |
| Chinchilla | No state restriction found | Chinchillas are named as Class III wildlife, which needs no TWRA permit.Class III; no TWRA permit | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(3)(D) |
| Tarantula | No state restriction found | Not named or restricted. Species not listed in another class fall in Class III, which needs no TWRA permit. Tennessee lists no spiders in Class I or V.Class III; no TWRA permit | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(3) |
| Kangaroo | No state restriction found | Marsupials are listed as Class III wildlife, which needs no TWRA permit. The state agriculture department may have its own import rules.Class III; no TWRA permit | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(3)(J) |
| Prairie dog | No state restriction found | Not native to Tennessee and not listed in another class, so it falls in Class III, which needs no TWRA permit. The state agriculture department may have its own import rules.Class III; no TWRA permit | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(3) |
| Kinkajou | No state restriction found | Not named or restricted. A nonnative mammal not listed in another class falls in Class III, which needs no TWRA permit.Class III; no TWRA permit | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(3) |
| Lemur | No state restriction found | Lemurs are not in the Class I primate list, so they are primates not otherwise listed in Class III, which needs no TWRA permit.Class III; no TWRA permit | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(3)(M) |
| Giant constrictor | No state restriction found | Giant constrictors are nonvenomous and not named as restricted, so they fall in Class III with no TWRA permit. Check the agriculture department for import rules.Class III; no TWRA permit | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(3)(A) |
| Tegu | No state restriction found | Tegus are nonvenomous reptiles listed in Class III, which needs no TWRA permit. They are not on the state's Class V list.Class III; no TWRA permit | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(3)(A) |
| Axolotl | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Tennessee's rule for this animal yet. Ask Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Wolfdog | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Tennessee's rule for this animal yet. Ask Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) before you buy. | Agency page |
Who regulates exotic pets in Tennessee
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is the agency to ask. Class III animals need no TWRA permit, only any permits the Department of Agriculture requires (for example import health rules). Anyone holding Class I or II wildlife must have documents showing the supplier and date of acquisition. Class II personal possession permits expire each June 30.
The main texts:
- Tenn. Code 70-4-403 Classifications of wildlife (FindLaw copy)
- Tenn. Code 70-4-404 Permits and fees (FindLaw copy)
- Tenn. Code 70-4-401 Prohibited acts (FindLaw copy)
- Tenn. Code 70-4-208 Skunks (FindLaw copy)
- Rule 1660-01-18-.03 Classes of wildlife (Cornell LII)
- Rule 1660-01-18-.02 Permits (Cornell LII)
Before you buy in Tennessee
- 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 Tennessee.
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 Tennessee?
- Permit needed. A raccoon is native wildlife, so it is Class II. A TWRA personal possession permit is required, plus papers showing the supplier and date of acquisition.
- Is it legal to own a monkey in Tennessee?
- Depends. Most monkeys fall under primates not otherwise listed in Class III, with no TWRA permit. Gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees, gibbons, siamangs, mandrills, drills and baboons are Class I, barred for private owners. Check agriculture import rules.
- Is it legal to own a fox in Tennessee?
- Permit needed. A red fox is treated as native wildlife, so it is Class II. A TWRA personal possession permit is required, plus papers showing the supplier and date of acquisition.
- Is it legal to own a skunk in Tennessee?
- Banned. It is unlawful to import, possess, buy, sell or transfer any live skunk, with exceptions only for zoological parks, research institutions and licensed rehabilitators.
- Is it legal to own a ferret in Tennessee?
- No state restriction found. Ferrets are named as Class III wildlife, which needs no TWRA permit. Tennessee rabies and agriculture import rules may still apply.
- Is it legal to own a capybara in Tennessee?
- No state restriction found. Not named or restricted. Tennessee puts every species not listed in another class into Class III, which needs no TWRA permit. The state agriculture department may have its own import rules.
- Who do I ask about exotic pets in Tennessee?
- Start with Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). Then ask your county and city.