Is it legal to own a chinchilla? A state-by-state guide
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
Chinchillas are small, dense-furred rodents from the arid mountains of northern Chile. A wild adult has a head and body length of about 225 to 380 mm and weighs roughly 500 to 800 g. They are social, mostly nocturnal animals that den in rock crevices at high elevation. People ask whether they can have one because chinchillas are sold widely, look soft and are often described as low-maintenance. They aren't quite that. Rules differ by state, and the animal's own needs deserve a close look too.
Permit needed 2Depends 2No state restriction found 43Not verified yet 4
State by state
Tap a state name for every animal we cover there. The source link on each row goes to the rule itself.
| State | Status | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No state restriction found | Chinchillas are not named in Alabama's prohibited lists and no state permit is required under the rules read. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 220-2-.26(1) |
| Alaska | No state restriction found | Chinchillas are on Alaska's clean list and may be kept without a state permit. They may not be released.Clean list species; may not be released into the wild | 5 AAC 92.029(b) |
| Arizona | No state restriction found | Chinchillas are not in any restricted rodent family on Arizona's list, so no state license is required. | Ariz. Admin. Code R12-4-406 |
| Arkansas | No state restriction found | The long-tailed chinchilla is on the state's unrestricted list, so no Commission permit is needed to keep, breed, sell or import it. | AGFC Code Addendum R1.01 (Unrestricted Captiv... |
| California | No state restriction found | Domesticated chinchillas are expressly not restricted by the state restricted species list, so no state permit is needed.Domesticated races only | 14 CCR 671(c)(2)(J)1.e |
| Colorado | No state restriction found | Domesticated chinchillas are on Colorado's domestic animal list and are exempt from state wildlife licensing. Pet-trade chinchillas are domesticated races.Domesticated races only | 2 CCR 406-11 #1103(A) |
| Connecticut | No state restriction found | Chinchillas are expressly excepted from the rodent group that is barred, so no state permit is needed. | Regs. Conn. State Agencies 26-55-6(a)(3)(B)(xxv) |
| Delaware | No state restriction found | Chinchillas are named as exempt from the Delaware exotic animal permit requirement. No state permit is needed. | 3 DE Admin. Code 903 sec. 6.1.1 |
| District of Columbia | Not verified yet | We could not confirm District of Columbia's rule for this animal yet. Ask DC Department of Health (Animal Services) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Florida | No state restriction found | Chinchillas are named as needing no state permit for personal use.No state permit needed for personal use | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.003(14)(l) |
| Georgia | No state restriction found | Chinchillas are expressly exempted from the rodent licence requirement, so they may be kept as pets without a state licence. | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-8-.05(1)(a)16 |
| Hawaii | Permit needed | Chinchillas are on Hawaii's conditionally approved list, but the state says animals on that list still need an import permit from the Plant Quarantine Branch before they can be brought in.Import permit from Plant Quarantine Branch | HAR 4-71-6.5(a)-(b)(1); Conditionally Approve... |
| Idaho | No state restriction found | Chinchillas are expressly excluded from Idaho deleterious exotic South American rodents, and rodents are conventional pets needing no state permit. | IDAPA 02.04.27.410(08); 13.01.10.010(06) |
| Illinois | No state restriction found | Chinchillas are not named in any Illinois restricted list I read, so no state permit is needed. | 720 ILCS 5/48-10; 520 ILCS 5/2.2 |
| Indiana | No state restriction found | Indiana does not name the chinchilla. Mammals not named in the rules are exempted wild animals and no state permit is listed for it. | 312 IAC 9-3-20 |
| Iowa | No state restriction found | Chinchillas are not on Iowa's dangerous wild animal list and no state permit applies. Check local rules. | Iowa Code ch. 717F (not covered) |
| Kansas | No state restriction found | Kansas treats the chinchilla as exotic wildlife, which may be possessed and bought without a state permit if legally obtained where it came from and kept confined.Legal origin required; must be confined at all times | K.A.R. 115-20-3(a), (d) |
| Kentucky | No state restriction found | Chinchillas are expressly exempt from Kentucky's permit requirements for importing, transporting into Kentucky or possessing. | 301 KAR 2:082 Section 7 |
| Louisiana | No state restriction found | Chinchillas are not named on any Louisiana prohibited or permit list I read, so no state permit applies. | LAC 76:V.115(C); LAC 76:XV.101(K); LAC 76:V.701 |
| Maine | No state restriction found | Chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera) are on Maine's Unrestricted Species list, so no state possession permit is needed. | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, sec. 7.06(1); Unrestricted... |
| Maryland | No state restriction found | Maryland's wildlife rabies rule expressly says it does not prohibit importing or possessing chinchillas, and they are not on the state prohibited animal list. | COMAR 08.03.09.03C |
| Massachusetts | Depends | Chinchillas may be kept without a permit only if derived from captive stock.Derived from captive stock | 321 CMR 9.01(12)(a)2 |
| Michigan | No state restriction found | Chinchillas are not on any Michigan prohibited or permit list that I read. Local rules may differ. | MCL 324.41301(1)(k) and (o) (Part 413 lists);... |
| Minnesota | No state restriction found | Minnesota does not list the chinchilla as a protected wild animal, a regulated animal or a prohibited invasive species, so no state permit or ban was found. | Minn. Stat. 97A.015 subd. 39 and 53; 97A.501... |
| Mississippi | No state restriction found | Chinchillas are not on any Mississippi list of prohibited or permit-only animals that I read, and no general exotic pet permit applies. Out-of-state animals need an import permit and health certificate.Import: entry permit and veterinary health certificate | 40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, Rules 8.3 and 8.4 |
| Missouri | No state restriction found | Missouri lets people keep a chinchilla without a state permit because it is not native to Missouri and is not on the prohibited species list. | 3 CSR 10-9.110(2) |
| Montana | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Montana's rule for this animal yet. Ask Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks before you buy. | Agency page |
| Nebraska | No state restriction found | Chinchillas are named on the list of wildlife that may be imported, and they are not a native wild mammal, so no captive wildlife permit applies under the rules read. | 163 NAC 4-008.08A |
| Nevada | No state restriction found | Nevada lets people keep domesticated races of chinchillas, the kind sold as pets, without an NDOW license.No NDOW license needed for domesticated chinchillas | NAC 503.140(1)(hh) |
| New Hampshire | No state restriction found | Domesticated chinchillas are named as non-controlled in New Hampshire, so no possession permit is required. | N.H. Admin. Code Fis 804.02(b) |
| New Jersey | 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) |
| New Mexico | No state restriction found | The long-tailed chinchilla (Chinchilla laniger) is in group I of the Director's Species Importation List, so no importation permit is needed. The short-tailed species is group IV.Group I; short-tailed chinchilla excepted | Director's Species Importation List, group I |
| New York | No state restriction found | The chinchilla is not on New York's dangerous animal list or covered by the state wild-animal pet ban, so state law does not restrict it. | 6 NYCRR 180.1(b); ECL 11-0103(6)(e) |
| North Carolina | No state restriction found | Chinchillas are not named in North Carolina wildlife rules, and the captivity licence rule covers only native wild animals. No state permit was found for keeping one. A separate import permit rule for live wild animals may apply to out-of-state purchases; ask the Commission. | 15A NCAC 10H .1401(b), (d)(16) |
| North Dakota | 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) |
| Ohio | 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) |
| Oklahoma | No state restriction found | Oklahoma names chinchillas in its list of animals exempt from wildlife import permits and breeder licences, so no state permit is needed to keep one. Check the Wildlife Department for any other rule. | OAC 800:25-25-3(a) |
| Oregon | 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) |
| Pennsylvania | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Pennsylvania's rule for this animal yet. Ask Pennsylvania Game Commission before you buy. | Agency page |
| Rhode Island | Depends | Chinchillas are exempt from the permit rule only if derived from captive stock.Captive stock only | 250-RICR-40-05-3 3.17(A)(6)(a)(2) |
| South Carolina | No state restriction found | No state rule I found names chinchillas. They are not on any prohibited or permit list I read. Check with SC DNR before buying. | S.C. Code Title 50 ch. 16; 47-2-10; 47-5-50;... |
| South Dakota | Not verified yet | We could not confirm South Dakota's rule for this animal yet. Ask South Dakota Animal Industry Board (captive nondomestic animals) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Tennessee | 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) |
| Texas | No state restriction found | Chinchillas are not named in any Texas state possession rule, so no state permit applies. | Tex. Health & Safety Code 822.101(4); Tex. Pa... |
| Utah | No state restriction found | Chinchillas are listed as domestic animals, so Utah's wildlife rule does not require a permit to keep one.Listed as a domestic animal, so not governed by the Division's certificate of registration rule | Utah Admin. Code R657-3b-7 and Table 3b-1 |
| Vermont | No state restriction found | Chinchillas are on Vermont's Unrestricted Wild Animal List, so no Importation and Possession Permit is needed. | Vermont F&W Unrestricted Wild Animal List (Ju... |
| Virginia | No state restriction found | Virginia lists domesticated races of chinchillas as domestic animals, which are excluded from the exotic animal rules, so pet chinchillas need no state permit. | 4VAC15-20-50(A) |
| Washington | No state restriction found | Chinchillas are not named in any Washington prohibited, dangerous or deleterious list, so state law does not restrict them. | RCW 16.30.010(2); WAC 220-640-050; WAC 220-64... |
| West Virginia | No state restriction found | Not on West Virginia's dangerous wild animal list, and not a native mammal under the wildlife possession law, so no state permit is required. | W. Va. Code R. 74-1-3; W. Va. Code 20-1-2 |
| Wisconsin | No state restriction found | The chinchilla is a nonnative animal, and captive-born chinchillas are listed as domestic animals. State wildlife law requires no licence to keep one as a pet. | Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 10.02(6) |
| Wyoming | No state restriction found | The domesticated chinchilla is on Wyoming's list of domesticated animals and needs no Game and Fish permit. | Wyo. Game & Fish Comm'n Ch. 10, Sections 2(j)... |
Federal law
- CITES. The chinchilla genus is in CITES Appendix I, but specimens of the domesticated form are not subject to the Convention, so ordinary pet chinchillas are outside it. Wild-origin chinchillas would need CITES documents. 50 CFR 23.13; CITES Appendices
Why states regulate it
Chinchillas are small and not dangerous to people, so the reasons for restricting them are mostly about conservation and welfare. Wild chinchillas were hunted heavily for fur, the IUCN lists the species as Critically Endangered, and international trade in wild chinchillas is restricted, which is why captive-bred stock matters. Welfare is the other concern. Chinchillas are very susceptible to heat stroke, many common antibiotics can be lethal to them, and their continuously growing teeth need to wear properly.
Before you buy
- Heat is the biggest hazard. A veterinary source gives an ideal range of 50 to 68°F (10 to 20°C) and says temperatures should never reach 80°F (27°C).
- Chinchillas need a dust box for grooming, and their teeth grow continuously, about 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 cm) a year, so dental problems can develop if the teeth do not wear properly.
- Many antibiotics, including penicillin and erythromycin, can be lethal to chinchillas. Find a vet with exotic small-mammal experience before you buy, not after something goes wrong.
- Domesticated chinchillas have lived over 20 years, so this is a very long commitment. Ask any seller for captive-bred stock and the animal's age and history.
- Chinchillas are mostly nocturnal and can drop patches of fur when handled roughly or stressed, so handling needs to be gentle and they are not a cuddly daytime pet.
Sources for the facts about the animal: animaldiversity.org, vcahospitals.com.
Check your own state
The legality checker shows one animal in one state with its source, and exotic pet laws by state lists every state we cover. Related guides: African pygmy hedgehog, ferret, prairie dog.
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 chinchilla in California?
- No state restriction found. Domesticated chinchillas are expressly not restricted by the state restricted species list, so no state permit is needed.
- Is it legal to own a chinchilla in Texas?
- No state restriction found. Chinchillas are not named in any Texas state possession rule, so no state permit applies.
- Is it legal to own a chinchilla in Florida?
- No state restriction found. Chinchillas are named as needing no state permit for personal use.
- Is it legal to own a chinchilla in New York?
- No state restriction found. The chinchilla is not on New York's dangerous animal list or covered by the state wild-animal pet ban, so state law does not restrict it.
- Is it legal to own a chinchilla in Pennsylvania?
- We could not confirm Pennsylvania's rule yet. Ask the state wildlife agency before you buy.
- Is it legal to own a chinchilla in Illinois?
- No state restriction found. Chinchillas are not named in any Illinois restricted list I read, so no state permit is needed.
- Is it legal to own a chinchilla in Ohio?
- 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.
- Is it legal to own a chinchilla in Georgia?
- No state restriction found. Chinchillas are expressly exempted from the rodent licence requirement, so they may be kept as pets without a state licence.
- Is chinchilla legal in every state?
- No. In our data it is banned in 0 states and needs a permit in 2. The table above shows each state.
- Does 'no state restriction found' mean I can buy one?
- No. It means the state rule we read does not ban it or require a state permit. County and city rules, federal law, sale and import rules and your landlord can still stop you.