Is it legal to own a fox? A state-by-state guide
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) has the widest distribution of any canid and has been introduced to Australia. Adults weigh about 3 to 14 kg, with males slightly larger than females. Red foxes are nocturnal or most active at dawn and dusk. A Russian breeding program, begun in 1959, selected silver foxes, a red fox variant, for tameness over more than 40 generations, and some of those foxes were later sold as pets. People ask about ownership because a tame fox looks like a small, clever dog. It isn't one, and rules differ by state.
Banned 32Banned for new owners 3Permit needed 11Depends 4Not verified yet 1
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 | Banned | Foxes are designated game animals, possession of live protected wild animals is unlawful, foxes from outside Alabama are banned, and foxes also lack a licensed rabies vaccine. Private possession is not allowed. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 220-2-.06; r. 220-2-.26(1... |
| Alaska | Banned | Red foxes are not on Alaska's clean list, and the state issues no permit to keep game animals as pets. Private pet ownership is barred.Only clean list species may be kept; no permit is issued for pets | 5 AAC 92.029(a), (c) |
| Arizona | Banned | Red foxes are barred under the all-Carnivora restriction. No special license type is open to ordinary pet owners. | Ariz. Admin. Code R12-4-406(F)(3) |
| Arkansas | Banned for new owners | Red foxes captured by hand before July 1, 2022 may be kept for life. Foxes from or previously living in listed states or Canada are on the prohibited list. Whether a captive-bred Arkansas fox may be bought is unclear.Grandfathering for hand-captured animals (before 2022-07-01); max 6 per household (Code 09.14). | AGFC Code 09.14(A)(1)(iii); AGFC Code Addendu... |
| California | Banned | All species in the dog family are restricted, including red foxes. The only permits are for specified purposes such as exhibiting, breeding or research, so there is no pet permit. | 14 CCR 671(c)(2)(K)2 |
| Colorado | Banned | Red foxes are not on any Colorado list of animals that may be kept without a licence, and CPW issues no licence for pet possession of regulated wildlife. State law restricts possession of native wildlife. | C.R.S. 33-6-109(1); 2 CCR 406-11 Intro |
| Connecticut | Banned | Foxes are in the family Canidae, which is Category One. Private individuals may not import or possess any Category One wild animal, including hybrids.Category One Wild Animal; no pet-owner route | Regs. Conn. State Agencies 26-55-6(a)(2), (b)(1) |
| Delaware | Banned | Delaware bars possessing, importing or selling live red foxes, which are named rabies vector species. They are native wildlife, which the agency says cannot be kept as pets. | 7 DE Admin. Code 3900 sec. 15.1.3 |
| District of Columbia | Banned | DC bans possessing or giving as a household pet any living animal that is not on a short exception list, including captive-bred animals. This species is not on the list. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Florida | Permit needed | A fox taken from the wild cannot be kept as a pet. A captive-bred fox needs a personal-use permit; the class is unclear because Class II cites the Canidae family for wolves, coyotes and jackals.Captive-bred only; wild-caught foxes barred from personal use; Class III (no fee) or Class II ($140 a year, experience or exam) | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.003(13), (8); 68A-6.00... |
| Georgia | Banned | Red foxes are native wildlife, and the state says licences are not issued to hold native wildlife as pets. Red fox is named on its list of species that may not be kept as pets.No pet licence exists | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-8-.04/.05; O.C.G.A... |
| Hawaii | Banned | All foxes (genus Vulpes), including the red fox, are on Hawaii's research and exhibition list only, so they are barred as pets.Listed only on Part A (research and exhibition); not available for private pets | HAR 4-71-6.5(b)(2), Restricted Animal List Pa... |
| Idaho | Banned | Idaho bars possession, sale, trade and import of any fox. Exceptions are limited to fur farms (domestic fur-bearing animals) and permitted public parks, zoos, museums and educational institutions. | Idaho Code 25-236(1) |
| Illinois | Permit needed | Red fox is a protected fur-bearing mammal. Holding live ones requires a Fur-Bearing Mammal Breeder Permit from the Illinois DNR. Fur farmers meeting income tests are exempt. Ask DNR whether a pet owner can get one.Fur-Bearing Mammal Breeder Permit, $25 a year | 520 ILCS 5/2.2; 520 ILCS 5/3.25 |
| Indiana | Permit needed | A red fox, including colour phases, needs an Indiana Class II wild animal possession permit within five days of taking possession. The animal must be legally acquired and the enclosure inspected.Class II permit; proof of legal acquisition; inspection | 312 IAC 9-11-7 |
| Iowa | Banned for new owners | Iowa bans owning, breeding or importing foxes (canids) as a dangerous wild animal. Only people who already owned one on July 1, 2007 may keep it, so new buyers cannot. Red fox is also a fur-bearing animal, but the canid ban applies.Grandfathered only: a person who already owned it on July 1, 2007 and meets registration, microchip, insurance and enclosure rules. | Iowa Code 717F.1(5)(a)(1), 717F.3, 717F.4 |
| Kansas | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Kansas's rule for this animal yet. Ask Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks before you buy. | |
| Kentucky | Banned | Kentucky bars possessing red foxes as a rabies vector species. Only zoos and approved institutions are exempt, plus people who held one legally before April 4, 2023.Grandfathered holders before 2023-04-04 only | 301 KAR 2:081 Section 6 |
| Louisiana | Banned | Louisiana's wildlife agency says possessing North American native wildlife as a pet is illegal, with no permit available. Red foxes are named in the state's nongame quadruped definition. | LDWF statement; LAC 76:V.701 (definition of n... |
| Maine | Banned | Maine lists foxes and all other canids (Family Canidae) as a Category 1 Restricted Species. Only exhibitors, wildlife rehabilitators, USDA-registered laboratories and accredited research facilities may hold Category 1 species, not private pet owners. | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, secs. 7.06(3)(A), 7.18(2)(F) |
| Maryland | Banned | Maryland bans possessing, selling or importing a live fox. Exemptions are narrow, such as DNR licence holders, and animals held before May 31, 2006 were grandfathered. | Md. Code, Criminal Law 10-621(b)(1)(i) |
| Massachusetts | Banned | The red fox is not on the state exempt or domestic lists, so a state licence is needed, and licence applications to keep animals as pets are denied. Ordinary owners cannot keep it. | 321 CMR 9.01(1); 9.02(2)(c); 2.12(9)(a); M.G.... |
| Michigan | Permit needed | Michigan lets a private person hold a red fox, including silver color phases, only with a DNR Permit to Hold Game in Captivity. Animals must be captive-bred.Captive-bred only; DNR Permit to Hold Game in Captivity (form PR1350); pen at least 8 ft by 6 ft by 6 ft for a single animal; no wild-caught animals | MCL 324.40103(1), 324.40106; Captive Game Ord... |
| Minnesota | Banned | The red fox is a protected wild animal in Minnesota, and the DNR rule says permits are not issued to keep protected wild animals as pets. Captive-bred status is not addressed in the rule.Captive-bred red fox status not addressed in the rule read | Minn. Stat. 97A.501 subd. 1; 97A.015 subd. 45... |
| Mississippi | Banned | Mississippi bans keeping live fox as pets. Live fox may be held only in permitted hunting fox enclosures or briefly by licensed trappers selling to those enclosures. | 40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, Rule 7.1(F) |
| Missouri | Permit needed | A red fox can be held only under a Wildlife Hobby Permit (one game mammal, bought from a Missouri breeder) or a Class I Wildlife Breeder Permit.Wildlife Hobby Permit ($11, one animal from a breeder) or Class I breeder permit | 3 CSR 10-9.105(7); 3 CSR 10-9.420 |
| Montana | Banned | Montana bars private possession of foxes under its rabies control law. Exceptions are limited to animals held before 1982, fur-bearing enterprises, zoos and research institutions. | MCA 50-23-101(4), 50-23-102 |
| Nebraska | Permit needed | A red fox may be kept only with a Captive Wildlife Permit from the Game and Parks Commission. The animal must come from a licensed breeder or permittee, never from the wild.Captive Wildlife Permit; captive-bred from licensed source only; annual report | 163 NAC 4-008.01B; Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-477(1),... |
| Nevada | Banned | Nevada bans possessing any fox in the genus Vulpes, which includes the red fox. The only license route is for zoos, research bodies and similar institutions, not pet owners.Permits only for zoos, research institutions, aquaculture and educational nonprofits | NAC 503.110(1)(d)(10), (3) |
| New Hampshire | Banned | New Hampshire lists the red fox as a controlled species, but only exhibitors can hold a permit for it. Private pet owners cannot legally keep one.Permit available only to exhibitors (permittee category 5) | N.H. Admin. Code Fis 804.05, Table 800.2; Fis... |
| New Jersey | Banned | The red fox is a game animal, but nondomestic dogs are also a potentially dangerous game species. Those animals may not be kept as a household pet except when compelled by the infancy of the animal.Potentially dangerous game species; no household pets | N.J.A.C. 7:25-10.10(a); 10.11(a)6 |
| New Mexico | Banned | The list has one entry for any fox (Vulpes), in group IV, which is closed to the general public. Possessing a group IV animal needs a department permit that pet owners cannot get.Group IV; permits only for science, zoos, qualified experts; list entry covers any fox | Director's Species Importation List, group IV... |
| New York | Banned | Wild canids, including foxes, are banned even if captive-bred. Licences are not issued for pets. | 6 NYCRR 180.1(b)(1), (c); ECL 11-0511 |
| North Carolina | Banned | The red fox is a native North Carolina wild mammal. The state captivity licence is for education, exhibition or science only and is not issued for pets, so private pet ownership is barred. | N.C.G.S. 113-272.5(a); NCWRC Wildlife Captivi... |
| 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.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... |
| 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.Noncommercial propagating license; captive-bred only | ORC 1533.71(A)(2); ORC 1531.01(W) |
| Oklahoma | Depends | Oklahoma lets people keep native wildlife as pets only if legally obtained from a source other than the wild. Breeding needs a licence.Legally obtained, not from the wild; breeding licence | 29 O.S. 7-502(B)(4) |
| 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. | OAR 635-056-0050(1)(a)(B)(i) |
| Pennsylvania | Banned | Pennsylvania bars importing or possessing red foxes. Only licensed fur propagators may hold them, and their foxes cannot be sold as pets. Captive-bred silver foxes are not exempted.Fur-farm propagators only | 58 Pa. Code 137.1(a)(2) |
| Rhode Island | Banned | The red fox is a native animal and a Carnivora with no USDA licensed rabies vaccine. It is listed as prohibited as a pet, and DEM may not permit private persons. | 250-RICR-40-05-3 3.17(A)(6)(c)(28), 3.7(A), 3... |
| South Carolina | Banned | State law bars possessing a live fox unless the DNR permits it. The permits are for hunting enclosures and licensed trappers, not pet owners. DNR also says it issues no permits for private personal possession of wildlife.DNR permit only | S.C. Code 50-11-2605 |
| South Dakota | Permit needed | Game, Fish and Parks allows one pet red fox per household, but buying a live one is banned. Foxes are canids, so an Animal Industry Board possession permit also appears to be required.One per household; no purchase or sale; Animal Industry Board possession permit | ARSD 41:08:05:01, 41:08:05:03; ARSD 12:68:18:03 |
| 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.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... |
| Texas | Banned | Texas bars possessing a live red fox without a fur-bearing animal propagation licence, and TPWD says it will not issue that licence for foxes because of rabies rules. The licence is not a pet permit.No pet route: propagation licence not issued for rabies-vector species | Tex. Parks & Wildlife Code 71.005(c); 31 TAC... |
| Utah | Depends | Red foxes are listed as domestic only if privately owned and domestically bred and raised. Wild-caught red foxes are not covered by that listing, and Utah bars taking native mammals from the wild for personal possession.Domestically bred and raised only | Utah Admin. Code R657-3b-7 and Table 3b-1 |
| Vermont | Banned | The red fox is not on Vermont's Domestic, Unrestricted or Restricted lists, so it is treated as Restricted. The wildlife rule says no permit is issued to keep a wild animal in captivity except for scientific or educational purposes.Permit only for bona fide scientific or educational purposes (10 V.S.A. 4152) | 10 App. V.S.A. 18 sections 4.1 and 5.1(a) |
| Virginia | Banned for new owners | Wild red foxes cannot be kept in Virginia. Only domesticated red foxes with distinguishable coat colors that were held on July 1, 2017 and declared to the department may be kept, and they cannot be bred or sold without a permit.Grandfathered domesticated red foxes only; no breeding or sale without permit | 4VAC15-20-50(A) and (B) |
| Washington | Banned | Red foxes are native wild animals in Washington. WDFW says possessing any wild mammal needs a permit, and permits go to rehabilitators and similar holders, not pet owners.Only rehabilitation or similar permits exist; captive-bred silver foxes may be held for fur farming only | WAC 220-450-030(4); RCW 77.08.010(72) |
| West Virginia | Permit needed | The red fox is native wildlife. A Division of Natural Resources pet permit is required, and the animal must come from a licensed commercial dealer or be taken in open season.Pet permit, W. Va. Code 20-2-51; bill of sale from licensed dealer; no sale or breeding | W. Va. Code 20-2-51; 20-2-4; 58 CSR 64 7.6 |
| Wisconsin | Depends | Captive-born red foxes are classed as domestic animals, so state wildlife law requires no licence. A wild-caught red fox is a wild animal and cannot be kept without a DNR licence.Only foxes born, bred and raised in captivity are exempt | Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 10.02(6); Wis. Stat. 16... |
| Wyoming | Depends | The red fox is a predatory animal in Wyoming. One captured in Wyoming may be kept without a permit, but importing one is prohibited, so a fox bought out of state is not allowed.No permit if captured in Wyoming; importation prohibited | Wyo. Game & Fish Comm'n Ch. 10, Sections 12,... |
Federal law
No federal law restricts keeping one as a pet; state law decides.
Why states regulate it
Places that restrict pet foxes usually cite a few reasons. Foxes are known vectors for rabies, which can pass to humans and other animals. They also mark their scent with urine, droppings and several glands, which makes them awkward housemates. A University of British Columbia welfare review calls domestic foxes highly active animals whose natural behaviour could be very destructive in an ordinary home. It adds that ranched foxes can become aggressive, which sometimes leads to euthanasia, and concludes that domestic foxes are not yet suited to being common pets.
Before you buy
- Treat a pet fox as a wild animal with a friendly streak. The UBC welfare review says even friendly domestic foxes need substantial attention and care.
- Only a captive-bred animal from a breeder you can question is worth considering. Never take a found cub or a wild-caught fox as a pet.
- Their natural behaviour includes marking territory and high activity, so expect smells and damage indoors. The UBC review says fox welfare depends heavily on the environment, so plan a suitable enclosure.
- Find an exotic-animal vet who actually sees foxes before you buy, and ask about rabies, since foxes are known vectors of the disease.
- Published lifespans for captive red foxes conflict, with Animal Diversity Web giving 10 to 12 years in its text and 15 in a data table, so plan for at least a decade.
Sources for the facts about the animal: animaldiversity.org, scientificamerican.com, blogs.ubc.ca.
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: fennec fox, wolfdog, raccoon.
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 fox in California?
- Banned. All species in the dog family are restricted, including red foxes. The only permits are for specified purposes such as exhibiting, breeding or research, so there is no pet permit.
- Is it legal to own a fox in Texas?
- Banned. Texas bars possessing a live red fox without a fur-bearing animal propagation licence, and TPWD says it will not issue that licence for foxes because of rabies rules. The licence is not a pet permit.
- Is it legal to own a fox in Florida?
- Permit needed. A fox taken from the wild cannot be kept as a pet. A captive-bred fox needs a personal-use permit; the class is unclear because Class II cites the Canidae family for wolves, coyotes and jackals.
- Is it legal to own a fox in New York?
- Banned. Wild canids, including foxes, are banned even if captive-bred. Licences are not issued for pets.
- Is it legal to own a fox in Pennsylvania?
- Banned. Pennsylvania bars importing or possessing red foxes. Only licensed fur propagators may hold them, and their foxes cannot be sold as pets. Captive-bred silver foxes are not exempted.
- Is it legal to own a fox in Illinois?
- Permit needed. Red fox is a protected fur-bearing mammal. Holding live ones requires a Fur-Bearing Mammal Breeder Permit from the Illinois DNR. Fur farmers meeting income tests are exempt. Ask DNR whether a pet owner can get one.
- 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 fox in Georgia?
- Banned. Red foxes are native wildlife, and the state says licences are not issued to hold native wildlife as pets. Red fox is named on its list of species that may not be kept as pets.
- Is red fox legal in every state?
- No. In our data it is banned in 32 states and needs a permit in 11. 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.