Is it legal to own a raccoon? A state-by-state guide
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a medium-sized, mostly nocturnal omnivore native to southern Canada, most of the United States and into northern South America. Adults weigh roughly 1.8 to 10.4 kg, averaging about 6 kg. Young raccoons are sometimes kept as pets because they are curious and intelligent, which is why people ask if they can keep one. Once grown, they can be quite destructive in and around homes. One captive raccoon on record lived 21 years. Rules differ by state, so check before you fall for a photo.
Banned 32Permit needed 12Depends 5Not verified yet 2
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 | Raccoons are designated game animals, and Alabama bars possessing live protected wild animals without a permit. Raccoons brought in from outside the state are also banned. No pet route exists. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 220-2-.06; r. 220-2-.26(1... |
| Alaska | Banned | Raccoons 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 | Raccoons are barred under the all-Carnivora restriction, whether captive-bred or wild-caught. No special license type is open to ordinary pet owners. | Ariz. Admin. Code R12-4-406(F)(3) |
| Arkansas | Depends | Raccoons are on the prohibited list, so none can be bred or sold. The only pet route is hand-capturing a wild Arkansas raccoon, up to 6 per household with other listed animals. Wild-caught pets cannot be sold.Hand-captured in Arkansas only; maximum 6 per household; no sale or transfer; separate sexes or neuter (Code 09.14). | AGFC Code 09.14(A)(1)(i); AGFC Code Addendum... |
| California | Banned | Raccoons are Procyonidae, and all species in that family are restricted, including native raccoons. 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)4 |
| Colorado | Banned | Raccoons are on Colorado's prohibited species list. Only animals owned with proof of possession before September 1, 1990 may be kept for life, and they cannot be sold or moved within the state.Grandfathered only (possessed before 1 Sept 1990); no sale or transport | 2 CCR 406-0 #008(B)(6) |
| Connecticut | Banned | Raccoons are Procyonidae, which is Category Two. Private individuals may not import or possess them.Category Two Wild Animal; no pet-owner route | Regs. Conn. State Agencies 26-55-6(a)(3)(B),... |
| Delaware | Banned | Delaware bars possessing, importing or selling live raccoons, 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 raccoon taken from the wild cannot be kept as a pet. A captive-bred raccoon is Class III and needs a no-cost personal-use permit from the FWC.Captive-bred only; wild-caught raccoons barred from personal use; Class III permit | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.003(13), (8); 68A-6.00... |
| Georgia | Banned | Raccoons are native wildlife, and the state says licences are not issued to hold native wildlife as pets. Raccoons are named on its list of native 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 | Raccoons are on Hawaii's research and exhibition list only, so private individuals cannot keep them 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 raccoon. 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 | Raccoons are protected fur-bearing mammals. Anyone holding live ones needs a Fur-Bearing Mammal Breeder Permit from the Illinois DNR, which costs $25 a year. Ask DNR whether it will issue one for a pet.Fur-Bearing Mammal Breeder Permit, $25 a year, expires March 31 | 520 ILCS 5/2.2; 520 ILCS 5/3.25 |
| Indiana | Permit needed | A raccoon 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 | Depends | Raccoons are fur-bearing animals. Iowa lets a person keep no more than two as pets without a game breeder licence, bars adding to the stock, and requires a licensed breeder or legal out-of-state source.Maximum two; no increase, killing or sale; source must be a licensed game breeder or legal source outside Iowa; no wild-caught Iowa animals | Iowa Code 481A.1(20), 483A.23 |
| 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 raccoons. Only zoos and approved institutions are exempt, plus people who legally held one before April 4, 2023, who cannot replace or breed it. Ordinary buyers cannot get a permit.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. Raccoons are named in the state's nongame quadruped definition. | LDWF statement; LAC 76:V.701 (definition of n... |
| Maine | Banned | Raccoons are not on Maine's Unrestricted list or any permit category, and Maine bars possessing any species that has not been categorized. | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, sec. 7.06(4); 12 MRSA 12152... |
| Maryland | Banned | Maryland bans possessing, selling or importing a live raccoon. 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 raccoon 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 raccoon only with a DNR Permit to Hold Game in Captivity. Animals must be captive-bred, and importing raccoons from other states is illegal.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; import of raccoons banned | MCL 324.40103(1), 324.40106; Captive Game Ord... |
| Minnesota | Banned | The raccoon is a protected wild animal in Minnesota, and the DNR rule says permits are not issued to keep protected wild animals as pets. Whether a captive-bred raccoon is treated differently is not addressed in the rule.Captive-bred raccoon status not addressed in the rule read | Minn. Stat. 97A.501 subd. 1; 97A.015 subd. 45... |
| Mississippi | Banned | Mississippi bans possessing live raccoons. The captive game and furbearer rule allows only zoos, vets caring for sick animals, and similar exceptions, so private pet keeping is not allowed. Animals found are confiscated. | 40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, Rule 8.4(A)-(B) |
| Missouri | Permit needed | A raccoon 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 raccoons under its rabies control law. The only exceptions are animals held before 1982, fur-bearing enterprises, zoos and research institutions. | MCA 50-23-101(4), 50-23-102 |
| Nebraska | Permit needed | A raccoon 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 | The raccoon is on Nevada's prohibited species list, so private possession is banned. Licenses for listed species go only to zoos, research bodies and similar institutions.Permits only for zoos, research institutions, aquaculture and educational nonprofits | NAC 503.110(1)(d)(11), (3) |
| New Hampshire | Banned | New Hampshire lists the raccoon 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 | Permit needed | The raccoon is a game animal in New Jersey, and possession needs a state captive game permit. The Individual Hobby permit covers pets, and the animal may not come from wild stock.Captive game Individual Hobby permit; animal must not be taken from the wild | N.J.A.C. 7:25-10.5(a); 7:25-10.6(a); 7:25-10.... |
| New Mexico | Banned | The raccoon is in group IV of the Director's Species Importation List. Group IV is closed to the general public, and possessing a group IV animal needs a department permit that pet owners cannot get.Group IV; permits only for science, zoos, qualified experts | Director's Species Importation List, group IV... |
| New York | Banned | Raccoons are on the dangerous animal list, including captive-bred ones. The only licences are for science, education, exhibition or propagation, so a pet owner cannot get one. | 6 NYCRR 180.1(b)(5), (c) |
| North Carolina | Banned | The raccoon 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 | Banned | North Dakota law bars keeping a raccoon in captivity. Only a USDA-licensed zoo is excepted, and the State Veterinarian can confiscate animals kept in violation. | N.D. Cent. Code 36-01-08.4; N.D. Admin. Code... |
| 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.Noncommercial propagating license; captive-bred only; imported raccoons need origin-state documents | ORC 1533.71(A)(2); ORC 1531.01(W); OAC 1501:3... |
| 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 | 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 |
| Pennsylvania | Banned | Pennsylvania bars importing or possessing raccoons. No pet permit route was found. | 58 Pa. Code 137.1(a)(4) |
| Rhode Island | Banned | The raccoon 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)(27), 3.7(A), 3... |
| South Carolina | Not verified yet | We could not confirm South Carolina's rule for this animal yet. Ask South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR) before you buy. | Agency page |
| South Dakota | Depends | Game, Fish and Parks lets a household keep one pet raccoon under humane and sanitary conditions. Buying or selling a live raccoon is banned, and the animal may not be declawed or otherwise altered.One per household; no purchase or sale; no physical alteration | ARSD 41:08:05:01, 41:08:05:03, 41:08:05:05 |
| 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.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 raccoon without a fur-bearing animal propagation licence, and TPWD says it will not issue that licence for raccoons 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 | Banned | Utah bans possessing a live raccoon. Only organizations doing research or exhibition can request a variance from the Department of Agriculture and Food, so a pet owner cannot get one.Variance only for research or exhibition organizations | Utah Admin. Code R58-14-3(2)-(3); R657-3b-1(2) |
| Vermont | Banned | The raccoon 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 | Virginia treats raccoons as wild animals, and possessing one is unlawful unless specifically permitted by law. No pet permit route is offered. Exceptions exist for rehabilitators and similar permit holders. | Va. Code 29.1-521(A)(10) |
| Washington | Banned | Raccoons 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 | WAC 220-450-030(4); RCW 77.08.010(72) |
| West Virginia | Permit needed | The raccoon 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 | Permit needed | The raccoon is a native wild animal. Keeping one needs a DNR Class A or Class B captive wild animal farm licence, and it cannot be taken from the wild. Check local rules with the DNR.Captive wild animal farm licence (Class A or B); legally obtained, not wild-caught | Wis. Stat. 169.04(1)(b); 169.15(1) |
| Wyoming | Depends | Raccoons are predatory animals in Wyoming. A raccoon captured in Wyoming may be kept without a permit, but importing one is prohibited, so a pet from 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
Governments that restrict raccoons usually point to public health first. Raccoons are among the animals most frequently found with rabies in the U.S., and they can carry other diseases and parasites that spread to people and domestic animals. One is raccoon roundworm: infection from eggs in raccoon droppings is rare but can be serious, and children are most often infected. Raccoons also have sharp teeth and claws, and a veterinary school expert says they can bite or scratch people and pets when provoked. The CDC advises against keeping, feeding or adopting wild animals, including raccoons, as pets.
Before you buy
- Treat this as a wild animal, not a puppy substitute. Adults can reach about 10 kg, a captive raccoon has lived 21 years, and a vet school expert says their teeth and claws can injure.
- Ask a local vet whether they would treat a raccoon at all, and what happens if it ever bites someone, before you buy.
- Raccoon roundworm eggs pass in droppings and take 2 to 4 weeks to become infectious, so hygiene matters. Removing droppings promptly reduces the risk, and young children are most at risk.
- Be wary of any seller who says an animal is tame or safe forever. A Texas A&M veterinary expert calls taming raccoons incredibly hard.
- Don't adopt a wild raccoon or a found baby. The CDC advises against keeping, feeding or adopting wild animals, and animal control can advise you instead.
Sources for the facts about the animal: animaldiversity.org, cdc.gov, vetmed.tamu.edu, cdc.gov.
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: skunk, red fox, kinkajou.
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 California?
- Banned. Raccoons are Procyonidae, and all species in that family are restricted, including native raccoons. 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 raccoon in Texas?
- Banned. Texas bars possessing a live raccoon without a fur-bearing animal propagation licence, and TPWD says it will not issue that licence for raccoons because of rabies rules. The licence is not a pet permit.
- Is it legal to own a raccoon in Florida?
- Permit needed. A raccoon taken from the wild cannot be kept as a pet. A captive-bred raccoon is Class III and needs a no-cost personal-use permit from the FWC.
- Is it legal to own a raccoon in New York?
- Banned. Raccoons are on the dangerous animal list, including captive-bred ones. The only licences are for science, education, exhibition or propagation, so a pet owner cannot get one.
- Is it legal to own a raccoon in Pennsylvania?
- Banned. Pennsylvania bars importing or possessing raccoons. No pet permit route was found.
- Is it legal to own a raccoon in Illinois?
- Permit needed. Raccoons are protected fur-bearing mammals. Anyone holding live ones needs a Fur-Bearing Mammal Breeder Permit from the Illinois DNR, which costs $25 a year. Ask DNR whether it will issue one for a pet.
- 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 raccoon in Georgia?
- Banned. Raccoons are native wildlife, and the state says licences are not issued to hold native wildlife as pets. Raccoons are named on its list of native species that may not be kept as pets.
- Is raccoon legal in every state?
- No. In our data it is banned in 32 states and needs a permit in 12. 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.