Is it legal to own a tarantula? A state-by-state guide
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
Tarantulas are large, hairy spiders in the family Theraphosidae. They live across the Americas, Africa, much of Asia, Australia and parts of southern Europe. Body length runs about 5 to 11 cm (2 to 4.5 inches) and leg span roughly 8 to 30 cm (3 to 12 inches), depending on the species. They are becoming increasingly popular as pets, and some species are easy to find for sale. People ask about owning one partly because all tarantulas are venomous. In practice the risk varies a lot by species, and rules differ by state.
Banned 3Depends 1No state restriction found 39Not verified yet 8
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 | Tarantulas are not covered by Alabama's prohibited animal list or its protected invertebrate list. No state permit is required under the rules read. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 220-2-.26(1) |
| Alaska | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Alaska's rule for this animal yet. Ask Alaska Department of Fish and Game before you buy. | Agency page |
| Arizona | No state restriction found | Arizona's wildlife law covers mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, mollusks, crustaceans and fish, and spiders are not included, so tarantulas are not restricted by the state wildlife rules. | A.R.S. 17-101 (definition of wildlife) |
| Arkansas | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Arkansas's rule for this animal yet. Ask Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Captive Wildlife before you buy. | Agency page |
| California | No state restriction found | Tarantulas are arachnids, a class the state wild animal and restricted species rules do not cover, so no state permit is needed. | Cal. Fish & Game Code 2116; 14 CCR 671(c) |
| Colorado | No state restriction found | Colorado's wildlife rules cover wild vertebrates, mollusks and crustaceans only, so spiders such as tarantulas fall outside CPW licensing. Check with the state agriculture department on any import requirements. | C.R.S. 33-1-102(51) |
| Connecticut | No state restriction found | Connecticut's categories name no spiders, tarantulas or arachnids, so no state permit or ban applies to pet tarantulas. | Regs. Conn. State Agencies 26-55-6 |
| Delaware | No state restriction found | Delaware's exotic permit rule covers only nonnative wild mammals and reptiles, so tarantulas fall outside it, and no ban on them was found. The agency's web page reads broader than the rule, so confirm with the Department of Agriculture. | 3 Del. C. 7201; 3 DE Admin. Code 903 sec. 3.0 |
| District of Columbia | Banned | Only non-venomous snakes, fish and turtles among invertebrate and reptile groups are excepted. Spiders such as tarantulas are not on the exception list, so they fall under the general ban on pet animals. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Florida | No state restriction found | Florida's captive wildlife rules cover birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians only. Tarantulas are invertebrates, so no state possession permit applies.Invertebrates are outside the captive wildlife permit rules | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-1.004, definition of Wil... |
| Georgia | No state restriction found | Georgia lists only certain scorpions among its dangerous invertebrates, and no spiders or tarantulas, so no state licence is needed. Check with the state wildlife agency for unusual species. | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-8-.03 to .05 |
| Hawaii | Banned | Tarantulas and other spiders are not on Hawaii's conditionally approved list, so they cannot be brought in or kept as pets.Not on the conditionally approved list; no private-use permit route | HAR 4-71-6(a), 4-71-6.5(a) |
| Idaho | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Idaho's rule for this animal yet. Ask Idaho State Department of Agriculture (deleterious exotic animals) and Idaho Department of Fish and Game (captive wildlife) before you buy. | |
| Illinois | No state restriction found | No Illinois dangerous animal, wildlife or herptile rule I read covers spiders, so no state permit is needed. | 720 ILCS 5/48-10; 520 ILCS 5/2.2 |
| Indiana | No state restriction found | Indiana exempts any invertebrate its rules do not name, and tarantulas are not named. No state permit is listed. | 312 IAC 9-9-5 |
| Iowa | No state restriction found | Iowa's dangerous wild animal law does not cover spiders or other invertebrates, and no state permit applies. Check local rules. | Iowa Code ch. 717F (not covered) |
| Kansas | No state restriction found | Kansas treats tarantulas, which are arthropods covered by the state definition of wildlife, 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 | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Kentucky's rule for this animal yet. Ask Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources before you buy. | |
| Louisiana | No state restriction found | Tarantulas and other spiders 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 | Depends | Only three tarantulas are on Maine's Unrestricted Species list: Grammostola pulchra, G. pulchripes and G. rosea (Chilean rose). Other tarantulas are not listed, and species not categorized may not be possessed.Only Grammostola pulchra, G. pulchripes and G. rosea | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, secs. 7.06(1), 7.06(4); Unr... |
| Maryland | No state restriction found | Maryland's wildlife possession rules cover mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles, and none of the rules read mentions tarantulas or other spiders. No state ban or permit was found. | Md. Code, Natural Resources 10-101(dd) |
| Massachusetts | No state restriction found | Massachusetts wildlife licensing covers only vertebrates (fish, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians), so tarantulas are not regulated under the state wildlife law or its exempt list. Other laws may still apply.Invertebrates are outside M.G.L. c. 131 s. 23 | M.G.L. c. 131 s. 23; 321 CMR 9.01 |
| Michigan | No state restriction found | Tarantulas and other spiders are not on any Michigan prohibited species 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 tarantula as a protected wild animal, a regulated animal or a prohibited invasive species, so no state permit or ban was found. The invasive species lists read name no spiders. | Minn. Stat. 97A.015 subd. 39 and 53; 97A.501... |
| Mississippi | No state restriction found | Tarantulas are not on any Mississippi list of prohibited or permit-only animals that I read, and no state permit applies to pet spiders. Imports of exotic animals need a permit and health certificate. | 40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, Rules 8.3 and 8.4 |
| Missouri | No state restriction found | Missouri's Wildlife Code does not cover invertebrates except where it says so, and it does not mention tarantulas. No state permit is needed. | 3 CSR 10-4.110(1) |
| 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 | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Nebraska's rule for this animal yet. Ask Nebraska Game and Parks Commission before you buy. | |
| Nevada | No state restriction found | Nevada's wildlife possession license applies only to wild mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, mollusks and crustaceans. Spiders are none of these and are not on the prohibited list, so no state license applies. | NRS 501.097; NRS 504.295; NAC 503.110 |
| New Hampshire | Banned | Tarantulas are not on New Hampshire's non-controlled list, and any unlisted wildlife is prohibited by default. The rules treat invertebrates as wildlife. Ask Fish and Game to confirm before buying one.Unlisted species are prohibited by default | N.H. Admin. Code Fis 804.04(b); Fis 804.03(b)... |
| New Jersey | No state restriction found | New Jersey's possession permit rules cover only mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. The state agency lists tarantulas among exempt wildlife that need no sales receipt or permit. | N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.2(a); NJ Division of Fish and... |
| New Mexico | Not verified yet | We could not confirm New Mexico's rule for this animal yet. Ask New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Special Use Permits Program before you buy. | Agency page |
| New York | No state restriction found | The tarantula 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 | North Carolina wildlife rules reach wild invertebrates only if federally listed, and the state exotic species list does not include tarantulas. No state permit was found for pet tarantulas. | N.C.G.S. 113-129(15); 15A NCAC 10B .0123 |
| North Dakota | No state restriction found | The State Board of Animal Health lists arachnids and invertebrates as exempt from nontraditional livestock and importation requirements, unless the State Veterinarian decides otherwise for disease or safety reasons.Exempt unless State Veterinarian decides otherwise | Agency Non-Traditional Livestock page; N.D. A... |
| Ohio | No state restriction found | Ohio's wildlife and dangerous animal laws do not list tarantulas, spiders or other arachnids. No state permit was found. | ORC 935.01(C), (L); ORC 1531.01(X) |
| Oklahoma | No state restriction found | Oklahoma exempts native invertebrates from its wildlife permit and licence rules, and I found no rule that restricts pet tarantulas. Check the Wildlife Department if importing exotic species. | OAC 800:25-25-3(a) |
| Oregon | 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) |
| Pennsylvania | No state restriction found | No Pennsylvania rule was found covering tarantulas. Game Commission law covers birds and mammals, and the Fish and Boat Commission covers reptiles and amphibians, so invertebrates are outside both. | 34 Pa.C.S. 102 (definition of wildlife) |
| Rhode Island | No state restriction found | Invertebrates other than insects are exempt from the permit requirement, except nuisance, invasive or otherwise prohibited species. Tarantulas are not on the prohibited list. | 250-RICR-40-05-3 3.17(A)(1)(b)-(c) |
| South Carolina | No state restriction found | No state rule I found names tarantulas or spiders. 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 | No state restriction found | South Dakota's exotic animal permit rules cover mammals and birds, and I found no state rule on tarantulas or other invertebrates. Check with the state if buying from out of state. | ARSD 12:68:18:03 (mammals and birds only); SD... |
| Tennessee | 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) |
| Texas | No state restriction found | Tarantulas are not named in any Texas state possession rule I read, so no state permit applies. | Tex. Health & Safety Code 822.101(4); Tex. Pa... |
| Utah | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Utah's rule for this animal yet. Ask Utah Division of Wildlife Resources before you buy. | Agency page |
| Vermont | No state restriction found | Invertebrates are unrestricted in Vermont except listed medically significant spiders and scorpions, and tarantulas are not among them. Importing invertebrates must also comply with USDA rules. | Vermont F&W Unrestricted Wild Animal List (Ju... |
| Virginia | No state restriction found | Virginia has no state ban or permit for tarantulas. Unlisted nonnative animals may be possessed, purchased and sold. | 4VAC15-30-40(H) |
| Washington | No state restriction found | Tarantulas and other spiders 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 | The dangerous wild animal law covers only mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and aquatic animals, so tarantulas are outside it. No state permit is needed. | W. Va. Code 19-34-2(2) |
| Wisconsin | No state restriction found | The tarantula is a nonnative wild animal that is not on Wisconsin's harmful list, so state law requires no licence to keep one as a pet. Spiders are not on any prohibited or restricted list read. | Wis. Stat. 169.04(4)(b) |
| Wyoming | No state restriction found | Wyoming's wildlife possession rules cover mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles, mollusks and crustaceans. Spiders are not included, so no state wildlife permit applies to a pet tarantula. | Wyo. Game & Fish Comm'n Ch. 69, Section 2(c);... |
Federal law
- CITES. Tarantulas of the genus Brachypelma (Mexican red-knee and relatives) are in CITES Appendix II. This matters to importers and exporters, not to ordinary keepers. Other tarantula genera were not checked. 50 CFR 23.13; CITES Appendices
- Endangered Species Act. Five ornamental tiger spiders of the genus Poecilotheria (P. fasciata, ornata, smithi, subfusca, vittata) are listed as endangered, a popular pet group. Selling one across state lines without FWS authorization is unlawful. 50 CFR 17.11(h); 50 CFR 17.21(f)
- CITES. Ornamental tiger spiders (genus Poecilotheria) are in CITES Appendix II. This matters to importers and exporters, not to ordinary keepers. 50 CFR 23.13; CITES Appendices
- CITES. The Chilean rose tarantula (Grammostola rosea), a common pet, was added to CITES Appendix II at CoP20, listed from 5 March 2026 on Species+. This matters to importers and exporters, not to ordinary keepers. 50 CFR 23.13; CITES Appendices (CoP20)
Why states regulate it
Where tarantulas are restricted, the reasons are usually practical. All tarantulas are venomous, though the venom is not deadly to humans and most bites are compared to a bee sting. Old World species are generally faster and more defensive than New World ones, and often have more potent venom. New World species flick urticating hairs that can cause rashes and, in extreme cases, eye damage. A hobbyist source notes that tarantulas can't be released outdoors when an owner tires of them, and that the adults sold are generally wild-caught.
Before you buy
- Ask whether the spider is captive-bred. A hobbyist source says spiderlings are generally captive-born, while the adults you can afford are generally wild-caught.
- Start with a New World species if you are new. Old World species are faster and more defensive, and the same source calls Poecilotheria, the ornamentals, absolutely not for beginners.
- The hairs are usually the bigger risk. Some people have needed surgery to remove them from their eyes, so wash your hands after handling molted skins and avoid peering straight into the cage.
- Females can live 30 to 40 years, while males die relatively soon after maturing, roughly 18 months later. Ask the sex and age of any spider before you pay.
- Never plan on releasing an unwanted tarantula outdoors. The same hobbyist source suggests selling it to an interested buyer or donating it to a local nature center.
Sources for the facts about the animal: en.wikipedia.org, blogs.cornell.edu.
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: venomous snake, axolotl, tegu.
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 tarantula in California?
- No state restriction found. Tarantulas are arachnids, a class the state wild animal and restricted species rules do not cover, so no state permit is needed.
- Is it legal to own a tarantula in Texas?
- No state restriction found. Tarantulas are not named in any Texas state possession rule I read, so no state permit applies.
- Is it legal to own a tarantula in Florida?
- No state restriction found. Florida's captive wildlife rules cover birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians only. Tarantulas are invertebrates, so no state possession permit applies.
- Is it legal to own a tarantula in New York?
- No state restriction found. The tarantula 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 tarantula in Pennsylvania?
- No state restriction found. No Pennsylvania rule was found covering tarantulas. Game Commission law covers birds and mammals, and the Fish and Boat Commission covers reptiles and amphibians, so invertebrates are outside both.
- Is it legal to own a tarantula in Illinois?
- No state restriction found. No Illinois dangerous animal, wildlife or herptile rule I read covers spiders, so no state permit is needed.
- Is it legal to own a tarantula in Ohio?
- No state restriction found. Ohio's wildlife and dangerous animal laws do not list tarantulas, spiders or other arachnids. No state permit was found.
- Is it legal to own a tarantula in Georgia?
- No state restriction found. Georgia lists only certain scorpions among its dangerous invertebrates, and no spiders or tarantulas, so no state licence is needed. Check with the state wildlife agency for unusual species.
- Is tarantula legal in every state?
- No. In our data it is banned in 3 states and needs a permit in 0. 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.