Is it legal to own a tegu? A state-by-state guide
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
The Argentine black and white tegu is a big South American lizard, native to parts of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia. Adult males can exceed 120 cm (4 feet) in length, and females reach about 100 cm and 2.5 to 7 kg (6 to 15 pounds). Tegus are omnivores with a reputation for being smart and fairly gentle, which is why some keepers love them. They also grow far beyond what many buyers expect, and they have become a problem invasive species in Florida and Georgia. Rules differ by state.
Banned 7Banned for new owners 3Permit needed 1Depends 3No state restriction found 31Not verified yet 6
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 | Alabama bans possessing or selling any tegu. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 220-2-.26(1) |
| Alaska | No state restriction found | Alaska's clean list allows any nonvenomous reptile, including lizards, without a state permit.Clean list species; may not be released into the wild | 5 AAC 92.029(b) |
| Arizona | No state restriction found | Tegus are not on Arizona's restricted reptile list, so no state license is required. | Ariz. Admin. Code R12-4-406 |
| Arkansas | Banned for new owners | Tegus are on the prohibited list. Only people who owned one before April 16, 2026 and register it with the Commission by June 30, 2027 may keep it. New purchases are not allowed.Grandfathering only: owned before 2026-04-16 and registered by 2027-06-30. | AGFC Code Addendum R1.03 (Prohibited Captive... |
| California | No state restriction found | Tegus are not on the state restricted species list, so no state permit is needed. | 14 CCR 671(c)(7) |
| Colorado | Banned | Teiid lizards are legal only if native entirely within 26 degrees north and south latitude. The Argentine black and white tegu ranges farther south, so it is not on the list and is unlawful to possess. | 2 CCR 406-7 #701(A), Appendix A(B)(17) |
| Connecticut | No state restriction found | The regulation names only certain monitors (Nile, water, crocodile and others) and the Komodo dragon among lizards. The Argentine tegu is not listed, so no state permit or ban applies. | Regs. Conn. State Agencies 26-55-6 |
| Delaware | No state restriction found | Tegus are named as exempt from the Delaware exotic animal permit requirement. No state permit is needed. | 3 DE Admin. Code 903 sec. 6.1.2 |
| District of Columbia | Banned | Only non-venomous snakes and turtles among reptiles are excepted. Lizards such as tegus are not on the exception list, so they are barred as pets. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Florida | Banned | Tegus (genera Salvator and Tupinambis) cannot be kept, sold or bred in Florida except for education, research or eradication. Existing animals may stay only with earlier licensees or people who lawfully held one before the listing.Prohibited species; no new pet tegus; lifetime personal permit only for animals lawfully held before listing; earlier commercial licensees grandfathered | Fla. Stat. 379.372(2)(a)9, (2)(b); Fla. Admin... |
| Georgia | Depends | Only the Argentine black and white tegu is on Georgia's list, and it is licensed only for science, education or exhibition, so new pet owners cannot get one. Red and gold tegus are not named in the rules.Argentine black-and-white tegu barred; pets held on or before Dec 4, 2022 had to be tagged and registered within 12 months; other tegus not listed | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-8-.05(1)(c) |
| Hawaii | Banned | Tegus 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 | No state restriction found | Non-venomous reptiles are conventional pets in Idaho and need no state permit. The tegu is not on the Idaho invasive species reptile list.Not intended for release into the wild | IDAPA 13.01.10.010(06), 13.01.10.200(06)(b) |
| Illinois | No state restriction found | Tegus are not named in the Illinois special use herptile rules, which cover venomous reptiles, crocodilians, crocodile monitors and Komodo dragons. No state permit is needed. Local rules were not checked. | 510 ILCS 68/25-5; 17 Ill. Adm. Code 885.10 |
| Indiana | No state restriction found | Indiana's reptile and amphibian rules protect species native to Indiana and restrict venomous reptiles and large crocodilians. Tegus are not named, so no state permit is listed. | 312 IAC 9-5-1; 312 IAC 9-5-8 |
| Iowa | No state restriction found | Tegus are not on Iowa's dangerous wild animal list (only water and crocodile monitors are named among lizards) and no state permit applies. Check local rules. | Iowa Code ch. 717F (not covered) |
| Kansas | No state restriction found | Kansas treats the tegu 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 | Depends | Kentucky does not ban tegus by name. A transportation permit is required before receiving one shipped from outside Kentucky. Only a short list of animals is exempt from possession permits, so ask Kentucky Fish and Wildlife about in-state purchases.Transportation permit needed to receive from out of state; in-state purchase rules unclear | 301 KAR 2:082 Sections 1, 2, 4, 7, 10(5) |
| Louisiana | Banned | Louisiana prohibits importing, possessing, selling and breeding all tegus, including the Argentine black and white tegu. Only a temporary registration exists for animals held before the rule applied.Temporary registration for previously held animals only | LAC 76:XV.101(K)(2)(a)(ii) |
| Maine | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Maine's rule for this animal yet. Ask Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife before you buy. | Agency page |
| Maryland | No state restriction found | Maryland has no state ban or permit for tegus in the rules read. Its reptile possession rules cover only Maryland native species, and tegus are not on the nonnative aquatic list. | COMAR 08.03.11.01B |
| Massachusetts | No state restriction found | All teiids, including tegus (Tupinambis spp.), may be kept without a permit. | 321 CMR 9.01(10)(c)3 |
| Michigan | No state restriction found | Tegus are not on Michigan's prohibited or restricted species list, which names no reptiles. Local rules may differ. | MCL 324.41301(1)(k) and (o); Michigan prohibi... |
| Minnesota | Banned for new owners | Lizards are protected wild animals in Minnesota. A pet lizard is lawful only if obtained from a permitted breeder or possessed before August 1, 2021. Tegus are not named in the state invasive lists. Ask the DNR.Obtained from a DNR-permitted breeder, or possessed before 2021-08-01 | Minn. Stat. 97A.401 subd. 8; 97A.015 subd. 39 |
| Mississippi | No state restriction found | Tegus are not on any Mississippi list of prohibited or permit-only animals that I read, and no state permit applies. Imports of exotic animals need a 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 an Argentine tegu without a state permit because it is not native to Missouri and is not on the prohibited species list. Tegus are not on the prohibited species list. | 3 CSR 10-9.110(2) |
| Montana | No state restriction found | Tegus are in the lizard family Teiidae, which Montana lists as noncontrolled, so they may be kept without a permit. They must not be released into the wild.No permit; never release | MCA 87-5-706(1)(e)(xxii) |
| 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 lets people keep nonvenomous, nonindigenous reptiles, which includes tegus, without an NDOW license. Tegus are not on the prohibited list.No NDOW license needed; animals may not be released into the wild | NAC 503.140(1)(aa) |
| New Hampshire | No state restriction found | Tegus are exotic reptiles, which are non-controlled in New Hampshire, so no state possession permit is required. | N.H. Admin. Code Fis 804.02(b) |
| New Jersey | Permit needed | The Argentine black and white tegu 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. Tegus are not named, so the general rule applies.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 | 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 Argentine tegu 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. The reptile list names only certain monitors, boas, pythons and venomous reptiles. | 6 NYCRR 180.1(b); ECL 11-0103(6)(e) |
| North Carolina | Banned for new owners | Argentine black and white tegus are on the state restricted exotic list. Private individuals may keep only a tegu they already possessed before August 1, 2022. Buying or importing one is unlawful.grandfathered only: possessed before 1 August 2022 | 15A NCAC 10B .0123(a)(6), (c) |
| North Dakota | Not verified yet | We could not confirm North Dakota's rule for this animal yet. Ask North Dakota Department of Agriculture, State Board of Animal Health (State Veterinarian) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Ohio | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Ohio's rule for this animal yet. Ask Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife (native wildlife); Ohio Department of Agriculture (dangerous wild animals and restricted snakes) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Oklahoma | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Oklahoma's rule for this animal yet. Ask Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation before you buy. | Agency page |
| Oregon | No state restriction found | Oregon lists tegus as noncontrolled under the genus Tupinambis, and its rules keep the older taxonomy even if names change later, so no state wildlife permit is needed. Check federal and local rules separately. | OAR 635-056-0060(4)(b)(V); OAR 635-056-0002(2) |
| Pennsylvania | No state restriction found | Tegus are non-native reptiles, and the Fish and Boat Commission says it does not regulate their possession. Releasing one into the wild is illegal. | Fish and Boat Commission reptile and amphibia... |
| Rhode Island | No state restriction found | Teiids are exempt from the permit rule except a short list of small genera that does not include tegus. A past DEM proposal to add tegus does not appear in the current text. | 250-RICR-40-05-3 3.17(A)(4)(c)(2)(C) |
| South Carolina | Banned | Black and white tegus are restricted nonnative wildlife. After the 2021 registration period, possessing one needs a DNR permit, and new permits are for scientific and special purposes only. Only animals registered in 2021 are grandfathered.only tegus registered with DNR in 2021 are grandfathered; permit, microchip, no breeding | S.C. Code 50-15-55; Regs 123-152(B), (C), (D)(1) |
| South Dakota | No state restriction found | South Dakota's exotic animal permit rules cover mammals and birds, and I found no state rule naming tegus or other reptiles as pets. Ask Game, Fish and Parks to confirm. | ARSD 12:68:18:03 (mammals and birds only); SD... |
| Tennessee | 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) |
| Texas | No state restriction found | Tegus are not named in any Texas state possession or exotic species list I read, so no state permit applies. | 31 TAC 65.325(a); 31 TAC 57.112(c) |
| Utah | Depends | Tegus are not named in Utah's reptile and amphibian rule, and unlisted species default to controlled. A legally obtained captive animal needs no wildlife document if you keep written proof of lawful acquisition. Ask the Division about limits.Unlisted species default to controlled; keep written proof of legal acquisition (R657-53-5) | Utah Admin. Code R657-53-7(8); R657-53-5(1)(b) |
| Vermont | No state restriction found | Tegus and whiptails (Teiidae) 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 has no state ban or permit for tegus. Unlisted nonnative animals may be possessed, purchased and sold. | 4VAC15-30-40(H) |
| Washington | No state restriction found | Tegus are not named in any Washington prohibited, dangerous or deleterious list, so state law does not restrict them. The prohibited species lists cover aquatic animals. | RCW 16.30.010(2); WAC 220-640-050; WAC 220-64... |
| West Virginia | No state restriction found | Tegus are not on the dangerous wild animal list, and the native reptile rule does not apply to nonnative lizards. No state permit is needed. | W. Va. Code R. 74-1-3; 58 CSR 73 (DNR FAQ) |
| Wisconsin | No state restriction found | The Argentine tegu 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. It is not on the prohibited invasive species list. | Wis. Stat. 169.04(4)(b) |
| Wyoming | No state restriction found | Wyoming needs no permit for reptiles that are not on its prohibited or venomous and native-species permit lists. The Argentine tegu is on none of them. | Wyo. Game & Fish Comm'n Ch. 69, Sections 8, 9... |
Federal law
- CITES. The tegu genus Salvator is in CITES Appendix II. This matters to importers and exporters, not to ordinary keepers. 50 CFR part 16 has no tegu listing. 50 CFR 23.13; CITES Appendices
Why states regulate it
The main worry is escape and release. Wikipedia says escaped or released pets from the pet trade are the most likely source of the invasive tegus in Florida and Georgia. Tegus eat insects, fruit, small vertebrates and eggs, so wherever they take hold they can compete with and prey on local animals. Disease is a second concern: Salmonella was found in almost all tegus sampled at one Brazilian breeding station, and the CDC says reptile owners can catch Salmonella from the animals and their environments. Housing an animal this size is a practical problem too.
Before you buy
- Plan for an animal around 3 to 4 feet long. It needs an enclosure far larger than a typical lizard setup, so work out the space and cost before you buy.
- Tegus can live 12 to 15 years in the wild and more than 20 in captivity with excellent care, so this is a long commitment.
- Tegus brumate when temperatures drop in autumn. Ask the seller how the animal has been kept through the seasons and what it eats now.
- Assume your tegu carries Salmonella. Wash your hands after contact, and keep the animal away from children under 5, who the CDC says shouldn't handle reptiles.
- Never release one outdoors. Ask exactly which species it is and where it was bred, and ask for the seller's records.
Sources for the facts about the animal: en.wikipedia.org, 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: giant constrictor, alligator or other crocodilian, axolotl.
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 tegu in California?
- No state restriction found. Tegus are not on the state restricted species list, so no state permit is needed.
- Is it legal to own a tegu in Texas?
- No state restriction found. Tegus are not named in any Texas state possession or exotic species list I read, so no state permit applies.
- Is it legal to own a tegu in Florida?
- Banned. Tegus (genera Salvator and Tupinambis) cannot be kept, sold or bred in Florida except for education, research or eradication. Existing animals may stay only with earlier licensees or people who lawfully held one before the listing.
- Is it legal to own a tegu in New York?
- No state restriction found. The Argentine tegu 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. The reptile list names only certain monitors, boas, pythons and venomous reptiles.
- Is it legal to own a tegu in Pennsylvania?
- No state restriction found. Tegus are non-native reptiles, and the Fish and Boat Commission says it does not regulate their possession. Releasing one into the wild is illegal.
- Is it legal to own a tegu in Illinois?
- No state restriction found. Tegus are not named in the Illinois special use herptile rules, which cover venomous reptiles, crocodilians, crocodile monitors and Komodo dragons. No state permit is needed. Local rules were not checked.
- Is it legal to own a tegu in Ohio?
- We could not confirm Ohio's rule yet. Ask the state wildlife agency before you buy.
- Is it legal to own a tegu in Georgia?
- Depends. Only the Argentine black and white tegu is on Georgia's list, and it is licensed only for science, education or exhibition, so new pet owners cannot get one. Red and gold tegus are not named in the rules.
- Is tegu legal in every state?
- No. In our data it is banned in 7 states and needs a permit in 1. 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.