Is it legal to own an otter? A state-by-state guide
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
Otters are semi-aquatic mammals, and two kinds come up most in pet questions. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) weighs about 5 to 14 kg and ranges across Canada and the United States. The Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus), found from southern India to the Malay Peninsula and southern China, is smaller at about 2.7 to 5.4 kg. Viral videos make both look like ideal companions, so people ask whether they can have one. Rules differ by state.
Banned 16Banned for new owners 1Permit needed 8Depends 16Not verified yet 10
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 | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Alabama's rule for this animal yet. Ask Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries before you buy. | Agency page |
| Alaska | Banned | Otters 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 | Otters 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 | Depends | Captive-born river otters, which are native, may be bought from a permitted dealer or importer, up to six per household. The Asian small-clawed otter is on the prohibited list.River otter: captive-born, commercially obtained, max 6 per household, acquisition records, separate sexes or neuter (Code 09.14(B)); non-native vet certificate rule is in Code 09.02. Asian small-clawed otter: prohibited (R1.03). | AGFC Code Addendum R1.02, part B(1); Code 09.... |
| California | Banned | River otters and Asian small-clawed otters are both listed as restricted, and all other Mustelidae are restricted too. 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)5 |
| Colorado | Banned | Otters are not on any Colorado no-licence list, and the river otter is native wildlife. CPW issues no licence for pet possession of regulated wildlife. | CPW Wildlife and Animal Possession page; C.R.... |
| Connecticut | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Connecticut's rule for this animal yet. Ask Connecticut DEEP Wildlife Division before you buy. | Agency page |
| Delaware | Depends | The Asian small-clawed otter is a nonnative mammal needing a Delaware Exotic Animal Permit. The North American river otter is native wildlife, which the state restricts and the agency says cannot be a pet.Asian small-clawed: Exotic Animal Permit; river otter: native wildlife, not for pet owners | 3 Del. C. 7201; 3 DE Admin. Code 903 sec. 6.2... |
| 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 | Otters are not listed as Class I or II, so they are Class III. A private owner needs a no-cost personal-use wildlife permit and approved caging.Class III personal-use permit, no fee, age 16+, approved caging | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.003(8); 68A-6.002(1)(c... |
| Georgia | Banned | River otters are native wildlife that Georgia says may not be kept as pets, and other otters are Carnivora needing a licence that pet owners cannot get.No pet licence exists | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-8-.04/.05; O.C.G.A... |
| Hawaii | Banned | Both the river otter and the Asian small-clawed otter 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 | 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 | Depends | River otter is a protected fur-bearing mammal and needs a Fur-Bearing Mammal Breeder Permit to hold live. Asian small-clawed otters are not named in Illinois restricted lists I read.River otter: Fur-Bearing Mammal Breeder Permit; Asian small-clawed: not listed | 520 ILCS 5/2.2; 520 ILCS 5/3.25 |
| Indiana | Depends | Indiana bars possessing a live river otter except for rehabilitators, scientists, nuisance control and USDA-licensed holders, so pet owners cannot keep one. The Asian small-clawed otter is not named, so no state rule limits it.River otter: prohibited for pet owners; Asian small-clawed otter: not named | 312 IAC 9-3-18.2(m); 312 IAC 9-3-20 |
| Iowa | Depends | River otters 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 source. Asian small-clawed otters are not named.Maximum two; no increase or sale; licensed breeder or legal out-of-state source; applies to river otter, Asian small-clawed otter not addressed in the rules read | 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 for new owners | River otters are prohibited in Kentucky, with grandfathering only for animals held before April 4, 2023. Asian small-clawed otters are not named, but out-of-state shipments need a transportation permit and only a short list of animals is exempt from permits.River otter prohibited; Asian small-clawed not named, transportation permit for out-of-state shipments | 301 KAR 2:081 Section 6; 301 KAR 2:082 Section 2 |
| Louisiana | Depends | Native river otters are named as nongame quadrupeds, and the agency says native wildlife cannot be kept as pets. Asian small-clawed otters are not named on any list I read. Check with LDWF.River otter prohibited; Asian small-clawed otter not addressed | LAC 76:V.701 (nongame quadruped definition);... |
| Maine | Banned | Maine lists otters and all other mustelids (Family Mustelidae) 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 | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Maryland's rule for this animal yet. Ask Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service before you buy. | |
| Massachusetts | Banned | Otters are 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 them. | 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 river otter only with a DNR Permit to Hold Game in Captivity. Captive-bred only. Asian small-clawed otters are not named, so ask the DNR.Captive-bred only; DNR Permit to Hold Game in Captivity (form PR1350); pen at least 10 ft by 8 ft by 6 ft with a pool 4 ft by 6 ft by 3 ft deep for a single animal; no wild-caught animals; river otter named, Asian small-clawed otter not named | MCL 324.40103(1), 324.40106; Captive Game Ord... |
| Minnesota | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Minnesota's rule for this animal yet. Ask Minnesota Department of Natural Resources before you buy. | |
| Mississippi | Depends | River otters are banned: Mississippi prohibits live game and furbearing animals, which names the river otter. Asian small-clawed otters are not on a state list, and the Board of Animal Health requires no ownership permit for exotic otters.River otter prohibited; Asian small-clawed otter not listed | 40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, Rule 8.4(A)-(B) |
| Missouri | Depends | A river otter needs a Wildlife Hobby Permit or Class I breeder permit. The Asian small-clawed otter is not native to Missouri and needs no state permit.River otter: hobby or Class I breeder permit; Asian small-clawed otter: none | 3 CSR 10-9.105(7); 3 CSR 10-9.420; 3 CSR 10-9... |
| Montana | Depends | The Asian small-clawed otter is not authorized and so is barred. The native river otter is a furbearer: a fur farm licence is needed only for breeding or sale, but the animal must be lawfully obtained.River otter only, lawfully sourced; Asian small-clawed otter not allowed | MCA 87-4-1001, 87-4-1002; MCA 87-5-705(1) |
| Nebraska | Permit needed | The river otter may be kept only with a Captive Wildlife Permit, from a licensed source and never wild-taken. The Asian small-clawed otter is not named in the rules read.Captive Wildlife Permit for river otter; captive-bred from licensed source only; Asian small-clawed otter not addressed | 163 NAC 4-008.01B; Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-477(1),... |
| Nevada | Permit needed | River otters are fur-bearing mammals and the Asian small-clawed otter is unlisted, so Nevada requires an NDOW noncommercial wildlife possession license for either. Approval is discretionary.Noncommercial license (NRS 504.295); river otter is a classified fur-bearing mammal | NRS 504.295(1)(a); NAC 504.460(2)(b); NAC 503... |
| New Hampshire | Banned | New Hampshire lists the river otter as a controlled species, but only exhibitors can hold a permit for it. Private pet owners cannot legally keep one. Asian small-clawed otters are unlisted, so prohibited by default.Permit available only to exhibitors (permittee category 5) | N.H. Admin. Code Fis 804.05, Table 800.2; Fis... |
| New Jersey | Permit needed | The river otter is a game animal needing a captive game permit, and the Asian small-clawed otter is an exotic mammal needing an exotic permit. Individual Hobby permits cover pets.Individual Hobby permit (captive game for river otter, exotic for small-clawed otter) | N.J.A.C. 7:25-10.6(a)8; 7:25-4.5 |
| New Mexico | Banned | The river otter 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; Asian small-clawed otter is not listed and defaults to group IV | Director's Species Importation List, group IV... |
| New York | Not verified yet | We could not confirm New York's rule for this animal yet. Ask New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Dangerous Animal Licenses before you buy. | Agency page |
| North Carolina | Depends | The native river otter cannot be held as a pet, since the captivity licence is not issued for pets. Non-native otters such as the Asian small-clawed otter are not named, and the captivity licence rule covers only native animals.river otter barred as pet; non-native otters not covered by state captivity rules | N.C.G.S. 113-272.5(a); 15A NCAC 10H .1401(b);... |
| North Dakota | Permit needed | Otters are Category 2 nontraditional livestock, so a state license is required. A Game and Fish permit may also apply to this protected species.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 | 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 | Depends | Oklahoma lets people keep native wildlife as pets only if legally obtained from a source other than the wild. Breeding needs a licence. Nonnative otters such as the Asian small-clawed otter are not named in the rules I read.River otter: legally obtained, not from the wild | 29 O.S. 7-502(B)(4) |
| Oregon | Banned | Oregon names the Asian small-clawed otter and the eastern subspecies of the North American river otter on its prohibited list. Permits go only to zoos, universities and similar facilities. | OAR 635-056-0050(1)(a)(B)(iii)-(iv) |
| Pennsylvania | Banned | Pennsylvania bars importing, possessing or selling any wild animal, meaning any mammal other than horses, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, that is held in captivity or captive bred elsewhere. The rules name no pet permit for otters.Exotic wildlife permit definition does not name this animal; a permit would need 2 years hands-on experience at an approved facility | 58 Pa. Code 137.1(a)(11); 34 Pa.C.S. 102 (wil... |
| Rhode Island | Banned | The river otter 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. Exotic otters fall under the same Carnivora ban. | 250-RICR-40-05-3 3.17(A)(6)(c)(30), 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 | River otters are fur-bearing animals and may not be kept as pets. Other otters, such as Asian small-clawed, are nondomestic mustelids that need an Animal Industry Board possession permit.River otter prohibited; other otters need a possession permit | ARSD 41:08:05:01; SDCL 41-1-1; ARSD 12:68:18:03 |
| Tennessee | Depends | The native river otter is Class II and needs a TWRA personal possession permit. The Asian small-clawed otter is nonnative and falls in Class III with no TWRA permit.River otter: Class II permit; Asian small-clawed otter: Class III | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(2), (3); Tenn. Comp. R. &... |
| Texas | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Texas's rule for this animal yet. Ask Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; local animal registration agency (city or county animal control, or sheriff) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Utah | Banned | Otters are not on any Utah list, and unlisted species are presumed prohibited. Utah also bars taking native mammals from the wild for personal possession.Not on any list; treated as prohibited until assessed | Utah Admin. Code R657-3b-7 and Table 3b-1 |
| Vermont | Banned | Otters are not on Vermont's Domestic, Unrestricted or Restricted lists, so they are 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 | Depends | Asian small-clawed otters fall under the weasel and relatives entry and need a special Department of Wildlife Resources permit. The native river otter is a wild animal that cannot be possessed unless specifically permitted by law.Asian small-clawed otter: special DWR permit. River otter: no pet route | 4VAC15-30-40(A); Va. Code 29.1-521(A)(10) |
| Washington | Depends | River otters are native wild animals and need a permit pet owners cannot get. Asian small-clawed otters are not named in any state list, so no state rule was found for them.River otter prohibited; Asian small-clawed otter not listed | WAC 220-450-030(4); RCW 77.08.010(72) |
| West Virginia | Permit needed | The river otter is native wildlife and a fur-bearing animal, so a DNR pet permit is required, with the animal from a licensed dealer or taken in open season. The Asian small-clawed otter is not on the list.Pet permit, W. Va. Code 20-2-51 (river otter); Asian small-clawed otter not covered by the list | W. Va. Code 20-2-51; 20-1-2 |
| Wisconsin | Depends | The native river otter needs a DNR Class A or Class B captive wild animal farm licence and cannot be taken from the wild. The Asian small-clawed otter is nonnative and needs no state licence.River otter: captive wild animal farm licence; Asian small-clawed otter: none | Wis. Stat. 169.04(1)(b), (4)(b); 169.15 |
| Wyoming | Permit needed | Neither the river otter nor the Asian small-clawed otter is domestic or on Wyoming's prohibited list, so a discretionary Game and Fish permit is required. An older Department guide says river otters are not allowed, so confirm with the Department.Chapter 10 permit, discretionary; approved holding facility; Department guide dated 12-2022 predates removal of otters from protected status | Wyo. Game & Fish Comm'n Ch. 10, Sections 3, 1... |
Federal law
- CITES. The Asian small-clawed otter is in CITES Appendix I, which bars commercial international trade in wild-origin animals. This matters to importers and exporters, not to ordinary keepers. 50 CFR 23.13; CITES Appendices
- CITES. The North American river otter is in CITES Appendix II through the otter subfamily listing. This matters to importers and exporters, not to ordinary keepers. 50 CFR 23.13; CITES Appendices
Why states regulate it
Restrictions on otters usually cite a mix of reasons. These animals are semi-aquatic and live where they have a permanent food supply and easy access to water, which a home can't copy. The Asian small-clawed otter is rated Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, and a 2018 TRAFFIC and IUCN report called the online pet trade the most pressing threat to the survival of otters. The chair of the IUCN Otter Specialist Group has said otter cubs are difficult to hand rear and susceptible to the same diseases as cats and dogs.
Before you buy
- Be honest about the water: river otters are semi-aquatic and can stay underwater for up to 8 minutes, which a bathtub or small pool cannot replace.
- Small-clawed otters live in extended family groups of about twelve, so a single animal kept alone is a welfare worry.
- Ask where the animal came from. More than 70 percent of otters found for sale online in the TRAFFIC report were under a year old.
- Cubs are difficult to hand rear and susceptible to cat and dog diseases, so ask what vet has treated otters before you commit.
- Captive otters can live well past a decade (one river otter reached 21 years), which is a long commitment for an animal with big space needs.
Sources for the facts about the animal: animaldiversity.org, animaldiversity.org, news.mongabay.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: ferret, skunk, 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 an otter in California?
- Banned. River otters and Asian small-clawed otters are both listed as restricted, and all other Mustelidae are restricted too. The only permits are for specified purposes such as exhibiting, breeding or research, so there is no pet permit.
- Is it legal to own an otter in Texas?
- We could not confirm Texas's rule yet. Ask the state wildlife agency before you buy.
- Is it legal to own an otter in Florida?
- Permit needed. Otters are not listed as Class I or II, so they are Class III. A private owner needs a no-cost personal-use wildlife permit and approved caging.
- Is it legal to own an otter in New York?
- We could not confirm New York's rule yet. Ask the state wildlife agency before you buy.
- Is it legal to own an otter in Pennsylvania?
- Banned. Pennsylvania bars importing, possessing or selling any wild animal, meaning any mammal other than horses, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, that is held in captivity or captive bred elsewhere. The rules name no pet permit for otters.
- Is it legal to own an otter in Illinois?
- Depends. River otter is a protected fur-bearing mammal and needs a Fur-Bearing Mammal Breeder Permit to hold live. Asian small-clawed otters are not named in Illinois restricted lists I read.
- Is it legal to own an otter in Ohio?
- We could not confirm Ohio's rule yet. Ask the state wildlife agency before you buy.
- Is it legal to own an otter in Georgia?
- Banned. River otters are native wildlife that Georgia says may not be kept as pets, and other otters are Carnivora needing a licence that pet owners cannot get.
- Is otter legal in every state?
- No. In our data it is banned in 16 states and needs a permit in 8. 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.