State rankings
Pet Otter Legal States
Pet Otter Legal States: compare 51 US states on 3 metrics.
Pet Otter Legality
2 values across 51 entries
Data
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18 states
 Alabama | Otters are designated fur-bearing animals, and possession of a live otter beyond trap conditions requires a permit from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources unless otherwise authorized. | https://admincode.legislature.state.al.us/administrative-code/220-2-.30 |
 Arizona | In Arizona, live wildlife generally cannot be possessed unless a special license or lawful exemption is granted, because "restricted live wildlife" explicitly requires a permit for possession. | https://www.animallaw.info/administrative/az-exotic-wildlife-article-4-live-wildlife |
 California | Otters are classified as restricted species under California Code of Regulations §671, and possession is not allowed without a permit issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. | https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=28427&inline |
 Florida | Otters are regulated wildlife in Florida. Possession requires a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) permit under Chapter 379 (personal possession of wildlife). | https://law.justia.com/codes/florida/title-xxviii/chapter-379/part-vii/section-379-3762 |
 Indiana | River otters are classified as a furbearer (wildlife species), and private possession as a pet is not allowed; they may only be possessed under Indiana Department of Natural Resources permits for licensed purposes. | https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/wildlife-resources/furbearers/ |
 Michigan | River otters require a Michigan Department of Natural Resources “Permit to Hold Game in Captivity” for possession in captivity. | https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/wildlife/wildlife-permits/captive-game-permit |
 Missouri | River otters are classified as wildlife (furbearers), and possession is prohibited except with specific state permit authorization. | https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/missouri |
 Nebraska | River otters are classified as furbearer wildlife, and private possession as pets is not allowed; possession is only permitted under Nebraska Game and Parks Commission authorization (typically for licensed wildlife purposes). | https://www.animallaw.info/administrative/ne-exotic-wildlife-008-keeping-wildlife-captivity |
 Nevada | River otters are classified as wildlife, and possession is prohibited unless authorized by the Nevada Department of Wildlife. | https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NAC/NAC-503.html#NAC503Sec110 |
 New York | River otters may only be possessed, transported, or disposed of as permitted by regulations of the Department of Environmental Conservation (NY Environmental Conservation Law §11-0917). | https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/ENV/11-0917 |
 North Carolina | River otters are classified as furbearer wildlife, and it is unlawful to import, possess, or transport them without a state permit, which may only be issued after approval by the Department of Natural Resources for specific regulated purposes. | https://www.animallaw.info/statute/sc-exotic-pets-chapter-16-importation-wildlife |
 North Dakota | River otters are classified as Category 2 non-traditional livestock, meaning they are regulated wildlife and require state licensure and (in some cases) a Permit to Possess, Propagate, or Domesticate, so they cannot be kept as ordinary private pets. | https://www.ndda.nd.gov/divisions/animal-health/non-traditional-livestock |
 Ohio | River otters are classified as wildlife, and private ownership is not allowed unless a special permit is issued by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for limited purposes such as education, research, or rehabilitation. | — |
 Oklahoma | It is unlawful to breed, possess or raise native wildlife (including river otters as “native wildlife”) without first obtaining a commercial wildlife breeder’s license from the Director, meaning possession is restricted and requires a state-issued license/permit under Oklahoma… | https://www.animallaw.info/statute/ok-exotic-pet-%C2%A7-4-107-commercial-wildlife-breeders-license-%C2%A7-4-1071-circuses-application-act |
 Pennsylvania | River otters are classified as furbearers, and it is unlawful to possess a live otter taken from the wild without first securing a permit from a Pennsylvania Game Commission officer, meaning possession is restricted and permit-based rather than general private ownership. | https://www.animallaw.info/statute/pa-furtaking-subchapter-d-furtaking-regulations |
 South Dakota | River otters are classified as non-domestic mammals and require a state-issued possession permit (or zoo permit for exhibitors), meaning they cannot be kept as private pets without authorization under the South Dakota permit system. | https://sdlegislature.gov/Rules/Administrative/12:68:18:03 |
 Tennessee | River otters are classified as wildlife, and private possession as pets is prohibited except under Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency permits for authorized purposes. | https://www.tn.gov/twra/law-enforcement/permits.html |
 Virginia | All Mustelidae species (weasels, badgers, skunks, and otters) are non-native (exotic) animals require a special permit to import, possess, or sell under 4VAC15-30-40(A). | https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title4/agency15/chapter30/section40/ |
Quick answers
- Where does this pet otter legal states data come from?
- Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Can you have an Otter as a Pet? - PetAddOn; Can I Have a Pet Otter? - WebMD; Exotic Animal Laws by U.S. State Mapped - Vivid Maps; What Pets Can I Own? - Alaska.gov.