State rankings
Pet Raccoon Legal States
Pet Raccoon Legal States: compare 50 US states on 4 metrics.
EnvironmentLaw50 states · 4 metricsUpdated Mar 21, 2025Original page
9 sources
- Are Pet Raccoons Legal in my State? - Exotic Pet Wonderland
- Extremely Common Animal Found in Iowa is Illegal to Own as a Pet - K92.3
- Exotic Pet Wonderland - Are Pet Raccoons Legal in My State
- Can I Have a Pet Raccoon? - WebMD
- 10 Pets That Are Illegal to Have in Pennsylvania - 94.5Pst
- Raccoons - Wild Aware Utah
- How to Trap and Remove Raccoons - WildlifeHelp.org
- Possessing Wildlife - Wyoming Game & Fish
- 7 Reasons You Shouldn’t Keep a Raccoon as a Pet - Critter Control
Permit Required for Pet Raccoon?
10 values across 14 entries
Raccoon Must Be Purchased from USDA-Licensed Breeder
2 values across 14 entries
Pet Raccoon Legal Status
2 values across 48 entries
Data
Click a column to sort.
18 states
 Arkansas | No | Not required | Raccoon must be taken "by hand" from the wild., Raccoon must remain in the owner’s custody.+2 |
 Delaware | — | — | Raccoon is a native species; a native species “the species is regulated by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and is prohibited from being owned as a pet. |
 Florida | Yes - no cost | Required | Taking raccoons from the wild is illegal in Florida. It is federally illegal to sell raccoons without a permit from the USDA and is considered wildlife trafficking. |
 Illinois | Yes - $25.50 annually | Required | — |
 Indiana | Yes - $20 annually | Required | — |
 Michigan | Yes | Required | It is impossible to legally keep a raccoon as a pet in Michigan., While it is technically legal to keep a raccoon as a pet in Michigan, if the owner has a permit to hold game in captivity and the raccoon is purchased from a USDA-licensed breeder, there are no USDA-licensed ra… |
 Missouri | — | Required | It is technically legal to keep a raccoon bred at a USDA-licensed breeder for a pet in Missouri--however, no legal means exists to obtain the pet raccoon. The state has no USDA-licensed raccoon breeders and the import of captive-bred raccoons from other states is prohibited. |
 Nebraska | Yes - $33 | Required | Permit must be obtained before purchase of animal. |
 New Jersey | Yes - two | Required | New Jersey has no USDA-licensed breeders, so an import permit is required as well as a captive game permit., It is recommended that you contact the Wildlife Permits Unit to confirm if a state/breeder is acceptable before placing a deposit for an animal. The importation permit… |
 Ohio | Yes - $25 | Required | Owner may legally keep up to four captive-bred raccoons. |
 Oklahoma | Yes - $48 annually | Required | Pre-purchase inspection by a game warden required. |
 Oregon | — | — | Raccoons are not legal to keep as pets in Oregon unless the owner has a valid exotic animal permit obtained prior to 2010, or is licensed with the USDA. |
 Rhode Island | — | — | Exceptions made for the Department Environmental Management (DEM), the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), AZA-certified zoos and aquariums, research institutions and researchers involved in approved bona fide research or project as determined by the Director (of … |
 South Carolina | Yes | — | If the raccoon was taken from the wild in South Carolina, it can legally be kept as a pet. Raccoons may not be imported into South Carolina from other states, meaning you cannot move to South Carolina with a raccoon even if it was born in captivity. |
 South Dakota | Yes | Not required | — |
 Tennessee | Yes - $31 annually | Required | If purchasing a raccoon from an approved facility from another state, the prospective owner must obtain an importation permit. The importation permit costs $31, is valid for 30 days, and does not need to be renewed once the animal is imported., Raccoon must be captive-born. |
 Wisconsin | Yes | Required | Wisconsin law states that pet raccoons “may not be kept in any part of a building or home where people live unless receiving temporary health care, treatment or special handling |
 Wyoming | Yes | Not required | Import prohibited by Animal Damage Management Board Rules. |
Quick answers
- Where does this pet raccoon legal states data come from?
- Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Are Pet Raccoons Legal in my State? - Exotic Pet Wonderland; Extremely Common Animal Found in Iowa is Illegal to Own as a Pet - K92.3; Exotic Pet Wonderland - Are Pet Raccoons Legal in My State; Can I Have a Pet Raccoon? - WebMD.