29 Legal & 35 Illegal Exotic Animals in California: Know the Law

According to the Legal Information Institute(1) (LII), an exotic animal is defined as “any animal not identified in the definition of “animal” provided in this part that is native to a foreign country or of foreign origin or character, is not native to the United States, or was introduced from abroad.

Domesticated South American camelids that are popular for their wool, meat, and as pack animals.

Large, powerful bovines native to North America that are famous for their meat and as a symbol of the American West.

Small, docile lizards native to Australia that are popular as pets for their friendly personalities and unique appearance.

Large, hump-backed ungulates that are used for transportation, milk, meat, and as pack animals.

Unique lizards that can change their color and are popular as exotic pets.

Small, furry rodents native to South America that are popular as pets for their soft fur and playful personalities.

Lizards native to Southern China and Southeast Asia that are popular as pets for their unique appearance and docile temperament.

According to the California Turtle & Tortoise Club (3), California’s law states that a permit is needed to possess a Desert Tortoise and any other species of Gopherus such as a Texas Tortoise or a Gopher Tortoise.

Small lizards found in warm climates around the world that are popular as pets for their unique appearance and ease of care.

Small, social rodents that are popular as pets for their docile temperament and friendly personalities.

Are hamsters illegal in California? It depends on the species of hamster. While there are nineteen officially recognized hamster species, only five are commonly kept as pets.

There are about two hundred species of jellyfish around the world. The most common species kept as pets is Moon Jellyfish, clearly identified by their translucent, moonlike bell.

Non-venomous constrictor snakes are legal in California, including Green Anacondas (grow to an average of 20 to 30 feet long and weigh more than 550 pounds), Burmese Pythons (grow to an average of 16 to 23 feet long and weigh up to 200 pounds), Reticulated Pythons (grow to an average of 20 feet long and weigh an average of 150 pounds) and Boa Constrictors (grow up to 13 feet long and weigh more than 100 pounds).

Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches are one of the largest species of cockroaches, reaching lengths of 5 to 7.5 centimeters at maturity. While they are legal to own in California, they cannot be shipped to California from other states unless the shipper permits them.

Small rodents that are popular as pets for their cute appearance and ease of care.

Monitor Lizards are large lizards with long necks, powerful claws & tails, and well-developed limbs. They are native to Africa, Asia, and Oceania.

Small pigs that are popular as pets for their docile temperament and small size.

Small goats that are popular as pets for their playful personalities and small size.

Small, social rodents that are popular as pets for their intelligence and friendly personalities.

Large, hairy spiders that are popular as exotic pets for their unique appearance and low maintenance care.

Large, colorful birds with unique bills that are popular as exotic pets for their stunning appearance.

A wolfdog is a cross between a domesticated dog with either an Eastern Wolf, an Ethiopian Wolf, a Gray Wolf, or a Red Wolf. Pure Wolves and first-generation (F1) wolfdogs are illegal in California, but all others are legal.

Large, shaggy bovines that are popular for their meat, milk, and as pack animals in high-altitude areas.

Did you know that compared to other states, California has far more laws regarding pet ownership?

African Clawed Frogs are aquatic amphibians that are commonly kept as pets. They are named after the claws on their front feet which they use to help catch their food. African Clawed Frogs can be easy to care for and live for up to 25 years.

Anteaters are unusual-looking animals with long snouts and tongues used to eat ants and termites. While they may be cute and interesting to look at, they are not suitable as pets. Anteaters require a specialized diet and environment and can be dangerous to humans.

Armadillos are unique mammals with armor-like skin. While they may look interesting, they are not suitable as pets. Armadillos require a specialized diet and environment and can carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans.

Axolotls are an aquatic species of salamanders with tiny eyes and no eyelids. They are illegal to have in California because they are an endangered species.

Big Cats (Cheetahs, Cougars, Jaguars, Leopards, Lions, and Tigers) are illegal to own in California because they are large powerful animals capable of severely injuring or killing humans.

Bushbabies, also known as galagos, are small primates native to Africa. While they may look cute and interesting, they are not suitable as pets. Bushbabies require a specialized diet and environment and can be dangerous to humans.

Capybaras are giant cavy rodents considered the largest living rodent. Adults weigh 77 to 150 pounds, stand about 20 to 25 inches high, and measure 3.5 to 4.4 feet long. They are native to South America.

Chipmunks are small rodents that are native to North America. While they may be cute and interesting to look at, they are not suitable as pets. Chipmunks require a specialized environment and diet and can be difficult to care for.

Degus are small rodents native to Chile. While they may be cute and interesting to look at, they are not suitable as pets. Degus require a specialized diet and environment and can be difficult to care for.

Ferrets are small mammals that are popular pets. While they may be cute and playful, they require a specialized diet and environment to thrive.

Foxes are wild animals that are not suitable as pets. They require a specialized diet and environment and can be dangerous to humans.

Gerbils are small rodents that are popular pets. While they may be cute and interesting to watch, they require a specialized environment and diet to thrive.

According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (2) (CDFW), all 17 species of hedgehogs are restricted from being possessed as pets because they can become pests when introduced into the wild, where they don’t naturally occur.

Kinkajous are tropical rainforest mammals that are related to raccoons. These critters are not legal in California because they are considered wild animals and are not native to the state. Kinkajous are native to Central America and South America.

These are large, venomous lizards that are native to Indonesia. They are not suitable pets as they require specialized care and can be dangerous.

These primates are native to Madagascar and are not suitable pets as they require specific diets and socialization with their own kind.

These small mammals are often kept as pets for their fur, but they are not suitable as pets as they require a lot of space to roam and are known to be escape artists.

These small, burrowing mammals are not suitable as pets as they have specialized needs and are not meant to be kept in captivity.

These marsupials are not suitable as pets as they require specific diets and are not typically social animals.

These aquatic mammals are not suitable as pets as they require a large amount of space to swim and play, and are known to be very difficult to care for.

According to the International Owl Center (4), private individuals in the United States cannot keep owls as pets.

AKA Monk Parrots- Quaker Parrots are small bright green birds with gray breasts and yellow bellies. They are illegal in the state because they are deemed an invasive species since they are native to South America, specifically Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.

These omnivorous mammals are not suitable as pets as they can carry diseases and have specialized needs that are difficult to meet in a home environment.

These mammals are often kept as pets for their distinctive scent glands, but they are not suitable pets as they can be unpredictable and require a lot of specialized care.

Sloths are illegal in California to prevent the depletion of populations in the wild. Six species of sloths currently exist and two of them are considered endangered- the Pygmy and the Maned (both of them are three-toed sloths).

These rodents are not suitable as pets as they require a lot of space to climb and play, and are known to be very difficult to care for.

These birds are not suitable as pets as they require a specialized diet and are not meant to be kept in captivity.

These small mammals are not suitable as pets as they are often aggressive and require a lot of space to roam.

Are sugar gliders legal in CA? No, they are illegal to own as pets in the state.

If you live in the great state of California, you need to know that if you want to own certain exotic pets you will need to obtain an exotic animal license (aka exotic pet license).