Antique engraving of a raccoon

Pet raccoon laws by state

North America's masked native — intelligent, destructive, and a rabies-vector species in most states. Below is the legal status of the raccoon (Procyon lotor) in every state we've verified so far — each entry links the actual statute.

Where raccoons are legal: state map

Alabama: Permit Required — Native raccoons can't be brought in from out of state; in-state possession needs a game-breeder/restricted permit.Alaska: Banned — Not on Alaska's 5 AAC 92.029 clean list — possession prohibitedArizona: Banned — Restricted live wildlife — all Carnivora are restricted; no pet permitsArkansas: Legal — Up to six per household allowed as pets under AGFC Code 09.14California: Banned — Restricted species — banned as pets, with no pet permit pathwayColorado: Banned — Regulated wildlife under Colorado's whitelist system — no pet licenses issuedConnecticut: Banned — Wild animal possession is permit-only, and permits aren't issued for petsDelaware: Banned — Native to Delaware — DNREC-regulated and prohibited as a petFlorida: Permit Required — Class III wildlife — legal with a no-cost FWC permit, captive-bred onlyGeorgia: Banned — Wild animal — illegal as a pet; licenses issued only for commercial/scientific purposesHawaii: Banned — Prohibited under HAR 4-71 — Hawaii's near-total exotic-mammal banIdaho: Partly Legal — Native furbearer - pet possession effectively barred; USDA-licensed uses onlyIllinois: Permit Required — Native furbearer — possess captive-bred animals with an IDNR Fur-bearing Mammal Breeder PermitIndiana: Permit Required — Class II wild animal — legal with a $10 Wild Animal Possession PermitIowa: Banned — Live furbearers may not be possessed as pets; DNR issues no pet permitsKansas: Banned — Native furbearer; no pet-possession permit pathway existsKentucky: Banned — Raccoons are native rabies-vector wildlife prohibited from private possession under the native-wildlife rules.Louisiana: Banned — Louisiana does not allow pet raccoons; native furbearer/rabies-vector rules bar private possession.Maine: Permit Required — Restricted native wildlife — possession permit rarely issued for petsMaryland: Banned — Named in Maryland's prohibited-pets statute — no permitsMassachusetts: Banned — Not on the exemption list — possession requires a license MassWildlife doesn't issue for petsMichigan: Permit Required — Legal with a DNR Permit to Hold Game in Captivity — in-state USDA breeder onlyMinnesota: Banned — Protected native wildlife — no pet pathwayMississippi: Banned — Native furbearer; MDWFP does not authorize raccoons as personal petsMissouri: Permit Required — Legal with an MDC Class I Wildlife Breeder permit — captive-bred onlyMontana: Banned — Native furbearer, not exotic - no captive-pet pathwayNebraska: Permit Required — Captive Wildlife Permit ($33/yr) plus captive-bred sourcing and enclosure inspectionNevada: Banned — On Nevada's prohibited species list — banned as pets (rabies vector)New Hampshire: Permit Required — Listed as a controlled species in Fis 804.05 Table 800.2New Jersey: Banned — Potentially dangerous species — no pet permits issuedNew Mexico: Banned — Raccoon (any type) is Group IV, state-protected - importation prohibited for the publicNew York: Banned — Native wildlife — cannot be possessed as a pet; rehab license required for any possessionNorth Carolina: Banned — Native wildlife — captivity permits not issued for pets, and imports are restrictedNorth Dakota: Banned — Skunks and raccoons may not be kept in captivity or imported - full stopOhio: Permit Required — Legal with an ODNR Noncommercial Wild Animal Propagation permit, captive-bred sourceOklahoma: Permit Required — Native raccoons require a noncommercial wildlife breeder license and must come from a legal breeder.Oregon: Banned — Protected native wildlife — no pet pathwayPennsylvania: Permit Required — Legal only from a PGC-approved in-state USDA breeder with a Game Commission permitRhode Island: Banned — Native mammal; possession as a pet prohibited under RIGL 4-18 rulesSouth Carolina: Banned — Raccoons are furbearers and 'nondomesticated carnivores' barred from private ownership by SC's Rabies Control Act.South Dakota: Legal — Raccoons (Procyonidae) are not on the possession-permit list; captive-bred animals onlyTennessee: Permit Required — Class II native wildlife — TWRA possession permit required, captive-bred sourceTexas: Banned — Fur-bearing animal — cannot be kept as a pet; no pet permit existsUtah: Banned — Prohibited under the Ag damage rule R58-14 - no personal-pet permitsVermont: Banned — Not unrestricted; VT won't permit wild animals as petsVirginia: Banned — Procyonidae are on Virginia's predatory/undesirable list — no pet pathwayWashington: Banned — Banned statewide as a pet — no permit pathway for private ownershipWest Virginia: Banned — Native rabies-vector wildlife; WV DNR issues no import or pet permitsWisconsin: Permit Required — Native furbearer — legal with a Captive Wild Animal Farm licenseWyoming: Legal — Possession allowed with no Chapter 10 permit; importation prohibitedDC: not yet verified
LegalPermit / partly legalBannedNot yet verified

Status by state

StateStatusDetailVerified
WashingtonBannedBanned statewide as a pet — no permit pathway for private ownership2026-07-02
New YorkBannedNative wildlife — cannot be possessed as a pet; rehab license required for any possession2026-07-02
TexasBannedFur-bearing animal — cannot be kept as a pet; no pet permit exists2026-07-02
FloridaPermit RequiredClass III wildlife — legal with a no-cost FWC permit, captive-bred only2026-07-02
CaliforniaBannedRestricted species — banned as pets, with no pet permit pathway2026-07-02
PennsylvaniaPermit RequiredLegal only from a PGC-approved in-state USDA breeder with a Game Commission permit2026-07-02
OhioPermit RequiredLegal with an ODNR Noncommercial Wild Animal Propagation permit, captive-bred source2026-07-02
GeorgiaBannedWild animal — illegal as a pet; licenses issued only for commercial/scientific purposes2026-07-02
North CarolinaBannedNative wildlife — captivity permits not issued for pets, and imports are restricted2026-07-02
IllinoisPermit RequiredNative furbearer — possess captive-bred animals with an IDNR Fur-bearing Mammal Breeder Permit2026-07-02
MichiganPermit RequiredLegal with a DNR Permit to Hold Game in Captivity — in-state USDA breeder only2026-07-03
ArizonaBannedRestricted live wildlife — all Carnivora are restricted; no pet permits2026-07-03
NevadaBannedOn Nevada's prohibited species list — banned as pets (rabies vector)2026-07-03
TennesseePermit RequiredClass II native wildlife — TWRA possession permit required, captive-bred source2026-07-03
MissouriPermit RequiredLegal with an MDC Class I Wildlife Breeder permit — captive-bred only2026-07-03
VirginiaBannedProcyonidae are on Virginia's predatory/undesirable list — no pet pathway2026-07-03
IndianaPermit RequiredClass II wild animal — legal with a $10 Wild Animal Possession Permit2026-07-03
WisconsinPermit RequiredNative furbearer — legal with a Captive Wild Animal Farm license2026-07-03
MinnesotaBannedProtected native wildlife — no pet pathway2026-07-03
ColoradoBannedRegulated wildlife under Colorado's whitelist system — no pet licenses issued2026-07-03
MarylandBannedNamed in Maryland's prohibited-pets statute — no permits2026-07-03
MassachusettsBannedNot on the exemption list — possession requires a license MassWildlife doesn't issue for pets2026-07-03
New JerseyBannedPotentially dangerous species — no pet permits issued2026-07-03
ConnecticutBannedWild animal possession is permit-only, and permits aren't issued for pets2026-07-03
OregonBannedProtected native wildlife — no pet pathway2026-07-03
AlabamaPermit RequiredNative raccoons can't be brought in from out of state; in-state possession needs a game-breeder/restricted permit.2026-07-03
South CarolinaBannedRaccoons are furbearers and 'nondomesticated carnivores' barred from private ownership by SC's Rabies Control Act.2026-07-03
KentuckyBannedRaccoons are native rabies-vector wildlife prohibited from private possession under the native-wildlife rules.2026-07-03
LouisianaBannedLouisiana does not allow pet raccoons; native furbearer/rabies-vector rules bar private possession.2026-07-03
OklahomaPermit RequiredNative raccoons require a noncommercial wildlife breeder license and must come from a legal breeder.2026-07-03
UtahBannedProhibited under the Ag damage rule R58-14 - no personal-pet permits2026-07-03
IdahoPartly LegalNative furbearer - pet possession effectively barred; USDA-licensed uses only2026-07-03
MontanaBannedNative furbearer, not exotic - no captive-pet pathway2026-07-03
WyomingLegalPossession allowed with no Chapter 10 permit; importation prohibited2026-07-03
New MexicoBannedRaccoon (any type) is Group IV, state-protected - importation prohibited for the public2026-07-03
KansasBannedNative furbearer; no pet-possession permit pathway exists2026-07-03
NebraskaPermit RequiredCaptive Wildlife Permit ($33/yr) plus captive-bred sourcing and enclosure inspection2026-07-03
IowaBannedLive furbearers may not be possessed as pets; DNR issues no pet permits2026-07-03
North DakotaBannedSkunks and raccoons may not be kept in captivity or imported - full stop2026-07-03
South DakotaLegalRaccoons (Procyonidae) are not on the possession-permit list; captive-bred animals only2026-07-03
MainePermit RequiredRestricted native wildlife — possession permit rarely issued for pets2026-07-03
New HampshirePermit RequiredListed as a controlled species in Fis 804.05 Table 800.22026-07-03
VermontBannedNot unrestricted; VT won't permit wild animals as pets2026-07-03
Rhode IslandBannedNative mammal; possession as a pet prohibited under RIGL 4-18 rules2026-07-03
DelawareBannedNative to Delaware — DNREC-regulated and prohibited as a pet2026-07-03
West VirginiaBannedNative rabies-vector wildlife; WV DNR issues no import or pet permits2026-07-03
AlaskaBannedNot on Alaska's 5 AAC 92.029 clean list — possession prohibited2026-07-03
HawaiiBannedProhibited under HAR 4-71 — Hawaii's near-total exotic-mammal ban2026-07-03
ArkansasLegalUp to six per household allowed as pets under AGFC Code 09.142026-07-03
MississippiBannedNative furbearer; MDWFP does not authorize raccoons as personal pets2026-07-03

States where raccoons are legal

States where raccoons need a permit

States with partial or local restrictions

States where raccoons are banned

Research directory, not legal advice. Status can change and local ordinances add restrictions — confirm with the agency listed on each state's entry.