Is it legal to own a raccoon in Florida?
The short answer
Yes, with a permit. Florida treats raccoons as Class III captive wildlife: you can keep a captive-bred raccoon as a personal pet with a no-cost Class III permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Raccoons taken from the wild cannot be kept — only captive-bred animals from licensed sources qualify.
What Florida law says
FWC's captive wildlife rules (F.A.C. ch. 68A-6) divide species into three classes. Raccoons are Class III, the least restrictive tier, which still requires a permit for personal possession — free, but with caging standards, record-keeping, and renewal every two years. Crucially, FWC rules bar possessing foxes, skunks, bats, raccoons, or white-tailed deer taken from the wild as personal pets; the animal must be captive-bred with documentation.
Which agency regulates raccoons in Florida
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Captive Wildlife Office is the authority for raccoon (Procyon lotor) possession in Florida.
Is there a permit for pet raccoons?
Yes — the Class III Personal Pet Permit (no-cost), issued by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Captive Wildlife Office (Free; renew every 2 years). Wildlife rehabilitators and exhibitors operate under separate FWC permits.
Penalties and enforcement
Possessing captive wildlife without the required permit is a criminal violation under ch. 379, Fla. Stat. — typically a second-degree misdemeanor, with seizure of the animal. Rabies-vector rules mean a biting raccoon faces euthanasia and testing.
Local city and county rules
Counties and cities can layer stricter exotic-animal rules on top of the FWC permit — check local code, especially in dense urban counties.
Legal alternatives in Florida
- Sugar Glider in Florida — A palm-sized gliding marsupial, legal in most states but banned in a handful of cities and states.
- Fennec Fox in Florida — The world's smallest fox — and one of the few foxes legal to own in several U.S. states.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get Florida's Class III raccoon permit?
Apply to FWC's Captive Wildlife Office with your caging details and the captive-bred source of the animal. The permit is free and renews every two years.
Can I keep a raccoon I found in Florida?
No. FWC rules specifically prohibit keeping wild-taken raccoons as pets. Only captive-bred raccoons from documented sources qualify for the permit.
What caging does FWC require for a raccoon?
Class III caging standards in F.A.C. 68A-6 set minimum enclosure sizes and security requirements; FWC can inspect. Check the current rule text before building.
Sources
More animals in Florida
- Is it legal to own a monkey in Florida?
- Is it legal to own a serval in Florida?
- Is it legal to own a fennec fox in Florida?
See all animals on the exotic pet laws in Florida page, or compare every state on the pet raccoon laws by state page.
Last verified 2026-07-02 against the cited primary sources. This is a research directory, not legal advice — confirm current rules with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Captive Wildlife Office and your local animal-control authority before acquiring any animal.