Exotic pet laws in Tennessee
Every animal in our directory, checked against Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) rules and Tennessee statute. Click any animal for the full entry — the exact law, penalties, permits, and local caveats.
All animals: status at a glance
| Animal | Status | Statute | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raccoon | Permit Required | T.C.A. §§70-4-401 to -417 (Class II) | 2026-07-03 |
| Monkey | Partly Legal | T.C.A. §70-4-403 (Class I primate list) | 2026-07-03 |
| Serval | Legal | T.C.A. §70-4-403 (serval not Class I) | 2026-07-03 |
| Fennec Fox | Legal | T.C.A. §70-4-403 (Class III default) | 2026-07-03 |
| Sugar Glider | Legal | T.C.A. §70-4-403 (Class III) | 2026-07-03 |
| Hedgehog | Legal | Tenn. Code Ann. §70-4-403 (hedgehogs unclassified/Class III) | 2026-07-13 |
| Ferret | Legal | Tenn. Code Ann. §70-4-403 (ferrets not classed as regulated wildlife) | 2026-07-13 |
Permit-required animals in Tennessee
- Raccoon — Class II native wildlife — TWRA possession permit required, captive-bred source
Partly legal in Tennessee (local restrictions apply)
- Monkey — Apes and baboons are Class I (no pets); most monkeys are Class III — legal without a permit
Legal without a permit in Tennessee
- Serval — Class III — legal without a permit; one of the states that made servals famous
- Fennec Fox — Non-native fox — Class III, no permit; native foxes are different
- Sugar Glider — Class III — legal, no permit
- Hedgehog — Legal — hedgehogs fall in Tennessee's least-restricted captive wildlife class
- Ferret — Legal — ferrets sit outside TWRA's regulated wildlife classes
How Tennessee regulates exotic pets
Primary authority sits with Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). Statewide statute sets the floor; cities and counties frequently layer stricter bans on top, so always check your municipal code as well as the entries above.
Research directory, not legal advice. Verify current rules with Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) before acquiring any animal.