Restricted Animals as Pets
Fish & G. Code 2118 — primates, hedgehogs, most rodents, every land snail and more need a permit
It is unlawful to import, transport, possess or release alive into the state any wild animal of the listed kinds, except under a revocable, nontransferable permit.
Who handles this in California: legal aid programs, lawyer referral and the state offices, listed in the California directory.
| The list includes | With these exceptions |
|---|---|
| The list includesAll primates | With these exceptionsThe family Hominidae |
| The list includesAll carnivores | With these exceptionsDomestic dogs and domestic cats |
| The list includesAll rodents | With these exceptionsDomesticated golden hamsters, domesticated rats and mice, and domestic guinea pigs |
| The list includesAll rabbits and hares | With these exceptionsDomesticated rabbits |
| The list includesAll marsupials, bats, sloths and insectivores such as shrews, moles and hedgehogs | With these exceptionsNone |
| The list includesAll slugs and all land snails, every species of the crocodile family, and all piranhas | With these exceptionsNone |
The section says the Mustelidae and Viverridae families of carnivores are restricted as a menace to native wildlife, agriculture or public safety, and most of the rest for the welfare of the animals. The commission can add to or take from the list by regulation. Whether a particular animal is allowed is a question for a licensed California attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Fish & G. Code 2118 — Wild animals that may not be imported, transported or possessed without a permit
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed California attorney.