State list of laws governing the ownership of Venomous Reptiles
This is just a reference for people wanting to obtain a hot snake, be sure to check with your local authority's for the venom laws in your state. Most of these states do require additional permits and licenses to sell or import.
I assume NO liability for any errors on this page. I will do my best to update and keep accurate these listings. If you find any errors on this page please email me so that I can correct them. Also note that laws are constantly changing and being updated so please don't solely rely on the information contained on this page.
Alabama:
Exotic Venomous: Permit required
Protected Native Venomous: None
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Game and Fish Division
Law Enforcement Section
64 N. Union Street
Montgomery, AL 36130-1456
Alabama government Nongame Species Regulation Restrictions on PossessionAlaska:
Native Venomous: Permit is required
Exotic Venomous: Permit is required
Protected Native Venomous: None
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
PO Box 25526
Juneau, AK 99802-5526
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service AlaskaArizona:
Native Venomous: No permit is required, however other restrictions apply. Please contact Arizona Game and Fish Department for all the details
Exotic Venomous: Permit is required
Protected Native Venomous: Permit required
Arizona Game and Fish Department
Permits Coordinator
2221 W. Greenway Road
Phoenix, AZ 85023
Arizona Game and FishArkansas:
Native Venomous: No permit required if less than six specimens of each species are maintained
Exotic Venomous: No permit required
Protected Native Venomous: None
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
2 Natural Resources Drive
Little Rock, AR 72205
Arkansas Game and Fish CommissionCalifornia:
Native Venomous: No permit required...possession limit is 2 of each species
Exotic Venomous: Permit required
Protected Native Venomous: None
Californian Department of Fish and Game
Wildlife Protection Division
1416 Ninth St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
Californian Department of Fish and GameColorado:
Native Venomous: Permit required???
Exotic Venomous: Permit required
Protected Native Venomous: Permit required
Colorado Division of Wildlife
6060 Broadway
Denver, CO 80216
Colorado Division of WildlifeConnecticut:
Native Venomous: Permit required
Exotic Venomous: Permit required
Protected Native Venomous: Permit required
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
Wildlife Division
79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06102-5127
Connecticut Wildlife DivisionDelaware:
Native Venomous: Permit required
Exotic Venomous: Permit required
Protected Native Venomous: None
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
Division of Fish and Wildlife
Richardson and Robbins Building
89 Kings Highway
Dover, DE 19903
CHAPTER 72 Title III CHAPTER 72Florida:
Native Venomous: Permit required
Exotic Venomous: Permit required
Protected Native Venomous: None
Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600
Florida Fish and Wildlife conservasion CommissionGeorgia:
Native Venomous: No permit required
Exotic Venomous: Permit required
Protected Native Venomous: None
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Special Permit Unit
2070 U.S. Highway 278 S.E.
Social Circle, GA 30279
Georgia Department of Natural ResourcesHawaii:
Native Venomous: None occur naturally
Exotic Venomous: Permit required
Protected Native Venomous: None
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources
1151 Punchbowl Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Important please readIdaho:
Native Venomous: No permit required if less than 4 specimens of each species
Exotic Venomous: No permit required...however an Import Permit is required to ship animals into the state of Idaho.
Protected Native Venomous: None
Idaho Department of Fish and Game
600 S. Walnut Street, P.O. Box 25
Boise, ID 83707
Idaho Department of Fish and Game Idaho StatutesIllinois:
Native Venomous: Permit required
Exotic Venomous: Permit required
Protected Native Venomous: Permit required
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Endangered Species Project Manager
524 S. Second St., Lincoln Tower Plaza
Springfield, IL 62701-1787
Illinois Department of Natural ResourcesIndiana:
Native Venomous: No permit required
Exotic Venomous: No permit required
Protected Native Venomous: Permit required
Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Division of Fish and Wildlife
Commercial License Clerk
Indiana Government Center South
402 W. Washington Street-Room W273
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2267
Indiana Department of Natural ResourcesIowa:
Native Venomous: No permit required for the Timber Rattlesnake ONLY
Exotic Venomous: No permit required
Protected Native Venomous: Permit required
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Wallace State Office Building
Des Moines, IA 50319-5145
Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesKansas:
Native Venomous: No permit required for less than 5 specimens of each species
Exotic Venomous: No permit required
Protected Native Venomous: Permit required
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
Route 2, Box 54A
Pratt, KS 67124-9599
Kansas Department of Wildlife and ParksKentucky:
Native Venomous: No permit required
Exotic Venomous: No permit required
Protected Native Venomous: None
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
#1 Game Farm Road
Frankfort, KY 40601
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife ResourcesLouisiana:
Native Venomous: A valid Fishing License may be required
Exotic Venomous: No permit required
Protected Native Venomous: None
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
PO Box 98000
Baton Rouge, LA 70898-9000
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and FisheriesMaine:
Native Venomous: Permit required
Exotic Venomous: Permit required
Protected Native Venomous: None
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and WildlifeState Station House 41
284 State Street
Augusta, ME 04333
Maryland:
Native Venomous: No permit required to keep Copperheads if less than 4 specimens
Exotic Venomous: Permit required
Protected Native Venomous: Permit required
Maryland Department of Natural ResourcesWildlife Division
Tawes State Office Building
580 Taylor Avenue
Annapolis, MD 21401
Massachusetts:
Native Venomous: Permit required
Exotic Venomous: Permit required
Protected Native Venomous: Permit required
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife100 Cambridge Street
Boston, MA 02202
Michigan:
Native Venomous: No permit required for less than 6 specimens of each species
Exotic Venomous: No permit required
Protected Native Venomous: Permit required
Michigan Department of Natural ResourcesStevens T. Mason Building
Box 30028
Lansing, MI 48909
Minnesota:
Native Venomous: Permit required
Exotic Venomous: No permit required
Protected Native Venomous: Permit required
Minnesota Department of Natural ResourcesEndangered Species Permit Coordinator
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155-4001
Mississippi:
Native Venomous: A valid Hunting License is required and no more than 4 specimens of each species or a total of 20 specimens are allowed without a Captive Propogation Permit.
Exotic Venomous: No permit required
Protected Native Venomous: None
Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and ParksMuseum of Natural History
111 N. Jefferson St.
Jackson, MS 39202
Missouri:
Native Venomous: Must be registered with local law enforcement agencies. Class 2 Wildlife Breeders Permit required for Importation, Transportation, Trade, Sale, or Bartering of venomous reptiles.
Exotic Venomous: Same rules as for Native Venomous
Protected Native Venomous: Permit required
Missouri Department of Conservation2901 West Truman Boulevard
PO Box 180
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180
Montana:
Native Venomous: No permit required
Exotic Venomous: No permit required
Protected Native Venomous: None
Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and ParksLaw Enforcement Division
1420 E. Sixth Avenue
Helena, MT 59620
Nebraska:
Native Venomous: No permit required
Exotic Venomous: No permit required
Protected Native Venomous: None
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission2200 N. 33rd Street
PO Box 30370
Lincoln, NE 68503-0370
Nevada:
Native Venomous: Permit required
Exotic Venomous: Permit required
Protected Native Venomous: Permit required
Nevada Department of WildlifePO Box 10678, 1100 Valley Road
Reno, NV 89520-0022
New Hampshire:
Native Venomous: Permit required
Exotic Venomous: Permit required
Protected Native Venomous: Permit required
New Hampshire Fish and Game Department2 Hazen Drive
Concord, NH 03301
New Jersey:
Native Venomous: Permit required
Exotic Venomous: Permit required
Protected Native Venomous: Permit required
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy
Division of Fish, Game, and WildlifeCN 400
Trenton, NJ 08625-0400
New Mexico:
Native Venomous: No permit required
Exotic Venomous: No permit required
Protected Native Venomous: Permit required
New Mexico Department of Game and FishVillagra Building
PO Box 25112
Sante Fe, NM 87504
New York:
Native Venomous: Permit required
Exotic Venomous: Permit required
Protected Native Venomous: Permit required
New York State Department of Environmental Protection
Division of Fish and WildlifeSpecial License Unit
50 Wolf Road
Albany, NY 12233
North Carolina:
Native Venomous: No permit required
Exotic Venomous: No permit required
Protected Native Venomous: Permit required
North Carolina Wildlife ResourcesArchdale Building
513 N. Salisbury Street
Raleigh, NC 27611
North Dakota:
Native Venomous: No permit required
Exotic Venomous: No permit required
Protected Native Venomous: None
North Dakota Game and Fish Department100 North Bismarck Expressway
Bismarck, ND 58501-5095
Ohio:
Native Venomous: No permit required
Exotic Venomous: No permit required
Protected Native Venomous: Permit required
Ohio Department of Natural ResourcesDivision of Wildlife
1840 Belcher Drive
Columbus, OH 43224-1329
Oklahoma:
Native Venomous: A non-commercial wildlife breeders license is required to possess any native species for hobby purposes
Exotic Venomous: Permit required
Protected Native Venomous: None
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation1801 North Lincoln Boulevard
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Oregon:
Native Venomous: No permit required
Exotic Venomous: Varies
Protected Native Venomous: None
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife2501 SW First Ave., PO Box 59
Portland, OR 92707
Importation
Pennsylvania:
Native Venomous: Rattle Snake Hunter's Permit required for Timber Rattlesnake...possession limit is 1 specimen.
Exotic Venomous: No permit required
Protected Native Venomous: Permit required
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat CommissionDivision of Fisheries Management
Herpetology and Endangered Species Coordinator
450 Robinson Lane
Bellefonte, PA 16823-9685
Rhode Island:
Native Venomous: Permit required
Exotic Venomous: Permit required
Protected Native Venomous: Permit required
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Division of Fish and WildlifeWashington County Government Center
Wakefield, RI 02879
South Carolina:
Native Venomous: No permit required
Exotic Venomous: No permit required
Protected Native Venomous: None
South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources DepartmentRembert C. Dennis Building, PO Box 167
Columbia, SC 29202
South Dakota:
Native Venomous: Fishing License required
Exotic Venomous: No permit required
Protected Native Venomous: None
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and ParksLicense Office
412 West Missouri
Pierre, SD 57501
Tennessee:
Native Venomous: Permit required
Exotic Venomous: Permit required
Protected Native Venomous: Permit required
Tennessee Wildlife Resources AgencyEllington Agricultural Center
PO Box 40747
Nashville, TN 37204
Texas:
Native Venomous: No permit required
Exotic Venomous: No permit required
Protected Native Venomous: Permit required
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department4200 Smith School Road
Austin, TX 78744
Utah:
Native Venomous: Permit required
Exotic Venomous: Permit required
Protected Native Venomous: Permit required
Utah Department of Natural ResourcesDivision of Wildlife Resources
Wildlife Registration Office
1596 West North Temple
Salt Lake City, UT 84116
Vermont:
Native Venomous: Scientific Collection Permits may be required
Exotic Venomous: Importation Permits may be required
Protected Native Venomous: Permit required
Vermont Fish and Game DepartmentLaw Enforcement Division
103 South Main Street
Waterbury, VT 05676
Virginia:
Native Venomous: No permit required, however, there is a possession limit of 5 of each species
Exotic Venomous: No permit required, except for the Brown Tree Snake (Boiga irregularis)
Protected Native Venomous: Permit required
Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries4010 West Broad Street
PO Box 11104
Richmond, VA 23230-1104
Washington:
Native Venomous: No permit required
Exotic Venomous: No permit required
Protected Native Venomous: None
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife600 Capitol Way North
Olympia, WA 98501-1091
West Virginia:
Native Venomous: No permit required
Exotic Venomous: No permit required
Protected Native Venomous: None
West Virginia Department of Natural ResourcesDivision of Wildlife
PO Box 67
Elkins, WV 26241-0067
Wisconsin:
Native Venomous: No permit required
Exotic Venomous: No permit required
Protected Native Venomous: Permit required
Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesPO Box 7921
Madison, WI 53791-9414
Wyoming:
Native Venomous: No permit required
Exotic Venomous: No permit required
Protected Native Venomous: Permit required
Wyoming Game and Fish Department5400 Bishop Boulevard
Cheyenne, WY 82006
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