Pet Fox Legal States 2025

Most states do not allow residents to own a fox as a pet. Foxes are wild animals that can be a nuisance or a danger to their owners or to the natural habitat and animals or their homes. However, some states do allow a person to own a pet fox. Some o these states do require permits or other restrictions to owning a pet fox.

States That Allow Pet Foxes

Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin all allow for pet foxes to be owned. Each of these states may have its own rules about how and where a pet fox must be cared for. For example, in Arkansas, a wild fox may be domesticated and kept as a pet, but most other states require a pet fox to have been born in captivity for it to be a legal pet. There are also different rules for different species of fox.

Three other states require a permit to own a pet fox. In Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and Texas, a potential fox owner must apply for a permit and follow any regulations set by the permit.

It is important to remember that counties and cities can set their own laws about the ownership of pet foxes. Laws also change often, so while a pet fox is currently allowed in a specific state, it may not be in the future. This means that you should check state and local laws before deciding to take in a pet fox.