Ferret Laws

Australia

It is illegal to keep ferrets as pets in Queensland or the Northern Territory; in the ACT and Victoria a license is required.

Iceland

Selling, distributing, breeding and keeping ferrets is illegal in Iceland.

New Zealand

It has been illegal to sell, distribute or breed ferrets in New Zealand since 2002.

Portugal

It is illegal to keep ferrets as pets in Portugal. Ferrets can only be used for hunting purposes and can only be kept with a government permit.

United States

Ferrets were once banned in many US states, but most of these laws were rescinded in the 1980s and 90s as they became popular pets. Ferrets are still illegal in California under Fish and Game Code Section 2118 and the California Code of Regulations.

Additionally, "Ferrets are strictly prohibited as pets under Hawaii law because they are potential carriers of the rabies virus"; the territory of Puerto Rico has a similar law.

Ferrets are also restricted by individual cities, such as, Washington, DC and New York City. They are also prohibited on many military bases. A permit to own a ferret is needed in other areas, including Rhode Island. Illinois does not require a permit to merely possess a ferret, but a permit is required to breed ferrets. It was once illegal to own ferrets in Dallas, Texas, but the current Dallas City Code for Animals includes regulations for the vaccination of ferrets.

Brazil

Ferrets are becoming popular. They are only allowed if they are given a microchip identification tag and sterilized.