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PET REGULATIONS IN ILLINOIS

Promoting Responsible Pet Ownership

If you're wanting to purchase or adopt a new pet, use these resources to help you find out if the pet you want is prohibited or controlled (i.e., requires a permit) in your state. And don't forget to do some research on the pet you want. Many pets are expensive, time consuming, and can live for a long time. Be prepared to properly care for your pet for its entire lifetime.

Illinois prohibited and controlled species info

Injurious species shall not be possessed, propagated, bought, sold, bartered or offered to be bought, sold, bartered, transported, traded, transferred or loaned to any other person or institution unless a permit is first obtained from the Department of Natural Resources in accordance with Section 805.40 of this Part, except persons engaged in interstate transport for lawful commercial purposes who do not buy, sell, barter, trade, transfer, loan or offer to do so in Illinois may transport injurious species across Illinois without an injurious species permit from the Department. 

Section 805.20 Listing of Injurious Species: 

Wild Mammals  

  • *Flying fox or fruit bat of the genus Pteropus 
  • *Mongoose or meerkat of the genera Atilax, Cynictis, Helogale, Heroestes 
  • *Ichneumia, Munzos, and Suricata  
  • *Any species of European rabbit of the genus Oryctolagus  
  • *Any species of Indian wild dog, red dog, or dhole of the genus Cuon  
  • *Any species of multimammate rat or mouse of the genus Mastomys  
  • *Raccoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides
  • *Any Brushtail Possum, Trichosurus vulpecular  

Wild Birds  

  • *Pink starling or rosy pastor, Sturnus roseus  
  • *Dioch, Quelea quelea, including its black-fronted, red-billed or Sudan subspecies  
  • *Java sparrow, Padda oryzivora  
  • *Red-whiskered bul-bul, Pycnonotus jocosus  
  • *Eggs of wild nongame birds  

Fish, Mollusks and Aquatic Invertebrates  

  • *Walking catfish of the family Clariidae  
  • *Dreissenid mussels, genus Dreissena, including but not limited to zebra and quagga mussels *Mitten crabs of the genus Eriocheir  
  • *Snakehead fishes of the genera Channa and Parachann (or their generic synonyms of Bostrychoides, Orphicephalus, Ophiocephalus, and Paraphiocephalis) of the family Channidae  
  • *Crucian carp, Carassius carassius  
  • *Prussian carp, Carassius gibelio  
  • *Largescale silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys harmandi  
  • *Silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix  
  • *Bighead carp, Hypophthalmichthys nobilis  
  • *Black carp, Mylopharyngodon piceus  
  • *Eurasian minnow, Phoxinus phoxinus  
  • River ruffe, Gymnocephalus cernuus  
  • Round goby, Neogobius melanostomos  
  • Tubenose goby, roterorhinus marmoratus
  • *Roach, Rutilus rutilus  
  • *Nile perch, Lates niloticus  
  • *Amur sleeper, Perccottus glenii  
  • *European perch, Perca fluyiatilis 
  • Rusty crayfish, Orconectes rusticus. Possession of living rusty crayfish is prohibited for all except the holders of an approved aquaculture permit with a letter of authorization to import/possess this species.  
  • Rudd, Scardinius erythrophthalmus  
  • Stone moroko, Pseudorasbora parva  
  • Zander, Sander lucioperca  
  • *Wels catfish, Silurus glanis  
  • Killer Shrimp, Dikerogammarus villosus  
  • Yabby, Cherax destructor  
  • Asian Swamp eel, Monopterus albus  
  • Tench, Tinca tinca  
  • Golden mussel, Limnoperna fortune  
  • Marmorkreb/marbled crayfish, Procambarus virginalis  
  • New Zealand mud snail, Potamopyrgus antipodarum  

Plants  

  • Mosquito fern, Azolla pinnata  
  • Flowering rush, Butomus umbellatus  
  • Caulerpa or Mediterranean killer algae, Caulerpa taxifolia  
  • Brazilian elodea, Brazilian waterweed, Anacharis or Egeria, Egeria densa  
  • Anchored water hyacinth, Eichhornia azurea  
  • Hydrilla or water thyme, Hydrilla verticillata  
  • European frogbit or common frogbit, Hydrocharis morsus-ranae  
  • Miramar weed, Indiana swampweed or hygro, Hygrophilia polysperma 
  • **Chinese water spinach or swamp morning-glory, Ipomoea aquatica  
  • Yellow flag iris or tall yellow iris, Iris pseudacorus  
  • Oxygen weed or African elodea, Lagarosiphon major  
  • Asian marshweed or ambulia, Limnophila sessiliflora  
  • Monochoria, arrowleaf, or false pickerelweed, Monochoria hastata  
  • Heartshape or false pickerelweed, Monochoria vaginalis  
  • Parrot feather or parrot feather watermilfoil, Myriophyllum aquaticum  
  • Eurasian watermilfoil, Myriophyllum spicatum  
  • Brittle naiad or brittle water nymph, Najas minor  
  • Yellow floating heart, Nymphoides peltata
  • Duck lettuce, Ottelia alismoides  
  • Curlyleaf pondweed, Potamogeton crispus  
  • Arrowhead, Sagittaria sagittifolia  
  • Giant salvinia, Salvinia auriculata  
  • Giant salvinia, Salvinia biloba  
  • Giant salvinia, Salvinia herzogii  
  • Giant salvinia, Salvinia molesta  
  • Exotic bur-reed, Sparganium erectum  
  • Water chestnut, Trapa natans  
  • Water soldier, Stratiotes aloides 

NOTE: Species noted by an asterisk (*) are also federally listed as injurious wildlife under 50 CFR 16. (**) Chinese water spinach, a federally listed noxious weed, cannot be propagated in Illinois; however, stems, leaves and parts of plants absent roots are permissible to possess and sell, within the State of Illinois, for consumption. 

Keep in mind, just because an animal is legal to own in the state, it doesn’t mean the city you live in allows it. Many local cities and counties have their own restrictions on which animals are legal to keep, and which are not. Consider checking with your local city and/or county for their regulations regarding what pets you can and can’t own. It is your responsibility to comply with all local laws, ordinances and covenants before importing or possessing live wildlife. 

For more information on prohibited species, please see: 

TITLE 17 ILL. ADM. CODE CH. I, SEC. 805