PET REGULATIONS IN INDIANA
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.
Indiana prohibited and controlled species info
The Terrestrial Plant Rule (312 IAC 18-3-25) designates 44 species of plants as invasive pests. This rule makes it illegal to sell, gift, barter, exchange, distribute, transport, or introduce these plants in the State of Indiana. Learn what you need to know in the Terrestrial Plant Rule Brochure. Some of the plants restricted under this rule include:
- Autum olive
- Black alder
- Bull thistle
- Common buckthorn
- Garlic mustard
- Giant knotweed
- Glossy buckthorn
- Japanese knotweed
- Leafy spurge
- Spotted knapweed
- White mulberry
The Rosa multiflora or Lythrum species Permit Rule (312 IAC 18-3-13) including Lythrum species commonly known as Purple Loosestrife, enforces the requirement of a permit to move, plant, and distribute these species. Some Rosa multiflora can be used under a state governed license for use as grafting stock for roses if it is not hybridized with a Lythrum species. Lythrum species can only be possessed through research, educational and production of biological controls
The Exotic Fish Rule (312 IAC 9-6-7) designates 13 species or families of invasive fish as prohibited species. This rule makes it illegal to import, possess, propagate, buy, sell, barter, trade, transfer, loan, or release into public or private waters any of the following fish. An individual who takes possession of a fish listed below is not in violation if the fish is killed immediately upon capture. A number of these species or families are federally regulated as well. Some of the fish prohibited under this rule:
- Bighead, black, and silver carp
- Round goby
- Rudd
- Ruffe
- Snakehead
- Walking catfish
- Wels catfish
- White perch
- Zander
The Mussel Rule (312 IAC 9-9-3) designates 4 species of mussels as invasive pests. This rule makes it illegal to sell, gift, barter, exchange, distribute, transport, or introduce the mussels and their shells in the State of Indiana. Some of the plants restricted under this rule include:
- Zebra mussel
- Quagga mussel
- Asiatic clam
- Golden mussel
The Rosa multiflora or Lythrum species Permit Rule (312 IAC 18-3-13) including Lythrum species commonly known as Purple Loosestrife, enforces the requirement of a permit to move, plant, and distribute these species. Some Rosa multiflora can be used under a state governed license for use as grafting stock for roses if it is not hybridized with a Lythrum species. Lythrum species can only be possessed through research, educational and production of biological controls
The Aquatic Plant Rule (312 IAC 18-3-23) designates 30 species of plants as invasive pests. This rule makes it illegal to sell, gift, barter, exchange, distribute, transport, or introduce these plants in the State of Indiana. Some of the plants restricted under this rule include:
- Mosquito Fern
- Flowering Rush
- Caulerpa or Mediterranean Killer Algae
- Brazilian Elodea, Brazilian Waterweed, Anacharis, or Egeria
- Anchored Water Hyacinth
- Hydrilla or Water Thyme
- European Frogbit or Common Frogbit
- Miramar Weed, Indian Swampweed, or Hygro
- Chinese Waterspinach or Swamp Morning-glory
- Yellow Flag Iris or Tall Yellow Iris
- Oxygen Weed or African Elodea
- Asian Marshweed or Ambulia
- Monochoria, Arrowleaf, or False Pickerelweed
- Heartshape or False Pickerelweed
- Parrot feather or Parrot feather Watermilfoil
- Eurasian Watermilfoil
- Brittle Naiad or Brittle Water Nymph
- Starry Stonewort
- Yellow floating heart
- Duck lettuce
- Curlyleaf pondweed
- Arrowhead
- Giant salvinia (all four species)
- Exotic bur-reed
- Water soldier
- Water chestnut
- Narrow-leaf cattail
Additionally, a person may not take, possess, transport, export, process, sell or offer for sale, or ship, and a common or contract carrier may not knowingly transport or receive for shipment a species or subspecies of wildlife appearing on any of the following:
- The list of wildlife indigenous to Indiana determined to be endangered in Indiana.
- The United States list of endangered wildlife (50 CFR 17.11).
- The list of endangered species.
Now, 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 the links below.
DNR: Terrestrial Invasive Species – Plants