PET REGULATIONS IN MARYLAND
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.
Maryland prohibited and controlled species info
Captive Wildlife
MD Code, Natural Resources, § 10-902
10-902. Permits and licenses relating to native wildlife
In general:
(a) Any person desiring to possess, import, export, breed, raise, protect, rehabilitate, hunt, kill, trap, capture, purchase, or sell any wildlife native to Maryland, shall first obtain a permit or license from the Department.
Regulations:
(b) The Secretary shall establish by regulation:
(1) The types and classes of permits and licenses which shall be issued;
(2) The species of wildlife exempt from the permit and license requirement;
(3) Sanitary housing or any other conditions which are necessary for the humane, safe, and healthy possession of wildlife;
(4) Conditions under which captive wildlife may be hunted or released to the wild; and
(5) Record keeping requirements.
Fees:
(c) The Secretary shall charge a reasonable fee for each permit or license.
Captive Reptile and Amphibian permits
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources adopted regulations in 1993 concerning the possession, breeding, and sale of reptiles and amphibians native to our state. Amendments to the regulations were made in 2008. The purpose of these regulations is to protect and conserve native reptiles and amphibians while maintaining the educational and economic benefits derived from them.
A permit may be issued to possess, breed, sell, offer for sale, trade or barter reptiles or amphibians only after the Department is satisfied that the issuance of the permit will not be detrimental to the protection and conservation of native reptiles or amphibians.
Educational facilities wishing to possess reptiles and amphibians can do so under the Scientific Collection Permit. There is a $10.00 annual fee charged for this permit.
For more information, please visit: https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/pages/licenses/captive.aspx
Maryland Invasive Plants Prevention and Control
Title 15 MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Subtitle 06 PLANT PEST CONTROL Chapter 04 Regulation of Invasive Plants Authority: Agriculture Article, §§2-103(b) and 9.5-301, Annotated Code of Maryland
The State law identifies invasive plants as either Tier I or Tier II and lists the species included in each at COMAR 15.06.04.06. A person may not sell, transport, or propagate, among other things, a Tier I invasive species. Exceptions can be found at COMAR 15.06.04.04. Violation of both the invasive species or the noxious weed laws is subject to penalties and/or certain actions by the State.
For more information, please visit: http://mdrules.elaws.us/comar/15.06.04.06
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.