In SC these are the exotic animals you can and cannot own in 2026

Dogs and cats have woven their way into the hearts of many, but some people want a more unique critter in their house.

Through social media, you can see owners playing with their beloved bob cat or pet monkey. That being said, there are some strict laws placed that prohibit the ownership and transportation of certain animals in South Carolina.

It also goes without saying that you don’t want to own animals that could endanger you or your neighbors. You have to consider the quality of life you’re giving a wild animal by making it live in a confined environment.

Here are the animals you absolutely cannot own or transport in-state in Richland County, according to their website:

Illegal animals in Richland-county

• Cheetahs, ocelots, servals, lynxes, lions, tigers, jaguars, and leopards
• Wolf-dog hybrids
• Badgers, wolverines, weasels, skunks, and minks
• Raccoons
• Bears
• Apes, monkeys, baboons, macaques, lemurs, marmosets, tamarins, and other species of Primates
• Bats
• Alligators, crocodiles, and caimans
• Scorpions
• Reticulated Python, Burmese Python, Indian rock Python, African Rock Python, and Anaconda (all types)
• Venomous reptiles (including venomous snakes)
• Lizards over two feet

The only way to keep these animals in Richland-county is if they are in a public zoo, traveling circus, veterinary hospital for treatment or wildlife rescue organization.

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has a wildlife control information page for many of the animals listed.

Other illegal animals in SC without a permit

• Turkeys
• Furbearers, including red and gray foxes, opossums, muskrats, otters, bobcats, and beavers
• Species in the Cervidae family, including deer, moose and elk
• Non-domestic pigs in the Suidae family
• Peccaries, pig-like animals in the Tayassuidae family
• Species in the Bovidae family, like bison, mountain goats and mountain sheep
• Fish, crustaceans, mollusks and other marine invertebrates non-native to South Carolina

A permit can be granted after the wildlife has been properly investigated and inspected by the SCDNR.

If you are caught with one of these animals illegally, you can be charged up to $1000 or six months in prison, or both. The state must suspend your hunting license, if you own one, for a year. The suspension starts at your conviction.

A separate offense is charged for each animal owned illegally.

Many of these animals are illegal to have because they can pose health risks. There are no approved vaccinations for exotic pets, making them vulnerable to rabies.

The animals you can own in Richland

Despite these restrictions, there are some exotic-type animals you can own in Richland-county.

• You can have a kangaroo roaming around your house without a special permit.
• You can also own sugar gliders, which are small, nocturnal marsupials from Australia and New Guinea.
• If a colorful feathery-friend is all you want, you can have a toucan as well.
• On a farm, you can give an emu a play to stay.

Before deciding if you want to own an exotic pet, do your research and make sure to give your new friend the best life possible.

This story was originally published January 14, 2026 at 6:00 AM.