Venomous Friendly States

I'm looking into relocating to a state that allows exotic venomous ownership, but I'm having a hard time finding information on current laws. Can anyone give me some information on what states are good?

South Carolina is one, thats where I live. USARKs Website has all state level regulations posted, so you might have to do some digging but the information you need is available there

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Yes South Carolina allows hot's. We even have a hot section at our repticon shows that is pretty large.

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Yes South Carolina allows hot's. We even have a hot section at our repticon shows that is pretty large.

Thank you.

Pretty sure Florida does but from what I've heard, have a lot of new requirements to get a permit. Pennsylvania also allows hots, do not think there are requirements or permits necessary.

I know that Florida requires you to work with licensed keeper for a certain amount of time. Is it different now?

I heard you have to work 1000 hours per group/family(for lack of a better term). Example, to get a venomous permit, you'd have to work 1000 hours with elapids, then 1000 hours with vipers, etc. Not sure if there are different permits or just one.

I believe that the only state laws in MN are that you need permits to keep Timber Rattlers and Massasaugas but that has more to do with the fact that they're species of special concern (endangered) rather then venomous. However each city/town will have their own municipal ordinance which will vary between no mention at all to a complete ban. If would be impossible to give you a listing of ordinances town by town, you'd have to check with the city hall of each one you were interested in moving to. However many of them will have that info listed online these days.

If I remember correctly, the only laws in PA were in regards to needing a permit to collect wild copperheads and only being able to take one or two animals per year. Philadelphia does not allow hots, though.

at the moment PA has 0 regulations on owning hots with the exception of native species. Do not move to Ohio if you want to own hots. The only thing you are allowed to own here with venom is rear fanged.

VA and WV have no regulations at the state level, but some cities and incorporated towns may have their own ordinances prohibiting them.

As someone else pointed out, Minnesota is pretty lax about reptile ownership. There are a couple of cities that restricts the numbers of animals and requires permits, but overall, if the animal is primarily kept contained, it's all right to keep without a permit.

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Originally Posted by KingObeat

I'm looking into relocating to a state that allows exotic venomous ownership, but I'm having a hard time finding information on current laws. Can anyone give me some information on what states are good?

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The real answer is "none". If there is an area, eventually - sooner rather than later - there will be a law prohibiting ownership. Retics are illegal to own in New York. Surely there are thousands of people who do. Most breeders ship to New York despite the state law.

If you want to keep venomous snakes you need to think in terms of "Where is the best place to live that makes acquiring venomous snakes easy?"

This is going to come as a shock to you and many others on forums but, the NSA is not in charge of monitoring the public for venomous snake ownership. There are no drones flying overhead with thermal imaging designed to pick off the form of a hooded cobra inside your house.

I personally like Florida's system for hots. It's time consuming, sure, but requires you to get hands on experience from a licensed mentor before you're allowed to keep them yourself. It's 1000 hours per family. If you want an all encompassing license(Colubridae, Viperidae, Elapidae, Helodermatidae) you're looking at 4000 hours of hands on experience before you can legally keep them all. I think there are a couple extra hoops you have to jump through to keep Hydros so they're not included here.

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Originally Posted by John1982

I personally like Florida's system for hots. It's time consuming, sure, but requires you to get hands on experience from a licensed mentor before you're allowed to keep them yourself. It's 1000 hours per family. If you want an all encompassing license(Colubridae, Viperidae, Elapidae, Helodermatidae) you're looking at 4000 hours of hands on experience before you can legally keep them all. I think there are a couple extra hoops you have to jump through to keep Hydros so they're not included here.

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I bought three cobras back in April.

I've never handled a venomous snake in the presence of another human being. My total training consists of watching YouTube videos made by venomous snake owners, who I am now one of.

My recommendation is that anyone who watches YouTube videos as I have done and thinks they can handle owning cobras or any other type of snake should go ahead and obtain them.

Life is short.

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Originally Posted by DrummingT

I bought three cobras back in April.

I've never handled a venomous snake in the presence of another human being. My total training consists of watching YouTube videos made by venomous snake owners, who I am now one of.

My recommendation is that anyone who watches YouTube videos as I have done and thinks they can handle owning cobras or any other type of snake should go ahead and obtain them.

Life is short.

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I bet.

There's a facebook group, herp laws by state that may have a more updated list

States that REQUIRE a permit/Licensing for Venomous Reptiles/Exotic animals: 15
Arizona
Delaware
Florida
Idaho
Maine
Mississippi
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Texas
Illinois
Louisiana
West Virginia
New York
States that DO NOT require a permit/Licensing for Venomous Reptiles/Exotic animals: 18
Alabama (Native)
Indiana (lifted ban)
Montana
Nevada (Native)
North Carolina
South Carolina
Wisconsin
Missouri
Pennsylvania
Nebraska
California (Native)
Kansas
Virginia
Michigan
Georgia (Native)
Oregon
Arkansas
Kentucky (Native)
States that do NOT ALLOW Venomous Reptiles/Exotic animals: 17
Alaska
Colorado
Connecticut
Hawaii
Iowa
Maryland
Massachusetts
Minnesota
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
Ohio
Tennessee
Utah
Vermont
Washington
Wyoming
Still working on Content. Is not 100% Accurate

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Originally Posted by redtail9610

There's a facebook group, herp laws by state that may have a more updated list

States that REQUIRE a permit/Licensing for Venomous Reptiles/Exotic animals: 15
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West Virginia

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There was an attempt last year to add all venomous snakes and large constrictors to the Dangerous Wild Animals list, but that failed. There are no venomous reptiles on the list at this time.

PA is your best best. As long as you are a legal adult and dont want more than two at a time, and you arent collecting from the wild.. You are good. Hope that helps!

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Originally Posted by redtail9610

There's a facebook group, herp laws by state that may have a more updated list


States that do NOT ALLOW Venomous Reptiles/Exotic animals: 17

Minnesota

Still working on Content. Is not 100% Accurate

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Where are you getting your information that Minnesota does not allow venomous reptiles? As far as I know there are no regulations at the state level other then for species of special concern (Massasaugas and Timber Rattlers) which you need permits for. However there are many municipal ordinances that do not allow venomous reptiles.