Exotic pet laws in Indiana

312 IAC 9-11-6(a)(2)

A permit is required under this rule for the following Class I wild animals: (1) Rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus). (2) Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis, Sciurus niger, and Glaucomys volans).

Glaucomys volans is named explicitly as a Class I wild animal requiring a permit; whether this permit tier is issued for personal/pet purposes specifically was not separately confirmed.

How this rule works: Three classes by risk. Class I is rabbits and squirrels, Class II is a long and specific list of small wild cats plus Indiana's furbearers, Class III is wolves, bears, all other wild cats, venomous reptiles and large crocodilians. Both the Class II and Class III lists end with the same sentence exempting hybrids with a domestic dog or cat, which is the clearest hybrid answer any state gives.

Checked against the published text on 27 August 2026.

312 IAC 9-11-7(a)(11)

A permit is required under this rule for the following Class II wild animals: ...(11) Serval (Leptailurus serval).

Class II, not Class III, so the permit is applied for within five days of taking possession rather than obtained in advance. A Class II wild animal is defined as one that may pose a threat to human safety.

How this rule works: Three classes by risk. Class I is rabbits and squirrels, Class II is a long and specific list of small wild cats plus Indiana's furbearers, Class III is wolves, bears, all other wild cats, venomous reptiles and large crocodilians. Both the Class II and Class III lists end with the same sentence exempting hybrids with a domestic dog or cat, which is the clearest hybrid answer any state gives.

Checked against the published text on 4 August 2026.

312 IAC 9-5-7(c)(56), (57); 9-5-11

This section governs the: (1) sale; (2) transport for sale; or (3) offer for sale; of any reptile or amphibian native to Indiana regardless of place of origin. (b) Except as otherwise provided in this section and in section 9 of this rule, an individual must not sell, transport for sale, or offer to sell a reptile or amphibian that is native to Indiana.

The box turtle is native to Indiana, which is what decides it, and Indiana's native rule is unusual in reaching a purchased animal. 9-5-7(c) lists both the eastern box turtle, Terrapene carolina, and the ornate, Terrapene ornata, among the 99 taxa whose sale it governs, and 9-5-7(a) says the section applies "regardless of place of origin", so a captive-bred animal from an out-of-state breeder is caught by it just as a wild-caught one is. Selling, offering for sale or transporting for sale is barred; possessing is not, subject to 9-5-6(f)'s cap of four live animals of any one native species. Two exits exist. 9-5-7(f) exempts a captive-bred animal with albinistic, leucistic or xanthic colour morphology, on the same logic New Jersey uses for corn snake morphs, that a morph is visibly not a wild-caught animal. And 9-5-9 provides a reptile captive breeding licence under which sales are lawful. Turtles then get a rule of their own. 9-5-11 requires an Indiana resident to apply for a turtle possession permit within ten days of taking possession of a native turtle, with a receipted invoice or bill of lading showing the animal was lawfully obtained and a conservation officer inspecting the enclosure before the first permit issues. 9-5-11(b) exempts a turtle already possessed lawfully under 9-5-6, which is the four-per-species allowance, so the permit is the route for anything beyond that.

How this rule works: The rule 312 IAC 9-11 does not reach. 9-5-1(b) makes every reptile and amphibian native to Indiana a protected wild animal, 9-5-6(f) caps possession at four per species, and 9-5-7 bars selling a native species "regardless of place of origin" against a list of 99 taxa given by binomial. 9-5-7(f) then exempts captive-bred albinistic, leucistic and xanthic morphs. Indiana's own rules site, iar.iga.in.gov, serves its React shell for every path including its own script bundles, so this is read from Cornell LII and cited to the official section.

Checked against the published text on 5 September 2026.

312 IAC 9-5-7(c)(92); 9-5-6(f); 9-5-7(f)

This section governs the: (1) sale; (2) transport for sale; or (3) offer for sale; of any reptile or amphibian native to Indiana regardless of place of origin. (b) Except as otherwise provided in this section and in section 9 of this rule, an individual must not sell, transport for sale, or offer to sell a reptile or amphibian that is native to Indiana.

This entry read legal on 312 IAC 9-11-6 through 9-11-8, the three permit classes, which is the wrong rule for a snake that lives in Indiana. 312 IAC 9-5-7(c)(92) lists the eastern gartersnake, Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis, and the section bars selling a native reptile "regardless of place of origin", so the bar follows a captive-bred animal in from out of state. Possession is separately capped at four of any one native species by 9-5-6(f). Indiana lists eight Thamnophis in all, including the ribbonsnakes and the plains gartersnake, and Butler's gartersnake is separately state endangered under 9-5-4. A captive-bred albino or leucistic garter snake is exempted from the sale bar by 9-5-7(f), which is how the morph trade operates here.

How this rule works: The rule 312 IAC 9-11 does not reach. 9-5-1(b) makes every reptile and amphibian native to Indiana a protected wild animal, 9-5-6(f) caps possession at four per species, and 9-5-7 bars selling a native species "regardless of place of origin" against a list of 99 taxa given by binomial. 9-5-7(f) then exempts captive-bred albinistic, leucistic and xanthic morphs. Indiana's own rules site, iar.iga.in.gov, serves its React shell for every path including its own script bundles, so this is read from Cornell LII and cited to the official section.

Checked against the published text on 5 September 2026.

312 IAC 9-5-7(c)(73); 9-5-6(f)

This section governs the: (1) sale; (2) transport for sale; or (3) offer for sale; of any reptile or amphibian native to Indiana regardless of place of origin. (b) Except as otherwise provided in this section and in section 9 of this rule, an individual must not sell, transport for sale, or offer to sell a reptile or amphibian that is native to Indiana.

The hognose snake is native to Indiana, which is what decides it, and Indiana's native rule is unusual in reaching a purchased animal. 9-5-7(c) lists the eastern hog-nosed snake, Heterodon platirhinos, among the 99 taxa whose sale it governs, and 9-5-7(a) says the section applies "regardless of place of origin", so a captive-bred animal from an out-of-state breeder is caught by it just as a wild-caught one is. Selling, offering for sale or transporting for sale is barred; possessing is not, subject to 9-5-6(f)'s cap of four live animals of any one native species. Two exits exist. 9-5-7(f) exempts a captive-bred animal with albinistic, leucistic or xanthic colour morphology, on the same logic New Jersey uses for corn snake morphs, that a morph is visibly not a wild-caught animal. And 9-5-9 provides a reptile captive breeding licence under which sales are lawful. Which hognose matters. The eastern is the Indiana animal and is on the list; the western, Heterodon nasicus, is the pet trade species, is not native here, and is not on it. The rear-fanged question never arises, because 9-5-8 and 9-11-8(a)(4) reach a venomous reptile and Indiana has not treated a hognose as one.

How this rule works: The rule 312 IAC 9-11 does not reach. 9-5-1(b) makes every reptile and amphibian native to Indiana a protected wild animal, 9-5-6(f) caps possession at four per species, and 9-5-7 bars selling a native species "regardless of place of origin" against a list of 99 taxa given by binomial. 9-5-7(f) then exempts captive-bred albinistic, leucistic and xanthic morphs. Indiana's own rules site, iar.iga.in.gov, serves its React shell for every path including its own script bundles, so this is read from Cornell LII and cited to the official section.

Checked against the published text on 5 September 2026.

312 IAC 9-5-7(c)(76); 9-5-6(f); 9-5-7(f)

This section governs the: (1) sale; (2) transport for sale; or (3) offer for sale; of any reptile or amphibian native to Indiana regardless of place of origin. (b) Except as otherwise provided in this section and in section 9 of this rule, an individual must not sell, transport for sale, or offer to sell a reptile or amphibian that is native to Indiana.

This entry read legal, checked against 312 IAC 9-11-8, the Class III list, and against nothing else. Class III is purebred wolves, bears, wild cats, venomous reptiles and crocodilians, so of course a milk snake is not on it, and that is not the rule that answers one. 312 IAC 9-5-7(c)(76) lists the eastern milksnake, Lampropeltis triangulum, among the 99 native taxa whose sale the section governs, and 9-5-7(a) applies it "regardless of place of origin", so a captive-bred milk snake bought from an out-of-state breeder is inside it. Selling, offering for sale or transporting for sale is barred and possession is capped at four under 9-5-6(f). The exits are 9-5-7(f), which exempts a captive-bred albinistic, leucistic or xanthic animal, and the reptile captive breeding licence at 9-5-9.

How this rule works: The rule 312 IAC 9-11 does not reach. 9-5-1(b) makes every reptile and amphibian native to Indiana a protected wild animal, 9-5-6(f) caps possession at four per species, and 9-5-7 bars selling a native species "regardless of place of origin" against a list of 99 taxa given by binomial. 9-5-7(f) then exempts captive-bred albinistic, leucistic and xanthic morphs. Indiana's own rules site, iar.iga.in.gov, serves its React shell for every path including its own script bundles, so this is read from Cornell LII and cited to the official section.

Checked against the published text on 5 September 2026.

312 IAC 9-5-7(c)(58); 9-5-6(f)

This section governs the: (1) sale; (2) transport for sale; or (3) offer for sale; of any reptile or amphibian native to Indiana regardless of place of origin. (b) Except as otherwise provided in this section and in section 9 of this rule, an individual must not sell, transport for sale, or offer to sell a reptile or amphibian that is native to Indiana.

The red-eared slider is native to Indiana, which is what decides it, and Indiana's native rule is unusual in reaching a purchased animal. 9-5-7(c) lists Trachemys scripta elegans among the 99 taxa whose sale it governs, and 9-5-7(a) says the section applies "regardless of place of origin", so a captive-bred animal from an out-of-state breeder is caught by it just as a wild-caught one is. Selling, offering for sale or transporting for sale is barred; possessing is not, subject to 9-5-6(f)'s cap of four live animals of any one native species. Two exits exist. 9-5-7(f) exempts a captive-bred animal with albinistic, leucistic or xanthic colour morphology, on the same logic New Jersey uses for corn snake morphs, that a morph is visibly not a wild-caught animal. And 9-5-9 provides a reptile captive breeding licence under which sales are lawful. This is the one that surprises people, because the red-eared slider is the most widely sold pet turtle in the country and Indiana is inside its native range, so the sale bar reaches it. The federal four inch rule under 21 CFR 1240.62 bars hatchling sales nationwide on top of that.

How this rule works: The rule 312 IAC 9-11 does not reach. 9-5-1(b) makes every reptile and amphibian native to Indiana a protected wild animal, 9-5-6(f) caps possession at four per species, and 9-5-7 bars selling a native species "regardless of place of origin" against a list of 99 taxa given by binomial. 9-5-7(f) then exempts captive-bred albinistic, leucistic and xanthic morphs. Indiana's own rules site, iar.iga.in.gov, serves its React shell for every path including its own script bundles, so this is read from Cornell LII and cited to the official section.

Checked against the published text on 5 September 2026.

312 IAC 9-5-7(c)(42); 9-5-6(c), (f)

This section governs the: (1) sale; (2) transport for sale; or (3) offer for sale; of any reptile or amphibian native to Indiana regardless of place of origin. (b) Except as otherwise provided in this section and in section 9 of this rule, an individual must not sell, transport for sale, or offer to sell a reptile or amphibian that is native to Indiana.

The common snapping turtle is native to Indiana, which is what decides it, and Indiana's native rule is unusual in reaching a purchased animal. 9-5-7(c) lists the eastern snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina serpentina, among the 99 taxa whose sale it governs, and 9-5-7(a) says the section applies "regardless of place of origin", so a captive-bred animal from an out-of-state breeder is caught by it just as a wild-caught one is. Selling, offering for sale or transporting for sale is barred; possessing is not, subject to 9-5-6(f)'s cap of four live animals of any one native species. Two exits exist. 9-5-7(f) exempts a captive-bred animal with albinistic, leucistic or xanthic colour morphology, on the same logic New Jersey uses for corn snake morphs, that a morph is visibly not a wild-caught animal. And 9-5-9 provides a reptile captive breeding licence under which sales are lawful. Indiana adds a wild-take regime on top for this species specifically: 9-5-6(c) allows four a day of the snapping turtle and the two softshells combined, only between July 1 and March 31, and only at twelve inches or more of carapace length. The alligator snapping turtle is a separate entry on the same list and a different animal.

How this rule works: The rule 312 IAC 9-11 does not reach. 9-5-1(b) makes every reptile and amphibian native to Indiana a protected wild animal, 9-5-6(f) caps possession at four per species, and 9-5-7 bars selling a native species "regardless of place of origin" against a list of 99 taxa given by binomial. 9-5-7(f) then exempts captive-bred albinistic, leucistic and xanthic morphs. Indiana's own rules site, iar.iga.in.gov, serves its React shell for every path including its own script bundles, so this is read from Cornell LII and cited to the official section.

Checked against the published text on 5 September 2026.

312 IAC 9-5-7(c)(10); 9-5-6(f)

This section governs the: (1) sale; (2) transport for sale; or (3) offer for sale; of any reptile or amphibian native to Indiana regardless of place of origin. (b) Except as otherwise provided in this section and in section 9 of this rule, an individual must not sell, transport for sale, or offer to sell a reptile or amphibian that is native to Indiana.

The tiger salamander is native to Indiana, which is what decides it, and Indiana's native rule is unusual in reaching a purchased animal. 9-5-7(c) lists the eastern tiger salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum, among the 99 taxa whose sale it governs, and 9-5-7(a) says the section applies "regardless of place of origin", so a captive-bred animal from an out-of-state breeder is caught by it just as a wild-caught one is. Selling, offering for sale or transporting for sale is barred; possessing is not, subject to 9-5-6(f)'s cap of four live animals of any one native species. Two exits exist. 9-5-7(f) exempts a captive-bred animal with albinistic, leucistic or xanthic colour morphology, on the same logic New Jersey uses for corn snake morphs, that a morph is visibly not a wild-caught animal. And 9-5-9 provides a reptile captive breeding licence under which sales are lawful. It is one of eight Ambystoma on the list, so Indiana has thought about this genus carefully rather than sweeping it in. Note the contrast with Alabama, where the same animal is banned outright because that state adopts the federal injurious wildlife list as a possession bar and the January 2025 salamander rule put Ambystoma on it. Indiana names no federal list here.

How this rule works: The rule 312 IAC 9-11 does not reach. 9-5-1(b) makes every reptile and amphibian native to Indiana a protected wild animal, 9-5-6(f) caps possession at four per species, and 9-5-7 bars selling a native species "regardless of place of origin" against a list of 99 taxa given by binomial. 9-5-7(f) then exempts captive-bred albinistic, leucistic and xanthic morphs. Indiana's own rules site, iar.iga.in.gov, serves its React shell for every path including its own script bundles, so this is read from Cornell LII and cited to the official section.

Checked against the published text on 5 September 2026.