This resource helps people find the official legal status of keeping, breeding, selling, and transporting domesticated roof rats (Rattus rattus) wherever they live, and what to do about it.
Legal note
This is a research aid, not legal advice; rules change and are interpreted by local officials. Verify with the official source before acting.What this is, and is not
It is a research aid built from official government sources. It is not legal advice, and we are not lawyers. Laws change, and local officials interpret them in ways we cannot control. Always read the official source yourself and, when it matters, confirm directly with the agency before you act.
How we research each jurisdiction
- We start from official primary sources: statutes, regulations, and the responsible agencies (wildlife, agriculture, customs).
- We use structured deep research, then verify every claim against the official source and link it.
- Where the published rules are unclear, we say so, and where possible we confirm directly with the agency in writing.
- Every answer carries a confidence level and a last-verified date. Pages we have not yet agency-confirmed are marked preliminary.
We packaged this same method into a free, open tool, Pet Freedom, so anyone can research the legal status of any pet, not just roof rats. It is our gift to other keepers.
What the labels mean
| Legal | Allowed, with no special permit. |
| Legal with a permit | Allowed, but a permit, license, or registration is required. |
| Restricted | Allowed only under specific conditions or limits. |
| Prohibited | Not allowed. |
| Unregulated / unclear | No rule found, or the law is silent or ambiguous. |
| Not yet researched | Not yet researched. Here is how you can help. |
Species, not domestication
An important nuance: most laws regulate a species, not whether your animals are tame. A domesticated roof rat is still Rattus rattus. So an exemption for “domestic rats” (which usually means the fancy rat, Rattus norvegicus) may or may not cover roof rats. We flag this wherever it matters, and it is often the heart of the advocacy case for fairer rules.
Help us keep it accurate
Found something out of date, or know the rule for your area? Please tell us, ideally with a link to the official source, and we will verify and update. This resource gets better with every contribution.
This is a research aid, not legal advice; rules change and are interpreted by local officials. Verify with the official source before acting.