Roof Rat Laws › Canada › British Columbia
Summary. In British Columbia, keeping a tame, captive-bred roof rat is legal. BC’s Wildlife Act protects native and some designated non-native ‘wildlife’, but the Designation and Exemption Regulation (B.C. Reg. 168/90), section 8(h), exempts a non-native animal that ‘is tame and kept in captivity for the use of man’. Rattus rattus is not a Controlled Alien Species (that list is for dangerous exotics like big cats and venomous snakes), so a captive-bred pet roof rat qualifies for the exemption and needs no provincial permit to keep, breed, or sell. Feral roof rats (e.g., on Haida Gwaii) are managed as invasive wildlife, never release one.
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.- FrontCounter BC, Provincial Contact Centre, B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship (written reply June 2026): ‘Rattus rattus is not designated as wildlife under the Wildlife Act. A provincial wildlife permit would not be required.’ Keeping a roof rat therefore needs no provincial wildlife permit in British Columbia. (Releasing one remains prohibited, feral roof rats are managed as invasive wildlife; never release.)
Status by activity
Keeping / owning Legal
Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-10
FrontCounter BC (B.C. Ministry of Water, Land & Resource Stewardship) confirmed in writing (June 2026) that Rattus rattus is not designated as wildlife under the Wildlife Act, so no provincial wildlife permit is required to keep one. This matches the regulation: section 8(h) of the Designation and Exemption Regulation (B.C. Reg. 168/90) exempts a non-native animal that is tame and kept in captivity for human use, and R. rattus is not a Controlled Alien Species, so a captive-bred, tame roof rat needs no provincial captive-wildlife permit.
Sources: Province of British Columbia, Province of British Columbia
Breeding Legal
Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-06
As an exempt tame species not listed as a Controlled Alien Species, breeding is legal without a provincial permit, subject to municipal bylaws, business licensing, and BC’s animal-welfare law.
Sources: Province of British Columbia
Selling or giving away Legal
Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-06
Selling or giving a tame, exempt roof rat is legal at the provincial level, subject to municipal pet-shop/business licensing and consumer-protection rules. No provincial dealer permit is required.
Sources: Province of British Columbia
Transport & import Legal
Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-06
Moving a tame, securely-contained roof rat within BC is not restricted by provincial wildlife authorities, provided it is not released into the wild. Interprovincial transport follows the destination province’s rules (you cannot bring one into Alberta).
Sources: Province of British Columbia
Restrictions & responsibilities
Source: Province of British Columbia
- Check municipal business-licensing/zoning if breeding or selling commercially
Where: Your municipality · Fees: Set locally
Source: Province of British Columbia
Official sources
- Wildlife Act, Designation and Exemption Regulation (B.C. Reg. 168/90), s. 8(h) tame-captive exemption, Province of British Columbia
- Wildlife, Province of British Columbia (Controlled Alien Species; invasive management), Province of British Columbia
Search terms: Rattus rattus, roof rat, black rat, ship rat.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10, which is when a person last read this page against its sources. Spotted an error, or know the law has changed? Email blonderoofrat@gmail.com.