Can’t find your area in our guide yet? Here is exactly how to get the official answer for where you live, the same way we do it. It usually takes a few emails.
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.Step 1: Know the exact animal
The pet roof rat is Rattus rattus (also called the black rat or ship rat). This is a different species from the common fancy/pet rat, Rattus norvegicus. When you contact an agency, use the scientific name Rattus rattus and the words “roof rat / black rat,” and make clear they are captive-bred and kept as pets, not wild-caught. Many rules that exempt “domestic rats” mean only Rattus norvegicus, so do not assume.
Step 2: Identify your jurisdiction(s)
Rules can stack at three levels: your country, your state or region, and your city or county. Check all three; a permissive country can still have a local ban, and vice versa.
Instant tool: check your city or county ordinance
The local layer is the hardest to research, because most city and county animal ordinances live in databases that are not indexed well by ordinary search. This finder builds targeted searches of the major municipal-code libraries (Municode, American Legal Publishing, eCode360) for your area, scoped to the words that matter for roof rats.
Local rules are the hardest layer to find. Type your city or county and state, and this builds ready-made searches of the major municipal-code libraries for the words that matter. It opens an ordinary web search in a new tab; nothing is sent to us.
Once you are in your code, search these terms: rat, rodent, exotic animal, wild animal, prohibited animal, number of pets / pet limit. Found your rule? Tell us and we will add your city.
Step 3: Ask the right agencies
- Wildlife agency (e.g., a Fish & Wildlife commission): non-native and captive-wildlife rules, the most common place a roof rat is regulated.
- Agriculture / animal-health department: sale, dealer licensing, and import health certificates.
- Customs / border or import authority: bringing animals across borders.
- Local animal control or city clerk: city and county ordinances.
Step 4: Ask the four questions, in writing
Email each agency and ask, specifically, about Rattus rattus kept as pets:
- Is it legal to keep one as a pet? Any permit or registration?
- Is it legal to breed them? Any license?
- Is it legal to sell or give them to others? Any dealer license?
- What is required to transport or import them (health certificate, permit)?
Ask for the answer in writing and for the specific statute or rule, so you have a record and a citation. Write to the agency in the official language of your country.
Step 5: Get it in writing, and share it
Save the agency’s reply. Then please send it to us with the source links so we can verify it and add your area to the guide, helping the next person who asks.
Or contribute what you know
Already know your local rule, or want us to research your area? Add it here. All input is verified against the official source before anything appears on the guide.
Know the local rule, or think something here is wrong or out of date? Share it (with an official link if you have one) and we will verify it and add it. Or just ask us to research your area. Nothing appears until we verify it against the official source.
This is a research aid, not legal advice; rules change and are interpreted by local officials. Verify with the official source before acting.