Are Roof Rats Legal in Colorado? Keeping, Breeding & Selling

Keeping / owning   Legal

Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-12

Colorado Parks & Wildlife’s Domestic Animal List (2 CCR 406-11 §1103(A)) exempts ‘Domesticated races of rats (Rattus norvegicus and Rattus)’ from all Parks & Wildlife Commission regulation, no wildlife license, exotic-pet permit, CPW registration, inspection, or fee is required to possess a captive-bred roof rat, and there is no numeric possession limit for personal use. The parenthetical names the Norway rat and then the bare genus ‘Rattus,’ which is read to extend the domestic exemption to the entire genus, so a captive-bred R. rattus is treated identically to a fancy rat. The exemption is conditional on the animal being a ‘domesticated race’ (captive-bred); a wild-caught/feral roof rat is NOT covered and remains subject to CPW’s prohibition on possessing wild terrestrial wildlife.

Sources: Colorado Parks & Wildlife Commission (via Cornell LII), Colorado Parks & Wildlife Commission (via Cornell LII), Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Michigan State Animal Legal & Historical Center

Breeding   Restricted

Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-12

No CPW wildlife breeding license applies to a domestic-list animal, and hobby breeding is legal. But breeding falls under the Colorado Dept of Agriculture’s Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act (PACFA), under which ‘pet animals’ include rats and mice. 8 CCR 1202-15 §2.6.1.1 sets the small-mammal breeder threshold at ‘producing, housing, or transferring more than 200’ rats/mice/gerbils/hamsters combined per year, below that you are an exempt hobbyist; above it you must obtain a PACFA ‘Small Animal Breeder’ facility license before further transfers (the threshold aggregates across species, so you can’t split it among multiple rodent types). Licensure adds a qualifying-education course, a pre-license inspection, and ongoing facility/sanitation/enclosure standards.

Sources: Colorado Department of Agriculture (official Colorado Secretary of State rules), Colorado Dept of Agriculture (via Justia), Colorado Dept of Agriculture, Colorado Parks & Wildlife Commission (via Cornell LII)

Selling or giving away   Restricted

Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-12

Transfers of a domestic-list animal need no CPW permit, and selling/giving/adopting-out is unregulated below the PACFA threshold, the law permits small-scale monetization of the hobby. But under 8 CCR 1202-15 §2.6, transferring (selling, giving away, or adopting out) more than 200 rats/mice/gerbils/hamsters combined per year makes you a PACFA-licensed commercial operation (~$425/yr small-animal breeder, or a Pet Animal Shelter/retail license at $450-$600 for rescues/retailers), triggering fees, qualifying education, and facility inspections. A separate rescue/shelter threshold (§2.6.6) applies if more than 200 rats/mice/gerbils are housed in a central facility. Operating or advertising a covered facility without a license is unlawful and can draw a cease-and-desist.

Sources: Colorado Department of Agriculture (official Colorado Secretary of State rules), Colorado Dept of Agriculture (via Justia), Colorado Dept of Agriculture, Colorado Dept of Agriculture

Transport & import   Restricted

Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-12

Intrastate movement of a domestic-list animal needs no CPW transport permit, in-state health certificate, or wildlife transit document. But interstate IMPORT into Colorado is regulated by the CDA Animal Health Division: a roof rat is handled as a ‘small animal’/’pocket pet’ and, per the State Veterinarian’s import directives (8 CCR 1201-19, pt. 2), must be accompanied by a valid Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) issued by a federally accredited veterinarian in the origin state within 30 days prior to entry, and the CVI must be an origin-state official form (the federal VS Form 7001 is NOT accepted). Animals arriving without a valid CVI may be quarantined at the owner’s expense or ordered returned. Because the rat is on the CPW Domestic Animal List, NO wildlife importation permit is required. The CPW no-release guidance bars ever releasing one into the wild.

Sources: Colorado Dept of Agriculture, State Veterinarian, Colorado Dept of Agriculture, Animal Health Division (via Cornell LII), Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Colorado Parks & Wildlife Commission (via Cornell LII)

• Stay under 200 small mammals (rats+mice+gerbils+hamsters) produced/housed/transferred per year to remain an exempt hobbyist
• If over the threshold: complete the PACFA Qualifying Education (QE) course
• Apply for the PACFA license and pass a pre-license facility inspection
• Meet ongoing facility standards (weatherproof structure, moisture-impervious surfaces, sanitation, adequate primary enclosures) and routine inspections

Forms: PACFA Licensing, Colorado Dept of Agriculture, PACFA Qualifying Education Summary · Where: Colorado Dept of Agriculture, Division of Animal Welfare, PACFA Program (305 Interlocken Pkwy, Broomfield, CO 80021) · Fees: ~$425/yr (Small Animal Breeder); $450-$600/yr (Pet Animal Shelter); $600/yr (retail/wholesale)

Source: Colorado Dept of Agriculture, Colorado Department of Agriculture (official Colorado Secretary of State rules), Colorado Dept of Agriculture (via Justia)

• Before crossing into Colorado, have an accredited origin-state veterinarian issue an official-state CVI within 30 days of entry (do not rely on VS Form 7001)
• Carry the CVI with the animal during import
• No CVI required for moving the rat within Colorado

Forms: Bringing Small Animals into Colorado, CDA Animal Health · Where: Colorado Dept of Agriculture, Animal Health Division / State Veterinarian’s Office · Fees: Origin-state veterinary fee for the CVI; no Colorado import-permit fee

Source: Colorado Dept of Agriculture, State Veterinarian, Colorado Dept of Agriculture, Animal Health Division (via Cornell LII)

Where: Colorado Parks & Wildlife / your local code enforcement

Source: Colorado Parks & Wildlife Commission (via Cornell LII), Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Colorado Parks & Wildlife Commission (via Cornell LII)