Roof Rat Laws › United States › Washington
Summary. Washington is now DR-verified and is cleanly legal at the state level. The wildlife statute excludes “old world rats and mice of the family Muridae” from the definition of “wildlife” (RCW 77.08.010(74)), so the roof rat (Rattus rattus) is outside WDFW jurisdiction with no species trap (R. rattus and R. norvegicus are treated identically), and it is on neither the dangerous-wild-animal list (RCW 16.30.010) nor the deleterious-exotic-wildlife list (WAC 220-640-200). Keeping, breeding, and selling are unregulated by the state (WSDA licenses no breeders; a rat sale is treated as personal property), commercial breeding/retail defer to LOCAL zoning and animal-business codes. Importing one requires a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection as a “pocket pet” (WAC 16-54-170 / WSDA), but no exotic entry permit. Never release a roof rat (it is a recognized invasive species; WAC 220-450-010).
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.Local city & county rules
Status by activity
Keeping / owning Legal
Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-10
The roof rat is excluded from the statutory definition of “wildlife”, RCW 77.08.010(74) excludes “old world rats and mice of the family Muridae”, so WDFW has no jurisdiction. It is also absent from the dangerous-wild-animal list (RCW 16.30.010) and the deleterious-exotic-wildlife list (WAC 220-640-200). No state permit, caging, or inspection (only general anti-cruelty, RCW 16.52). Local exotic-pet ordinances may still apply.
Sources: Washington State Legislature, WA Dept of Fish & Wildlife
Breeding Legal
Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-10
No state rodent breeder license: WDFW breeding rules cover only dangerous/deleterious species (neither covers R. rattus), and the WSDA does not license, register, or regulate breeders of any species. Hobby breeding is unrestricted; commercial breeding defers to LOCAL county/municipal animal-business and zoning codes.
Sources: WA Dept of Fish & Wildlife
Selling or giving away Legal
Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-10
No state pet-dealer license applies to rodents, a roof rat sale is treated as the sale of personal property, not classified wildlife. Statewide pet-dealer bills historically targeted dog/cat volume breeders, not rodents. Retail sale defers to a local business/pet-shop license; private transfer is unregulated.
Sources: WA Dept of Fish & Wildlife
Transport & import Legal with a permit
Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-10
Intrastate transport of an owned pet is unregulated (only humane-transport rules, RCW 16.52.080). IMPORT into Washington requires a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection within 30 days, with the roof rat handled administratively as a “pocket pet” (WAC 16-54-170 / WSDA small-animal import), no exotic entry permit needed via that route; rodents are exempt from rabies vaccination. Never release a roof rat.
Sources: Washington State Dept of Agriculture, WA Dept of Fish & Wildlife
Restrictions & responsibilities
Where: WA State Dept of Agriculture, Animal Health Program
Source: WA Dept of Fish & Wildlife
Official sources
- RCW 16.30.010, Potentially dangerous wild animal (no rodents), Washington State Legislature
- WAC 220-640-200, Deleterious exotic wildlife (no rodents/Rattus), WA Dept of Fish & Wildlife
- WSDA Small Animal Import (CVI for rabbits, chinchillas, hedgehogs & other pocket pets), Washington State Dept of Agriculture
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. And if you write to the agency yourself and get an answer in writing, please forward it. Written agency replies are how 31 of these pages stopped being research and became confirmed.