Full Breakdown
Tennessee Law Eases Requirements for Owning Pet Raccoons
8/1/2026, 3:44:48 AM
Legislative Changes Effective This Month
The Tennessee General Assembly approved a bill that eliminates the $31 permit fee previously required to keep a raccoon as a pet. Sponsored by Sen. Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald) and Rep. Kip Capley (R-Summertown), the measure permits ownership when the animal is obtained from a legal source, is vaccinated, is a non-native species, was not captured from the wild, and when a possession permit is issued by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). Capture of wild raccoons for pet purposes remains illegal.
Agency Guidance and Health Risks
The TWRA cautions that raccoons can carry diseases such as rabies and can become territorial and aggressive after reaching sexual maturity. The agency’s website advises prospective owners to consider these health and behavioral risks before acquiring a raccoon, even under the new streamlined permitting process.
Legislative Support and Public Interest
State Rep. Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) highlighted constituent enthusiasm for the change. He told News 2’s Tori Gessner that many Tennesseans have expressed a desire to own a raccoon, noting, “You’d be surprised how many people in Tennessee have reached out and said, ‘We can’t wait for one of these. I’m so excited, thank you!’ Lots and lots. Hundreds, maybe thousands.” “You’d be surprised how many people in Tennessee have reached out and said, ‘We can’t wait for one of these. I’m so excited, thank you!’ Lots and lots. Hundreds, maybe thousands,” — State Rep. Jeremy Faison
Potential Impact
By lowering the financial barrier and clarifying permitting criteria, the law may increase the number of privately owned raccoons in Tennessee. Wildlife officials, however, stress that the continued prohibition on taking raccoons from the wild and the agency’s health warnings remain critical safeguards. The balance between expanded pet ownership and public-health concerns will likely shape future discussions on exotic-pet regulation in the state.
