Restricted Species Permit

A Restricted Species Permit is required for the possession, importation, transportation, sale, transfer, and exportation of certain restricted exotic species in North Carolina. The list of restricted species includes the following:

• Tongueless or African Clawed Frog (Xenopus spp.)
• Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei)
• Cuban Treefrog (Osteopilus septentrionalis)
• Asian Newts (genera Cynops, Pachytriton, Paramesotriton, Laotriton, Tylototriton)
• Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)
• Argentine Black and White Tegu (Salvator merianae or Tupinambis merianae)
• Greenhouse Frog ( Eleutherodactlyus planirostris)

Permit Restrictions, Rules and Conditions

Possession of Restricted Wildlife:

It is unlawful for any individual to import, transport, export, purchase, possess, sell, transfer, or release into public or private waters or onto lands of the State any species of:

• Tongueless or African Clawed Frogs (Xenopus spp.)
• Brown Anoles (Anolis sagrei)
• Cuban Tree Frogs (Osteopilus septentrionalis)
• Red-eared Sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans)
• Asian Newts (Cynops, Pachytriton, Paramesotriton, Laotriton, Tylititriton)  
• Argentine Black and White Tegu (Salvator merianae or Tupinambis merianae)
• Greenhouse Frog (Eleutherodactlyus planirostris)

The NC Wildlife Resources Commission may, by permit, authorize importation, transportation, exportation, purchase, possession, sale, or transfer of the above-listed species for the following entities, subject to the listed Conditions and Restrictions.

Retail and Wholesale Establishments:

Importation, possession, sale, transfer, transportation, and exportation of these species within North Carolina, by retail and wholesale establishments whose primary business is providing scientific supplies for research, shall be allowed by permit, provided the following conditions are met:

• An application for a permit shall be submitted and include plans for holding, transportation, advertisement, and sale to allow a determination of the safeguards employed to prevent accidental escape and sales to unauthorized individuals.
• In-state sale or transfer is allowed only to agencies, entities, and research institutions.
• Exportation shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the importing state.
• All specimens shall be possessed in indoor facilities.
• Transportation of specimens shall employ safeguards that prevent accidental escape.

Government Agencies and Research Institutions:

Purchase, importation, possession, transfer, transportation, and exportation of these species within North Carolina shall be allowed by permitted state and federal governmental agencies, corporate research entities, and research institutions, provided the following conditions are met:

• An application for a permit shall be submitted and include plans for holding, transportation, final disposition, and safeguards to prevent accidental escape.
• Exportation shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the importing state.
• All specimens shall be possessed in indoor facilities.
• Transportation of specimens shall employ safeguards that prevent accidental escape.
• The agency's, entity's, or institution's Animal Use and Care Committee has approved the research protocol for these species.

Private Individuals:

Private individuals in possession of a live specimen(s) of Red-eared Slider(s) (Trachemys scripta elegans) prior to Aug. 1, 2018, under a restricted species permit may retain, transport, transfer, or export the animal(s) in their possession.

Private individuals in possession of a live specimen(s) of Argentine Black and White Tegu(s) (Salvator merianae or Tupinambis merianae) prior to Aug. 1, 2022, under a restricted species permit may retain, transport, transfer, or export the animal(s) in their possession.

Possession of Prohibited Fishes:

It is unlawful to transport, purchase, possess, sell, or stock in the public or private waters of North Carolina any live individuals of:

• Piranha (any species of the genera Pristobry-con, Pygocentrus, Pygopristis, or Serrasalmus)
• "Walking catfish" (any member of the genus Batrachus)
• Snakehead fish (from the Family Channidae, formerly Ophiocephalidae)
• African longfin eel (Anguilla mossambica)
• Amur sleeper (Perccottus glenii)
• Applesnail (any species of genus Pomacea)
• Black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus)
• Bigclaw crayfish (Faxonius placidus)
• Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis)
• Creole painted crayfish (Faxonius palmeri creolanus)
• Crucian carp (Carassius carassius)
• European eel (Anguilla anguilla)
• European minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus)
• European perch (Perca fluviatillis)
• Marbled crayfish or Marmorkrebs (Procam-barus virginalis or Procambarus fallax f. virginalis)
• Olive mysterysnail (Viviparus subpurpureus)
• Oriental weatherfish (Misgurnus anguilli- caudatus)
• Prussian Carp (Carassius gibelio)
• Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)
• Rudd (Scardinius erythropthalomus or Scardinius erythrophthalmus)
• Round goby (Neogobius melanostomus)
• Tubenose goby (Proterorhinus marmoratus Proterorhinus semilunaris, and Proterorhinus semipellucidus)
• Ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus or Gymnocephalus cernua)
• Japanese mysterysnail (Cipangopaludina japonica)
• Chinese mysterysnail (Cipangopaludina chinensis)
• Red-rim melania (Melanoides tuberculatus or Melanoides tuberculate)
• Redtail catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus)
• Virile crayfish (Faxonius virilis)
• Rusty crayfish (Faxonius rusticus)
• Australian red claw crayfish or "red claw" (Cherax quadricarinatus, or other species of "giant" crayfish species in the genus Cherax)
• White amur or "grass carp" (Ctenopharyngodon idella; certified triploid grass carp may be bought, possessed and stocked with a permit from the Wildlife Resources Commission.)
• Asian swamp eel, swamp or rice eel (Monop-terus albus)
• Shortfin eel (Anguilla austalis)
• Red shiner (Cyprinella lutrensis)
• Yellow bass (Morone mississippiensis)
• Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)
• Quagga mussel (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) or any mussel in the family Dreissenidae.

Download the current Limitations on Certain Exotic Species rules from the North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings:

• 15A NCAC 10B .0123
• 15A NCAC 10C .0211

How to Obtain a Permit

Complete an online application at Go Outdoors North Carolina. Once your online application has been submitted, the appropriate staff will review the application. If your application is approved, you will receive an approval email with a link to purchase the permit. You must purchase the approved license within 30 days of approval. This permit has a $12 permit fee plus a $5.00 transaction fee payable by a Visa, MasterCard or Discover credit card. All permit fees are non-refundable.

Contact Information