Can You Own an Iguana in Delaware? What State Law Actually Says

If you’re wondering whether you can bring home a green iguana in Delaware, the short answer is yes, and you likely won’t need a state permit to do it. That surprises a lot of people, since iguanas are large, non-native reptiles that show up on plenty of other states’ restricted lists. Delaware handles them differently, but “no permit” doesn’t mean “no rules,” and the details matter before you commit to a pet that can live for two decades and grow past five feet long.

This guide walks through exactly where iguanas stand under Delaware’s exotic animal statutes, what local governments can still control, and what happens if an iguana ends up in the wrong hands or the wrong habitat.

Important Note: This article summarizes publicly available Delaware statutes and regulations for general informational purposes. It is not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the Delaware Department of Agriculture or your local municipality before acquiring an iguana.

Is It Legal to Own an Iguana in Delaware

Iguanas are legal to own in Delaware, and they’re specifically carved out of the state’s exotic animal permitting system. Delaware law generally requires a permit to possess, sell, or import any non-native wild mammal or reptile under Chapter 72 of Title 3 of the Delaware Code. Without an exemption, that statute states no person shall bring into this State, possess, sell or exhibit any live wild mammal or hybrid of a wild mammal or live reptile not native to or generally found in Delaware without first securing a permit under this chapter.

Iguanas, however, sit on the state’s approved exemption list. Delaware’s administrative code spells out which reptiles don’t need a permit, and the list includes Anoles, Agamas, Asian Water Dragons, Basilisks, Bearded dragons, Chameleons, Geckos, Iguanas, Skinks (except the five-lined skink), Swift lizards, and Tegus. That exemption comes straight from the Department of Agriculture’s own regulatory framework, which oversees exotic animal permitting statewide.

Even exempt animals aren’t entirely outside the law’s reach. Exempt species like iguanas are subject to the regulations 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 11.4.6, 12.0, and 14.2.2 of the state’s exotic animal code, meaning general welfare, health, and nuisance provisions still apply even without a permit requirement. If you’re also curious about how Delaware treats native wildlife you might encounter, the state’s rules on raccoon ownership show a much stricter approach, since raccoons don’t share the iguana’s exempt status.

Is the Iguana Considered an Invasive Species in Delaware

The green iguana (Iguana iguana) isn’t native to Delaware, and the state’s own agriculture officials have been blunt about the ecological risk of releasing one outdoors. In October 2023, the Delaware Department of Agriculture issued a public alert after green iguanas were apparently given away as festival prizes at the Apple Scrapple Festival in Bridgeville. State Veterinarian Dr. Karen Lopez noted that while green iguanas do not require a permit, they are considered exotic, which means they are not native to Delaware, and the department absolutely does not want people releasing them into the wild.

The concern isn’t hypothetical. Native to Central America, parts of South America and some Caribbean islands, green iguanas can reach over five feet in length and weigh up to 17 pounds, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. A Delaware Department of Agriculture spokesperson told reporters that while not native to Delaware, green iguanas can theoretically survive in the wild here, though if the temperature remains below freezing for more than eight hours, they will die. That’s a narrower survival window than in Florida, where feral iguana populations have become a genuine invasive species problem, but Delaware’s agency still treats free-roaming iguanas as an ecological threat rather than a curiosity.

The reason comes down to diet. Green iguanas are omnivores that eat mainly plants and occasionally insects, and if released in Delaware, they will eat plants native species depend on to survive, as well as fruit, which would impact the agriculture industry. If you want to see how this compares to Delaware’s actual established species, the state’s different types of iguanas kept as pets versus those causing invasive problems elsewhere illustrates why captivity, not release, is the deciding factor.

Pro Tip: Never release an unwanted iguana outdoors. The Delaware Department of Agriculture’s Poultry and Animal Health Section works with reptile rescues that can rehome iguanas responsibly.

Permits and Registration Requirements in Delaware

Because iguanas are exempt, you won’t file a state exotic animal permit application, pay a fee, or schedule a home inspection just to own one. That puts iguanas in the same low-hurdle category as several other popular exotic pets Delaware residents keep without paperwork, including hedgehogs, which have their own separate exemption rules worth reviewing if you’re building a multi-species household.

For comparison, here’s what the process looks like for exotic animals that aren’t exempt, since it illustrates just how much paperwork iguana owners skip:

Requirement	Exempt Animals (Iguanas)	Regulated Animals
State permit needed	No	Yes
Permit fee	N/A	$25, valid for three years
Home inspection	Not required	Required before approval
Enclosure documentation	Not required	Primary and secondary enclosure proof required

For regulated species, the individual permit fee is $25 and is good for three years, and applicants can expect a home visit, since after submitting the application with the fee, a Poultry and Animal Health Investigator will contact the applicant to schedule a home inspection. Permit applicants for non-exempt species also have to prove their setup can contain the animal, since the regulations require satisfactory proof that the exotic animal will be confined within two enclosures, designated as primary and secondary, with the primary enclosure being a pen, cage, or other structure of sturdy and escape-proof construction. None of that applies to your iguana purchase, but it’s useful context if you’re considering adding a non-exempt reptile later.

Local City or County Restrictions in Delaware

State exemption doesn’t automatically mean every town in Delaware treats iguanas the same way. The Department of Agriculture is explicit that each county has a separate set of regulations regarding the ownership of exotic pets, many towns have restrictions on particular species, and the owner is responsible for determining whether the animal is allowed at their location. In practice, this means your address matters as much as state law.

Sussex County takes a hands-off approach: Sussex County has no county ordinances regarding the ownership of exotic animals, though residents in unincorporated areas can still contact Planning and Zoning with questions. Kent County is different. Its ordinance on dangerous exotic animals is enforced by the Kent County SPCA, and violation of that provision is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000, with each animal possessed and each day of possession constituting a separate offense. Iguanas aren’t typically classified as “dangerous” in the way that ordinance targets, but it shows how much local rules can diverge from the state’s exempt list.

City jurisdiction adds another layer. As the Department of Agriculture notes, if you pay city taxes, you fall under the jurisdiction of the city where you live, and you should contact City Hall to inquire about city ordinances prohibiting ownership of an exotic animal. This patchwork is similar to how Delaware handles other animal-keeping questions at the municipal level, whether it’s backyard chicken laws, rooster restrictions, or goat ownership rules that vary block by block depending on zoning. Leash and containment ordinances, like Delaware’s dog leash laws, follow the same local-first pattern.

Key Insight: A statewide exemption is only half the picture. Always check your specific city or county’s animal ordinances before assuming an exempt exotic pet is welcome everywhere in Delaware.

Can You Own Other Reptile Species Alongside an Iguana in Delaware

Iguana owners often want to build out a broader reptile collection, and Delaware’s exempt list is generous compared to many states. Along with iguanas, the state’s exemption covers Anoles, Agamas, Asian Water Dragons, Basilisks, Bearded dragons, Chameleons, Geckos, Skinks (except the five-lined skink), Swift lizards, and Tegus, meaning a mixed collection of these species can typically be kept without individual state permits.

Snakes are a more complicated story. Native species are governed separately from the exotic animal statute, and Delaware’s own native snake species fall outside Chapter 72 entirely since they’re already found in the state. Non-native snakes are a different matter, and venomous ones face an outright ban: no permits will be granted for non-native venomous snakes, and no person shall bring into the state, possess, sell, or exhibit any poisonous snake not native to Delaware where the venom poses a risk of serious injury or death to a human. Non-venomous exotic snakes like ball pythons or boas generally require the standard exotic animal permit, since they aren’t on the exempt list alongside iguanas and bearded dragons.

Here’s a quick breakdown of where common reptile species land:

• No permit needed: Iguanas, bearded dragons, geckos, chameleons, basilisks, tegus, anoles, agamas, most skinks, Asian water dragons
• Permit required: Non-native boas, ball pythons, and other constrictors not on the exempt list
• Never permitted: Non-native venomous snakes, regardless of intended use as a pet

Mammal exotics follow a similar exempt-versus-permitted split, which is worth understanding if your household already includes another exotic species. Delaware’s approach to raccoon ownership, for instance, falls under the same Chapter 72 framework but without the broad exemption iguanas enjoy.

Penalties for Illegal Iguana Ownership in Delaware

Because iguanas are exempt, straightforward ownership won’t trigger the state’s exotic animal penalties. Those penalties matter, though, if you cross into territory the exemption doesn’t cover, such as breeding regulated exotics without authorization, keeping a non-exempt reptile without a permit, or importing a species the state restricts entirely.

Under Delaware’s exotic animal statute, whoever violates the chapter shall for each offense be fined not more than $500, imprisoned not more than 30 days, or both, with justices of the peace holding jurisdiction over these offenses. That penalty structure applies chapter-wide, covering unpermitted possession, sale, or exhibition of a regulated mammal or reptile.

State enforcement also has teeth beyond fines. The Department of Agriculture’s regulations give the state veterinarian broad authority, since the State Veterinarian has the power to grant, deny, or revoke permits to own or have custody of exotics in the state, and is vested with the power to designate agencies to seize and, when warranted, humanely destroy an exotic if necessary to protect public health, safety, or welfare. Failing to secure or renew a required permit carries its own consequence too, since failure to obtain or renew a permit would allow the state veterinarian to order the seizure and disposal of any regulated exotics without a hearing.

Local penalties can be steeper in specific counties. Kent County’s dangerous animal ordinance, for example, treats each animal possessed as a violation, with each day of possession constituting a separate offense, which can turn a single lapse into a fast-accumulating fine. That’s a reminder that even with a state exemption in hand, ignoring local registration or containment rules for other animals in your care carries real financial risk.

Common Mistake: Assuming an exempt species like an iguana means every exotic animal in your home is automatically exempt too. Each species is evaluated separately under Delaware’s exotic animal code.

Before bringing home an iguana, it’s worth a quick call to your city or county office just to confirm there’s no local wrinkle affecting your address. Between the state’s exempt list, county-by-county variation, and the ecological concerns tied to release, Delaware’s iguana rules are more nuanced than a simple “legal” or “illegal” label suggests, and knowing the specifics keeps both you and your pet on solid ground.