Can You Own a Boa Constrictor in Louisiana? What the Law Actually Says
September 12, 2026
Louisiana residents can legally own a boa constrictor, but “legal” comes with a catch most first-time buyers miss: you need a permit from the state before you ever bring one home. Between state wildlife statutes, federal snake regulations, and parish-level pet ordinances, the rules around owning a boa constrictor in Louisiana are more layered than a quick internet search suggests.
This breakdown walks through what state law actually requires, where federal rules fit in, and which local governments add their own restrictions on top of everything else.
Is It Legal to Own a Boa Constrictor in Louisiana
Yes, but only with a permit. The Louisiana statute governing constrictor snakes places the boa constrictor in a regulated category alongside pythons and anacondas rather than an outright banned one. The importation or private possession of constrictor snakes in excess of eight feet long, including any species of the genus Boa, obtained in any manner, shall be only by permit issued by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries except for animals kept by animal sanctuaries, zoos, aquariums, wildlife research centers, scientific organizations, and medical research facilities.
The Boa constrictor is a heavy-bodied, non-venomous snake native to Central and South America, and it’s one of the most commonly kept large snakes in the American pet trade. You can read more about its natural range, diet, and typical adult size on our boa constrictor species guide. Because the genus Boa is named specifically in Louisiana’s statute, wildlife officials treat any pet boa constrictor as falling under the permit requirement, regardless of whether a particular animal has actually reached eight feet in length.
Pro Tip: A state permit only clears the first legal hurdle. Your parish or municipality may still ban wild and exotic pets outright, so confirm local rules before you apply for anything with the state.
This two-tier system trips up a lot of reptile keepers who assume that because a snake isn’t venomous or native, it must be unregulated. For comparison, Louisiana’s native snake species, covered in our guide to snakes found throughout Louisiana, generally don’t require a possession permit unless you’re collecting them commercially.
Federal Restrictions on Boa Constrictors
Federal law plays a smaller role here than most owners expect. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulates certain large constrictor snakes as “injurious wildlife” under the Lacey Act, a designation that blocks interstate transport and importation. In 2010, the agency proposed listing Python molurus, reticulated python, Northern African python, Southern African python, boa constrictor, yellow anaconda, DeSchauensee’s anaconda, green anaconda, and Beni anaconda as injurious wildlife.
The boa constrictor never actually made that list. In a January 2012 final rule, the Service listed Burmese and Indian pythons, Northern African pythons, Southern African pythons, and yellow anacondas as injurious, while the remaining five species, including boa constrictors, stayed under consideration. When the Service finalized the second round of listings in 2015, boas were left out entirely. The final regulation listed the reticulated python, DeSchauensee’s anaconda, green anaconda, and Beni anaconda as injurious under the Lacey Act, and removed the boa constrictor from consideration.
The reasoning had less to do with risk and more to do with practicality. The regulatory prohibitions of the Lacey Act are less effective when a species like the boa constrictor is already widely held in captivity in high numbers, with significant domestic breeding likely to continue, since that breeding increases the probability of escape, survival, and establishment in the wild. Conservation groups pushed back hard on the decision; one attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity argued that “boas have been found on the loose in 46 states,” calling the exclusion a concession to snake breeders.
| Species | Federal Injurious Status | Year Listed |
|---|---|---|
| Burmese/Indian python | Listed as injurious | 2012 |
| Northern & Southern African python | Listed as injurious | 2012 |
| Yellow anaconda | Listed as injurious | 2012 |
| Reticulated python | Listed as injurious | 2015 |
| Green, DeSchauensee’s & Beni anaconda | Listed as injurious | 2015 |
| Boa constrictor | Not listed; withdrawn from consideration | 2015 |
Important Note: No federal injurious-wildlife listing does not mean no regulation at all. It means the Lacey Act’s interstate transport and import restrictions don’t apply to boa constrictors specifically, leaving state law as the primary layer of control in Louisiana.
Louisiana’s Laws on Owning a Boa Constrictor
Louisiana’s exotic and wild animal framework sorts species into tiers rather than applying one blanket rule. The state identifies several “listed animals” that are generally prohibited from private importation, purchase, or possession, including several species of bears, wolves, and big exotic cats, as well as all non-human primates. Boa constrictors don’t fall into that banned category. Instead, they sit in the regulated tier alongside other large constrictors and venomous snakes.
The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission is authorized to adopt rules and regulations for the harvest, possession, sale, handling, housing, or importation of these species, and violation of the statute or its rules constitutes a class three violation under R.S. 56:33. This regulatory structure is distinct from how Louisiana treats native venomous species; you can see how that compares in our guide to whether coral snakes are found in Louisiana, since native venomous reptiles fall under a separate set of collection rules tied to fishing licenses rather than the restricted-species permit system.
Anyone buying, selling, or propagating boa constrictors commercially within the state faces an additional layer. Businesses handling live constrictors or venomous snakes for resale must hold a wholesale/retail reptile and amphibian dealer’s license, which carries its own fee schedule and reporting obligations separate from a personal possession permit.
Permits and Requirements for Boa Constrictor Ownership in Louisiana
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is the agency you’ll deal with directly. Its Restricted Reptile and Amphibian Species permit application covers boa constrictors along with other large constrictors and venomous snakes classified as “restricted snakes” under Louisiana Administrative Code Title 76.
Applying involves more than filling out a form. Based on LDWF’s own application requirements, expect the following:
- Signed Hold Harmless Agreement — a required attachment acknowledging your acceptance of liability for the animal.
- Facility disclosure — you must agree to notify LDWF within 30 days of relocating your facility or permitted animals.
- No release or unauthorized transfer — it is unlawful to release captive restricted species into the wild or transfer possession except to LDWF or its designated agent.
- No unapproved breeding — all breeding activities for restricted reptiles and amphibians are prohibited unless approved and permitted by LDWF.
- Clean recent record — LDWF may refuse to issue a permit if the applicant received a final conviction for a Title 56 or Title 76 Class 3 or higher violation within the three years before applying.
If you plan to source your boa constrictor from a Louisiana dealer rather than an out-of-state breeder, it helps to understand the licensing structure on the seller’s side too. A Reptile and Amphibian Wholesaler/Retail Dealer’s license costs $220 for residents and $880 for nonresidents, while a Reptile and Amphibian Transport Permit runs $65 for residents and $250 for nonresidents. Those fees apply to dealers and transporters, not to a private owner’s personal possession permit, but they’re useful context for understanding why reputable in-state sellers charge what they do.
Pro Tip: LDWF’s Wildlife Permits Office (225-763-5499) can confirm current application requirements and processing timelines before you commit to purchasing an animal.
The permit system for boas mirrors, in structure if not in detail, how Louisiana regulates other reptiles kept outside their native range. If you’re also considering other reptiles as pets, our overview of lizard species in Louisiana outlines which native lizards need no permit at all, a useful contrast to the restricted-species process boas require.
Local Ordinances That May Apply in Louisiana
State-level clearance is only half the equation. Louisiana’s exotic pet framework operates on two levels, and many cities and parishes layer their own restrictions on top of state law, sometimes banning wild or exotic pets that the state itself permits with a license.
New Orleans is a clear example. City code Section 18-7 states that no person shall keep or permit to be kept any wild or exotic animal as a pet. East Baton Rouge Parish uses nearly identical language: Section 14-302 prohibits any person from owning, possessing, selling, or keeping a wild or exotic animal as a pet in the parish. The city of Baton Rouge reinforces this at the municipal level too. No wild or exotic animals are allowed to be kept as pets, though the Director of the Animal Control and Rescue Center may issue temporary permits for injured or infant wild animals, and zoos, circuses, animal exhibitions, and veterinary clinics may exhibit or keep them.
| Jurisdiction | General Stance on Exotic Pets | Notable Exceptions |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | Wild/exotic animals prohibited as pets | Accredited zoos, educational institutions |
| East Baton Rouge Parish | Wild/exotic animal ownership prohibited | State/federal permit holders, exhibitions |
| City of Baton Rouge | No wild/exotic pets allowed | Zoos, circuses, vet clinics, temporary wildlife permits |
Louisiana’s overlapping legal layers aren’t unique to reptiles. The state’s approach to pit bull ownership rules follows a similar pattern, where state law sets a baseline while individual parishes and cities add breed-specific or species-specific restrictions of their own. Before purchasing a boa constrictor, contact your parish planning office or city clerk directly, since ordinance text isn’t always current online.
Penalties for Illegally Owning a Boa Constrictor in Louisiana
Possessing a boa constrictor without the required LDWF permit isn’t treated as a minor paperwork lapse. Violation of the restricted-species statute constitutes a class three violation. Under Louisiana’s wildlife violation framework, the fine for a third offense and all subsequent offenses is not less than $750 nor more than $1,000, along with imprisonment for not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days, and forfeiture to the commission of anything seized in connection with the violation.
Repeat violations carry consequences beyond fines and jail time. For a second or subsequent violation of the same provision, the penalty may include revocation of the permit or license under which the violation occurred, along with a bar on obtaining another permit or license for that same period. An illegally possessed boa constrictor is also subject to seizure, and the animal typically cannot be returned to its owner even after fines are paid.
Common Mistake: Assuming that “grandfathered” ownership protects you if you acquired the snake before learning about the permit requirement. Louisiana’s exemptions apply to animals purchased before a specific cutoff date under narrow circumstances, not to ignorance of current law.
Enforcement typically falls to LDWF wildlife agents, who have authority to inspect facilities tied to restricted-species permits and investigate unpermitted possession. This is part of the same broader wildlife enforcement structure that governs everything from roadkill possession rules to hunting and licensing programs like Louisiana’s dove hunting season, all administered under the same department.
If you already own a boa constrictor and aren’t sure whether your paperwork is current, the safest move is contacting LDWF directly rather than waiting for an inspection to surface the issue. Voluntary compliance is generally treated more favorably than a violation discovered during enforcement action, though this article isn’t legal advice and a Louisiana wildlife attorney can address your specific situation.
Owning a boa constrictor in Louisiana is entirely achievable for responsible keepers willing to follow the process: secure the LDWF restricted-species permit, meet the facility and hold-harmless requirements, and separately confirm your parish or city doesn’t ban exotic pets outright. Skip any one of those three layers, and you risk fines, seizure, or worse, regardless of how well you actually care for the animal. Unlike native wildlife such as the squirrels found throughout Louisiana backyards, a boa constrictor is never a casual, permit-free pet in this state, and treating the paperwork as optional is the single most common way owners end up on the wrong side of the law.