Can You Own a Boa Constrictor in New Mexico? Here’s What the Law Says

If you picture a boa constrictor curled up in a New Mexico terrarium, you might assume it’s illegal before you even ask. That assumption is wrong more often than right: whether you can own a boa constrictor in New Mexico depends less on the species itself and more on which locality you’re keeping, how it entered the state, and whether you’ve cleared the right paperwork with the Department of Game and Fish.

This guide walks you through the state statutes, federal rules, permit requirements, and city ordinances that decide whether your pet boa is a legal companion or a misdemeanor waiting to happen.

Is It Legal to Own a Boa Constrictor in New Mexico

New Mexico takes an unusual approach to exotic pet law compared to many other states. New Mexico does not specifically list any exotic animals that can be kept as pets, which means there’s no single master list you can check to confirm a species is “approved.” Instead, the state relies on an importation classification system run by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF).

The boa constrictor (Boa constrictor) is a large, non-venomous constricting snake native to Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America. Most boas kept as pets in the United States, including in New Mexico, belong to the subspecies Boa constrictor imperator, sold under names like Colombian boa, Central American boa, or Hog Island boa. According to reporting from KRQE, some other animals you can own include Short tail opossum, Sugar Glider, Northwestern salamanders, Jefferson salamanders, Blue-spotted salamanders, Hog Isle Boa Constrictor, and Central American Boa Constrictor, though crocodiles and alligators remain off-limits statewide.

That’s an important distinction, because New Mexico does draw a hard line against some other large constrictors. Legal analysis from LegalClarity notes that prohibited species include large carnivores such as bears, wolves, and big cats, as well as primates and certain venomous reptiles, and separately that large constrictor snakes, such as Burmese pythons, and highly venomous reptiles, including cobras, are banned due to public safety concerns. Boa constrictors simply aren’t grouped with Burmese pythons in New Mexico’s system, which is why common pet locality morphs appear on the “can own” side of the ledger. For a closer look at the species’ biology and care needs before you commit, the boa constrictor species profile is worth reading, and comparing it against other reptiles like the lizards found throughout Mexico gives useful context on how differently states regulate similar-looking exotic reptiles.

Importation Group	Definition	Permit Needed
Group I	Semi-domesticated animals	No
Group II	Non-domesticated animals not known to be invasive or dangerous	Import permit generally required
Group III	Animals with minimal or manageable concerns	Permit with specific provisions
Group IV	Dangerous, invasive, or protected species	Permit rarely granted to private keepers

Group I is for semi-domesticated animals not requiring a permit, Group II covers live non-domesticated animals that are not known to be either invasive or dangerous, Group III presents minimal or manageable concerns requiring specific provisions, and Group IV covers animals considered dangerous, invasive, or state or federally listed as threatened or endangered. Boa constrictors of the common pet localities generally sit in Group II or III, not the restrictive Group IV tier reserved for Burmese pythons and venomous species.

Federal Restrictions on Boa Constrictors

Before you assume state law is the only hurdle, it helps to understand the federal layer. The main federal tool for regulating constrictor snakes is the Lacey Act’s injurious wildlife provisions, enforced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. According to the United States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK), this is not a ban on having these snakes as pets — if a species is listed as injurious, it makes interstate transportation and commerce and importation illegal.

That distinction matters. A federal injurious-species listing doesn’t reach into your living room and confiscate a snake you already legally own in New Mexico. It restricts crossing state lines, importing from abroad, or engaging in interstate commerce with a listed species. Historically, federal rulemaking has focused heaviest scrutiny on Burmese pythons and select anaconda species, while boa constrictors have been evaluated separately in that same regulatory conversation. USARK’s own analysis points out that boa constrictors are native into the Sonoran Desert of northern Mexico and cannot survive the lower temperatures or populate into the U.S. north of their natural range, which is part of the ecological argument keepers and industry groups have made against broader federal restrictions.

Important Note: Federal injurious wildlife listings can change as new rulemaking occurs. If you plan to transport a boa constrictor across state lines or import one from outside the country, verify the current U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service injurious wildlife list before you move the animal.

For a sense of how boa constrictors fit among the broader group of snakes found throughout the region, the guide to types of snakes in Mexico covers the species’ native range and relatives in more depth.

New Mexico’s Laws on Owning a Boa Constrictor

New Mexico’s core legal framework for exotic pets runs through NMSA 1978 and the New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC), both enforced by the NMDGF. Under state statute, it is unlawful to import a live animal without the right paperwork. As summarized in coverage of the relevant NMSA section, NMSA 1978 Section 17-3-32 makes it a misdemeanor to import any live animal without a Game and Fish permit, with only domesticated animals exempt.

The administrative code goes further on possession, not just importation. NMAC 19.31.10.10(C) states plainly that it shall be unlawful to purchase, possess, barter, transfer, transport, sell, or offer to sell any live animal listed as group II, III or IV on the director’s species importation list or any protected species without a department issued permit or license. Since most pet boa localities fall into Group II or III rather than Group I, this means a permit requirement can attach even to an animal that isn’t considered dangerous.

LegalClarity’s review of the statute confirms that the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish enforces these restrictions under the state’s Wildlife Conservation Act, and that the state also regulates non-native species that pose a risk to local ecosystems, with certain snakes, fish, and amphibians banned due to their potential to outcompete or prey on native wildlife. That ecological framing is why species review matters so much in New Mexico — the state isn’t just asking “is this animal dangerous,” it’s also asking “could this animal establish itself in the wild here.” For context on the native reptiles this framework is designed to protect, see the guides on rattlesnakes native to New Mexico, whether coral snakes occur in New Mexico, and the state’s broader list of endangered animals in New Mexico.

Permits and Requirements for Boa Constrictor Ownership in New Mexico

Assuming your boa constrictor falls into an importable group, the process still runs through NMDGF’s permitting office rather than a simple pet-store purchase. Under NMAC 19.35.7, bringing exotic animals into New Mexico requires an Importation Permit from the NMDGF, and applicants must submit documentation on the species’ origin, health records, and intended destination, with the state assessing potential risks including disease transmission and ecological impact before granting approval.

Once you clear that step, the paperwork doesn’t end. New Mexico also mandates a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) for imported exotic animals to verify they are free from contagious diseases, and permit holders are subject to ongoing inspections and reporting requirements, with enclosures required to meet state standards and renewals requiring updated documentation proving continued compliance. Failing to keep that paperwork current can result in a revoked permit even if you did everything right at the start.

Pro Tip: Call the NMDGF permitting office before you buy a boa constrictor from an out-of-state breeder. Confirming the species’ current importation group and the required documentation up front saves you from arriving at the state line with an animal you can’t legally bring home.

The Animal Legal and Historical Center’s review of NMAC 19.35.7 reinforces that the director maintains and updates the species importation list as new information becomes available, which means a boa locality that’s permit-free today could shift categories in the future. This same permitting logic applies broadly across New Mexico’s exotic pet rules — you’ll see nearly identical documentation and inspection steps in the hedgehog ownership laws in New Mexico and the state’s oversight of unusual pets like bats, detailed in the guide to bats found in New Mexico.

Local Ordinances That May Apply in New Mexico

State-level clearance is only half the equation. New Mexico’s cities and towns can add their own layer of restriction on top of NMDGF rules, and many do. The town of Bernalillo, for example, requires a separate local permit before residents can keep an exotic animal at all. Per the municipal code, in lieu of licensing each animal, a special animal permit shall be obtained, and the ordinance explicitly bars any exotic animal or species prohibited by federal and/or New Mexico law as well as any exotic animal kept in a way that constitutes likelihood of harm to the animals themselves, to human beings, or to the property of human beings, or which constitutes a public or private nuisance.

Elephant Butte takes a similar layered approach. Its code requires that wild or exotic animal keepers obtain a proper and valid city wild and exotic animal permit and provide adequate protective devices to prevent the animals from escaping or injuring the public. The ordinance also folds in state-level restrictions, noting that the keeping of poisonous snakes and rare or endangered species listed by the state is prohibited without a permit from the State Department of Wildlife and registration with the local jurisdiction.

Jurisdiction	Local Permit Required	Key Provision
Bernalillo	Yes, special animal permit	Bans nuisance or federally/state-prohibited exotic animals
Elephant Butte	Yes, wild and exotic animal permit	Requires escape-prevention devices and state registration overlap

Because ordinances vary by city and county, checking with your local animal control or planning department before bringing a boa constrictor home is just as important as clearing state paperwork. This overlapping permit structure isn’t unique to reptiles, either — you’ll find comparable local add-on requirements in New Mexico’s goat ownership laws, where state agricultural rules and municipal zoning both come into play.

Penalties for Illegally Owning a Boa Constrictor in New Mexico

Skipping the permit process carries real legal exposure, not just a slap-on-the-wrist fine. Game and Fish officials told KRQE that it is a full misdemeanor crime, and you could serve up to 364 days in jail and pay up to a $1,000 fine for possessing a restricted animal without authorization. That penalty structure applies most forcefully to Group IV animals, but importing or possessing any group II or III species without the correct permit still triggers the misdemeanor exposure under NMSA 17-3-32.

Enforcement isn’t limited to fines and jail time, either. LegalClarity notes that officers have the authority to inspect properties, issue citations, and seize unlawfully possessed animals, and that they frequently collaborate with local law enforcement and federal agencies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service when cases involve interstate transport or sale of prohibited species. If your boa constrictor was brought in from out of state without an Importation Permit, that federal coordination piece is exactly why a seemingly minor paperwork gap can escalate quickly.

Key Insight: Penalties tend to scale with the animal’s classification and how it entered the state. A Group II boa constrictor missing paperwork is treated differently than a Group IV animal kept without any permit at all, but both can still result in a misdemeanor charge under New Mexico law.

Beyond the legal risk, unpermitted ownership creates practical problems too. Without proper documentation, local veterinarians may be unable to treat the animal, and if it escapes or bites someone, you’re on much shakier legal ground than a permitted keeper would be. Given the overlap between state wildlife statutes and general animal-liability law, it’s worth understanding how New Mexico handles related situations, such as the guide covering the state’s roadkill laws, which illustrates how strictly the state treats wildlife possession even outside the pet trade.

Owning a boa constrictor in New Mexico is legal for many keepers, but “legal” comes with conditions attached at three levels: federal injurious wildlife rules, state importation permits, and city-level ordinances. Before you bring one home, confirm the specific locality’s current group classification with NMDGF, gather the required health documentation, and check your city or county code for an additional permit requirement. Doing that homework up front is far less costly than discovering after the fact that your pet snake put you on the wrong side of a misdemeanor charge.