Can You Own a Python in Wyoming? What the Law Actually Allows
September 3, 2026
Wyoming has some of the most permissive exotic pet laws in the country, but that does not mean pythons are a free-for-all. Whether you can own a python in Wyoming depends on the species you want, whether the Wyoming Game and Fish Department has issued a permit, and whether your city or county has its own rules layered on top. Add in a federal statute that bans certain giant constrictors from crossing state lines, and the picture gets more complicated than a quick internet search usually reveals.
This guide walks through what state law, federal law, and local ordinances actually say about keeping a pet python in the Equality State, so you know what paperwork to expect before you bring one home.
Is It Legal to Own a Python in Wyoming
Wyoming does not have a blanket ban on python ownership. According to one exotic pet resource, you don’t need a permit to own a Ball Python as an exotic pet in Wyoming, since ball pythons are relatively small, ground-dwelling, non-venomous snakes named for their habit of curling into a ball. That is good news if a ball python (Python regius) is the species you have in mind.
The bigger picture is less simple. Born Free USA’s summary of Wyoming statute notes that no person shall possess any species of wildlife on endangered species lists, and exotic and nongame species requiring a permit for possession include, but are not limited to, parrots, ferrets, hedgehogs, pythons, boas, and other snakes. In other words, pythons as a group sit on Wyoming’s regulated-species list even though smaller pet-trade species like ball pythons are commonly kept without issue.
Important Note: Sources disagree on whether every python species needs a state permit in Wyoming. This likely comes down to species, quantity, and how the animal was acquired. Before buying, call your regional Wyoming Game and Fish office to confirm whether your specific python requires a Chapter 69 permit. If you already keep other regulated reptiles, the same permit logic applies. Wyoming’s rules for hedgehog ownership and raccoon ownership follow a similar case-by-case permitting structure through the same department.
Federal Law: The Lacey Act and “Injurious” Python Species
Even if Wyoming allows a species, federal law can still restrict how that animal moves across state lines. The Lacey Act gives the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service authority to label certain wildlife “injurious,” which blocks import into the country and transport between states without a federal permit. In January 2012, the Service used that authority against four large constrictors. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service amended its regulations under the Lacey Act to add Python molurus, which includes the Burmese python and Indian python, Northern African python, Southern African python, and yellow anaconda to the list of injurious reptiles. That listing meant the importation into the United States and interstate transportation of any live animal, gamete, viable egg, or hybrid of these four constrictor snakes was prohibited, except by permit for zoological, education, medical, or scientific purposes. The rule did not strip existing pet owners of their snakes. Most people who own any of these four species were not affected, and those who owned them were allowed to keep them if allowed by state law, though moving them across state borders became a federal matter. Three years later, the list grew again. The reticulated python, DeSchauensee’s anaconda, green anaconda, and Beni anaconda were added in the 2015 ruling, joining the Burmese python, yellow anaconda, northern African python, and southern African python that had been listed as injurious species in 2012. Notably, the boa constrictor was proposed for this list but never made the final cut, so it remains outside the federal injurious framework even though Wyoming still treats boas as a permitted exotic species at the state level.
Pro Tip: Federal injurious listing is about interstate transport and import, not private in-state ownership. Wyoming’s own permit system is the layer that actually governs whether you can keep the snake at home. For broader context on how invasive reptiles reach places like Wyoming, the Burmese python’s spread into new territory is a useful case study in why federal regulators acted.
Which Python Species Are Restricted or Banned in Wyoming
No python species is outright banned from private possession in Wyoming, but each one lands in a different regulatory bucket depending on state and federal rules. The table below summarizes where the most commonly kept python and anaconda species stand as of the current federal injurious wildlife list.
| Species | Federal Injurious Status | Wyoming State Status |
|---|---|---|
| Ball python (Python regius) | Not listed | Commonly kept; permit requirement varies by source |
| Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) | Listed 2012 | Permitted exotic species category, interstate transport restricted |
| Northern African python (Python sebae) | Listed 2012 | Same permitted exotic species category |
| Southern African python (Python natalensis) | Listed 2012 | Same permitted exotic species category |
| Reticulated python (Python reticulatus) | Listed 2015 | Same permitted exotic species category |
| Boa constrictor (Boa constrictor) | Not listed | Regulated exotic species, no federal transport barrier |
The Burmese python deserves special mention because of its ecological track record. Wyoming’s own wildlife agency uses it as a cautionary example, warning that the Burmese python has been released into Florida and is now causing largescale damage to the Everglades ecosystem, and the species is native to Asia and may grow over 20 feet long and become difficult to care for. That warning is aimed at preventing release, not banning ownership, but it explains why the department pays closer attention to giant constrictor applications than to smaller pet-trade species.
If you are comparing pythons to native reptiles you might encounter outdoors, Wyoming’s native snake species and its green snake population are worth a look, since native species fall under an entirely different set of protections than imported pythons.
Permit Requirements for Owning a Python in Wyoming
Wyoming routes most reptile permitting through Chapter 69 of the Game and Fish Commission regulations, which covers cold-blooded wildlife. Prior to importing, possessing or transporting live wildlife in Wyoming, a permit is required, and this applies broadly across regulated reptile species, pythons included. Not every snake needs the same paperwork. North American rear-fanged snakes in the family Colubridae do not require a permit or certificate of veterinary inspection, which shows the department distinguishes between native, low-risk species and nonnative constrictors when setting permit thresholds. Pythons, as nonnative constrictors, generally fall on the more heavily regulated side of that line. The application process itself is individualized rather than automatic. Each application to possess live wildlife is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and more detailed information is available through Wyoming Game and Fish Commission Regulation Chapter 69, Importation and Possession of Live Cold-Blooded Wildlife, with application forms downloadable from the department’s site. Once a permit is granted, it comes with conditions that follow you home. Permit holders shall comply with all conditions of the permit issued, and any applicable Wyoming statutes, Commission regulations, federal statutes, county and municipal rules or ordinances or any other laws or covenants. Shipping and housing rules apply too: each container of live amphibians and reptiles imported into Wyoming must bear the names and addresses of the consignor and consignee, and each container must have a label that clearly describes its contents.
- Contact your regional Wyoming Game and Fish office or check the Possessing Wildlife page for current Chapter 69 forms.
- Identify the exact species and confirm whether it falls under the injurious federal list, which may add extra documentation.
- Submit your application for case-by-case review before the animal arrives in the state.
- Label any shipping container correctly and keep permit paperwork on hand for inspection.
This process mirrors what applies to other regulated exotics. Anyone who has gone through the permit steps for keeping a hedgehog in Wyoming will recognize the same case-by-case review structure used for pythons.
Size and Length Restrictions in Wyoming
Wyoming does not publish a specific maximum length or weight cap for pet pythons the way some states cap alligator or venomous snake size. Instead, size functions as a risk factor that the Game and Fish Department appears to weigh during its case-by-case permit review, particularly for species capable of reaching 15 to 20 feet. The state’s own messaging leans on size as a practical concern rather than a numeric cutoff. The department’s public education around invasive species notes that giant constrictors like the Burmese python can become difficult to care for as they grow, which is part of why owners are discouraged from releasing outgrown pets into the wild.
Common Mistake: Assuming that because Wyoming has no published length limit, size is irrelevant to your permit application. Reviewers can factor an animal’s adult size into their case-by-case decision, especially for species already on the federal injurious list. If you are weighing whether a python’s eventual size fits your situation, it helps to research the specific species’ growth potential before applying, since a reticulated python or Burmese python will outgrow most home enclosures within a few years.
Local Ordinances That May Apply in Wyoming
State-level permission is only half the equation. While various wildlife species are legal to own under Wyoming laws, local ordinances may be more restrictive, so you need to check your local laws and ordinances before acquiring an exotic animal. A python that clears state permitting can still run into a city-level ban. Cheyenne offers a real example of how this plays out. Its municipal code states that no individual shall own any wild animal or exotic pet within the city limits, except that this restriction does not apply to the keeping of small cage birds or aquatic, amphibian, or nonpoisonous reptilian animals, or small rodents such as hamsters, guinea pigs, or gerbils kept solely as pets. Because most pet pythons are nonvenomous, they generally fall under that exception rather than the exotic animal ban itself. A legal review of the same ordinance summarized it simply: a review of state statutes in Wyoming found no law that prohibits snake ownership, and under Cheyenne’s city ordinance, as long as the snakes are not poisonous, you may keep them. Other municipalities and homeowners’ associations may draft their rules differently, so a python legal in Cheyenne is not automatically legal in every Wyoming town. This same patchwork shows up in other animal-ownership contexts across the state, including breed-specific dog ordinances and local livestock permitting rules, where city code frequently adds restrictions state law does not require.
Pro Tip: Before buying a python, pull your city or county’s municipal code on exotic and wild animals, not just the state wildlife statute. This is the step most new owners skip.
Penalties for Illegally Owning a Python in Wyoming
Wyoming’s permit system is not optional paperwork; it is enforceable. For species the department has deemed off-limits, the following species are not allowed under Wyoming law, meaning a permit will not be issued for the possession of these animals. Keeping a prohibited species, or an unpermitted python that falls into a restricted category, exposes an owner to confiscation of the animal and potential citations under Wyoming’s Title 23 game and fish code. Permit conditions carry their own compliance risk. Because permit holders must comply with all conditions of the permit issued, and any applicable Wyoming statutes, Commission regulations, federal statutes, county and municipal rules or ordinances, violating even one condition, such as improper container labeling or exceeding an approved species list, can trigger permit revocation. Legal ownership does not eliminate liability either. As a general principle across exotic pet law, even if you’re allowed to own a certain type of animal, you may still be liable for any injuries or damages caused by your exotic pet. That liability exposure runs parallel to the personal-injury framework Wyoming already applies to more common pets, similar to how the state’s dog bite liability rules hold owners responsible regardless of species.
Important Note: This article summarizes general regulatory patterns and is not legal advice. Wyoming statutes and Game and Fish Commission regulations change, and enforcement can vary by county. Confirm current requirements with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department or a licensed attorney before acquiring a python. Federal violations add a separate layer of risk. Because Burmese pythons, African pythons, and several anaconda species are listed as injurious wildlife, moving one across state lines without the correct federal permit is a Lacey Act matter handled by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, independent of whatever Wyoming’s own permit says.
Owning a python in Wyoming is realistic for most people willing to do the paperwork. Confirm your species against the federal injurious list, secure the right Chapter 69 permit from Wyoming Game and Fish, and check your city’s municipal code before you bring the snake home. Skipping any one of those three steps is where most well-meaning owners run into trouble.