No, ferret ownership is prohibited in Ohio under the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 901:1-13-01, which lists ferrets as “prohibited species.” The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) enforces this ban, citing ecological and agricultural risks. Exceptions exist only for licensed research facilities or zoos.
Key Regulations for Owning a Ferret in Ohio
- Statewide Ban: OAC 901:1-13-01 explicitly prohibits ferrets as “wild animals,” with no private ownership permits available.
- Local Enforcement: County health departments and animal control agencies actively seize unauthorized ferrets under ODA directives.
- 2026 Compliance Shift: Proposed amendments to OAC 901:1-13-01 may relax restrictions for licensed breeders, pending ODA review in Q2 2026.
Violations may result in civil penalties up to $1,000 per offense under OAC 901:1-13-05. The ODA’s 2024 risk assessment highlights ferret-related salmonella outbreaks in neighboring states as a primary concern. Cross-border ferret trafficking remains a low-priority enforcement target due to limited resources.