The law, state by state

• Alabama

  You may keep one box turtle and common native turtles taken for personal use, but protected species such as map turtles, alligator snapping turtles, gopher tortoises and diamondback terrapins need a state permit. Selling any live turtle requires a Turtle Dealer permit. Never release a pet turtle, which is illegal for any captive-bred or out-of-state reptile.

  Confidence high.

• Alaska

  Alaska has no native freshwater turtles, and pet turtles are on the state's list of animals that can be kept without a permit. You can keep, buy and sell nonvenomous turtles freely, but you may never release one into the wild. Federal and local rules still apply.

  Confidence medium.

• Arizona

  Common pet turtles are not restricted, but all snapping turtles and all Gopherus tortoises, including the desert tortoise, are restricted live wildlife. You may keep a desert tortoise only through the state adoption program or if it was held before 1989, and you may never release one. Collecting native reptiles requires an Arizona hunting licence and the species limits in Commission Order 43.

  Confidence medium.

• Arkansas

  You can hand-catch most common native turtles and keep them as pets, up to six wild animals per household, but alligator snapping turtles, chicken turtles, razorback musk turtles and ornate box turtles are off limits. Wild-caught pets may not be sold, and up to six box turtles may be brought in as pets. Releasing any wildlife without written Commission approval is illegal.

  Confidence medium.

• California

  Native reptiles, including the western pond turtle, may not be collected, kept or sold, but red-eared sliders, painted turtles and spiny softshells may be caught with a sport fishing licence. Snapping turtles are restricted and need a department permit. Desert tortoises need a state permit and tag. Releasing any captive turtle into the wild requires written approval.

  Confidence high.

• Colorado

  Painted turtles and ornate box turtles may be taken from the wild, up to four of each species a year and twelve animals in total, and kept as pets but not sold. Other native turtles such as the yellow mud turtle and spiny softshell are protected nongame wildlife. Wild-caught turtles may be released only near where they were found and only if they never shared space with reptiles from elsewhere.

  Confidence medium.

• Connecticut

  Only the common snapping turtle has an open season in Connecticut; bog, wood, spotted, box turtles and diamondback terrapins may not be taken at any stage. You may keep at most one spotted turtle and ten adult wild snapping turtles, and the commercial trade in snapping turtles was banned in 2018. Releasing any wild animal needs a DEEP permit.

  Confidence medium.

• Delaware

  You may collect and keep one each of the common native turtles, such as a painted, box, mud, musk, snapping turtle or diamondback terrapin, without a permit; anything more needs a permit from the Division of Fish and Wildlife. Native wildlife may not be sold without a permit. A wild turtle kept more than 30 days may not be put back.

  Confidence high.

• District of Columbia

  Washington, DC bans most wild animals as household pets but makes an exception for turtles traditionally kept as pets, so ordinary pet turtles are allowed. There is no local scheme for collecting turtles from the wild, and abandoning any animal is illegal. The federal 4-inch rule still applies to sales.

  Confidence medium.

• Florida

  Florida bans new pet red-eared sliders; only sliders owned before July 1, 2007 or albino and other aberrant-colour animals are allowed without a permit. You may take one common native turtle a day for personal use but never sell wild-caught turtles, and many species are fully protected. Releasing any non-native animal is illegal.

  Confidence high.

• Georgia

  Most native Georgia turtles cannot be kept as pets, including box turtles, map turtles, spotted turtles, bog turtles, diamondback terrapins, gopher tortoises and alligator snapping turtles. Common pet-store species are not on the state wild animal list, apart from African helmeted and Chinese softshell turtles, which now need a licence. Keeping more than ten native freshwater turtles needs a commercial turtle permit.

  Confidence high.

• Hawaii

  Every turtle or tortoise brought into Hawaii needs an import permit from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity before it ships, plus a vet health certificate, and it must arrive through Honolulu airport for inspection. Sliders, mud and musk turtles and many tortoises are on the restricted list, which allows private ownership only with a permit and an approved site. Any species not on a state list is prohibited.

  Confidence medium.

• Idaho

  Idaho Fish and Game says a valid Idaho hunting licence is needed to take, capture or keep native reptiles and amphibians, with a limit of four of each species, and native reptiles cannot be sold. The agency website and its reptile rules summary were unavailable when checked, so confirm with a regional IDFG office before relying on this.

  Confidence low.

• Illinois

  Illinois residents may collect native turtles by hand with a sport fishing licence and keep up to four of a species and eight native herptiles in total; the snapping turtle limit is two a day and four in possession. Non-native turtles may be kept and sold without a state permit, but selling native species needs a Herpetoculture permit. Turtle farming is prohibited.

  Confidence medium.

• Indiana

  Indiana residents 18 and over need a hunting or fishing licence to collect turtles from the wild, with a bag limit of two and possession limit of four per nongame species. Eastern box turtles may not be collected or sold, and keeping one needs a turtle possession permit. Selling any turtle under 4 inches is illegal under state rule as well as federal law.

  Confidence high.

• Iowa

  Iowa treats turtles as a harvest species. With a fishing licence you may take common snapping turtles year-round and painted and softshell turtles from July 16 to May 14, keeping no more than 4 snappers, 1 softshell and 1 painted turtle a day and 100 pounds of live turtles in total. Turtles taken on a fishing licence cannot be sold, and eggs may not be taken from wild nests.

  Confidence medium.

• Kansas

  Kansas lets you take and keep native turtles year-round for personal, noncommercial use, but no more than five reptiles in total and no more than two of any one species per person or household. Northern map turtles are threatened and alligator snapping turtles are a species in need of conservation, so leave both alone. Non-native turtles may be kept without limit but must never be released.

  Confidence medium.

• Kentucky

  Kentucky lets you keep up to five wild-caught individuals of each native turtle species for personal use without a permit, but you cannot buy or sell wild-caught native turtles and alligator snapping turtles are prohibited outright. Keeping more than five of a species, or any commercial dealing, needs a captive wildlife permit. Snapping and softshell turtles are taken under fishing or hunting licence rules instead.

  Confidence high.

• Louisiana

  Louisiana bans all commercial use of native turtles and caps personal possession of restricted native turtles at ten in any combination, no more than two of a species, with only one alligator snapping turtle. Box turtles are restricted, so two is the limit. Collecting wild turtles needs a basic fishing licence, and releasing any captive turtle, native or not, is illegal without a permit.

  Confidence high.

• Maine

  In Maine you may catch and keep up to two of each native turtle species without a permit, as long as the species is not endangered, threatened or of special concern, but you need a permit to import, sell or exhibit them. Blanding's turtles are endangered and spotted turtles threatened, so they are off limits. Red-eared sliders and box turtles are restricted species that need a wildlife in captivity permit and must be captive bred.

  Confidence medium.

• Maryland

  Maryland lets you keep one of each listed native turtle species without a permit, but wood turtles, spotted turtles and diamondback terrapins can never be taken from the wild. A Captive Reptile and Amphibian Permit is needed to keep more than one per species, any turtle under 4 inches, or to breed or sell natives. Non-native turtles need no permit.

  Confidence high.

• Massachusetts

  Most turtle species can be kept in Massachusetts without a permit, up to 100 per species. Red-eared sliders, spotted turtles, gopher and pancake tortoises and any state listed species are the exceptions and need a permit. Only two wild reptiles may be kept per person, snapping turtles need a fishing licence and a 12 inch minimum, and nothing may be released.

  Confidence high.

• Michigan

  In Michigan you need a fishing licence to collect turtles for personal use, and the seasons and limits are set in the DNR fishing regulations. Blanding's, spotted, wood and eastern box turtles cannot be taken or kept without DNR Director authorisation. Wild reptiles may not be bought or sold, and turtles under 4 inches may only be sold with a health advisory sheet.

  Confidence medium.

• Minnesota

  Minnesota residents need both an angling licence and a recreational turtle licence to take or keep wild turtles, and only western painted and snapping turtles may be collected. Keeping any other turtle species requires an aquatic farm or private fish hatchery licence with a turtle endorsement, unless you bought the turtle at a retail outlet. Nothing may be released.

  Confidence high.

• Mississippi

  Mississippi treats native turtles as nongame wildlife. With a hunting or fishing licence you may keep up to 10 native turtles, no more than 4 of any one species, plus limited snapping and softshell turtles. No wild turtles may be taken April 1 to June 30, turtle eggs are fully protected, and wild caught animals can never be sold.

  Confidence medium.

• Missouri

  Missouri residents may keep up to five native turtles taken from the wild without a permit, but not alligator snapping turtles or endangered species, and they may never be sold or shipped out of state. Non-native turtles may be bought, sold and kept without a permit. Snapping and softshell turtles are also harvested under fishing rules with a daily limit of two.

  Confidence high.

• Montana

  Montana classifies exotic pets as noncontrolled, controlled or prohibited. Nonnative tropical and subtropical turtles with shells over 4 inches are noncontrolled and can be kept and sold without a permit, but red-eared sliders are a prohibited species that private owners cannot buy or possess. Exotic turtles may never be released. No rule found on collecting native turtles.

  Confidence medium.

• Nebraska

  Nebraska lets you collect and keep small numbers of most native turtles without a permit: up to 10 painted or false map turtles and up to 3 each of ornate box, yellow mud, smooth softshell, spiny softshell and red-eared slider. Blanding's turtles are protected and need a scientific permit. Wild caught turtles may not be sold, and no turtle may be released after being moved more than 100 yards.

  Confidence medium.

• Nevada

  In Nevada, non-native nonvenomous turtles such as sliders and most tortoises can be kept and sold without a permit, but they may never be released. The desert tortoise is protected: you may keep one only through an approved adoption programme, and it cannot be sold, given away or released. Native turtles are closed to collection.

  Confidence medium.

• New Hampshire

  New Hampshire lets you keep up to two each of musk, painted and snapping turtles without a permit, and exotic turtles are non-controlled. Blanding's, eastern box, spotted and wood turtles are protected and cannot be taken or possessed, except turtles legally held since before 1996. Native turtles cannot be sold, and releasing them is regulated under Fis 800.

  Confidence high.

• New Jersey

  Eastern painted turtles and common snapping turtles can be kept without a permit. Most other turtles and tortoises need a $10 Individual Hobby permit from NJ Fish and Wildlife, and native endangered species such as the bog turtle are off limits. The state does not allow pet shops to sell turtles or tortoises.

  Confidence medium.

• New Mexico

  New Mexico has no clear rule on keeping a store-bought turtle as a pet. Taking native reptiles for sale needs a $50 commercial collecting permit, and state or federally listed threatened or endangered reptiles cannot be taken at all. Imported animals cannot be released without a permit from the Game and Fish director.

  Confidence low.

• New York

  All native New York turtles are protected and cannot be kept as pets, bought or sold. The only open season is for snapping turtles, which you can harvest with a licence from July 15 to September 30. Non-native pet turtles such as red-eared sliders are not regulated by DEC, but releasing any animal into the wild needs a DEC permit.

  Confidence high.

• North Carolina

  You can keep up to four native turtles without a licence, but five or more pond, box or softshell turtles in a year counts as commercial taking and is banned. Red-eared sliders are a restricted species in North Carolina, so you need a Restricted Species Permit to own, buy, sell or release one. Snapping turtles have a harvest season with a 13 inch minimum.

  Confidence medium.

• North Dakota

  North Dakota law bans commercial taking, trapping or hooking of turtles without a permit from the Game and Fish director. We found no state rule on keeping a pet turtle or on personal collection limits, so check with the Department before taking a turtle from the wild. Snapping turtles are a species of conservation concern.

  Confidence low.

• Ohio

  Ohio residents may take up to four of each species on the Division of Wildlife's collectible reptile list, but adults must apply for a propagating licence after taking possession. Snapping and softshell turtles can be harvested from July 1 to December 31 if the shell is at least 11 inches. Wild-caught turtles cannot be sold, and releasing any reptile needs a permit.

  Confidence high.

• Oklahoma

  Oklahoma lets you catch most turtles year round with a fishing licence, six per species per day and in possession. Alligator snapping turtles, western chicken turtles and northern map turtles are fully protected. Land turtles such as box turtles may not be sold, and aquatic turtles may only be sold by licensed commercial harvesters or buyers.

  Confidence medium.

• Oregon

  Oregon bans red-eared sliders, all other pond sliders and cooters, snapping turtles, map turtles, softshells and several other common pet turtles; you cannot buy, sell, possess or release them. Oregon's two native turtles, the western pond and western painted turtle, may not be taken or kept. Tortoises, most box turtles and some side-necked turtles are allowed without a permit.

  Confidence high.

• Pennsylvania

  Pennsylvania does not regulate possession of non-native pet turtles, but it is illegal to release them. Native snapping turtles can be taken with a fishing licence from July 1 to October 31, 15 a day and 30 in possession. Blanding's, spotted, wood and woodland box turtles have no open season and a possession limit of zero.

  Confidence high.

• Rhode Island

  Rhode Island bans owning, buying or selling any native turtle, including box, painted, spotted, wood and musk turtles, even if bought from a pet store. Exotic turtles and tortoises can be kept without a permit, except a few tortoises and endangered species. Red-eared sliders must be kept indoors, and no captive animal may ever be released.

  Confidence high.

• South Carolina

  Since October 2020 you may keep only a small number of native turtles, up to 10 in total with per-species caps, and you may not sell, trade or ship native turtles. Gopher tortoise, bog turtle and spotted turtle need a permit. Releasing non-native animals such as pet sliders is a crime.

  Confidence high.

• South Dakota

  You need a fishing licence to catch a wild turtle in South Dakota, and you may keep no more than 4 of each species caught from the wild. Buying or selling any turtle, including parts, is illegal in the state. The false map turtle is off limits.

  Confidence medium.

• Tennessee

  You may keep a legally obtained native non-venomous reptile, including a turtle, without a possession permit, but you must be able to prove where it came from. The only turtle you may take from the wild is the common snapping turtle, with a sport fishing licence, and those may not be sold.

  Confidence medium.

• Texas

  Texas treats turtles as nongame wildlife. You need a hunting licence to collect them, you may keep no more than 6 wild-caught freshwater turtles, and since 2018 no freshwater turtle may be taken from the wild to sell. Diamondback terrapins may not be possessed at all.

  Confidence medium.

• Utah

  Common pet turtles such as red-eared sliders and common snapping turtles are non-native and can be kept, collected or caught in Utah with no permit or limit. The Mojave desert tortoise is a prohibited species with a possession limit of zero. You may not release a captive reptile without written approval from the Division of Wildlife Resources.

  Confidence medium.

• Vermont

  Vermont does not allow native turtles to be kept as pets, and from July 2025 pond sliders, including red-eared sliders, may no longer be imported or sold in the state. You can keep a slider you already owned before 1 July 2025 but must never release it. From 1 January 2027 it will be illegal to intentionally take any reptile or amphibian without authorization.

  Confidence high.

• Virginia

  Since July 2021 a Virginia household may keep only one native turtle that is not a Species of Greatest Conservation Need, and box turtles and other SGCN species may not be kept at all. Red-eared sliders may not be taken or possessed for private use in any number. Native turtles may be given away but never sold.

  Confidence high.

• Washington

  Washington requires a department permit to take any live wildlife from the wild, and the native painted turtle is classified as protected wildlife. Red-eared sliders are a regulated non-native species: you can own one, but WDFW says you need the proper licence to import, hold, sell or release turtles, and releasing any pet into the wild is illegal.

  Confidence medium.

• West Virginia

  Since March 2021 it is illegal to take or possess any native West Virginia turtle except the snapping turtle and eastern spiny softshell, so box turtles, painted turtles, map turtles and sliders caught in the state may not be kept. Exotic turtles are not affected. Turtles kept more than 30 days may never be released.

  Confidence high.

• Wisconsin

  Wisconsin lets licensed anglers and small game hunters take common turtles from 15 July to 30 November, with a limit of 5 of most species and 3 snapping or softshell turtles. Ornate box, wood and Blanding's turtles are protected and may not be taken or kept without an endangered species permit. Selling native turtles is illegal for almost everyone.

  Confidence medium.

• Wyoming

  In Wyoming you may collect most native reptiles for personal use without a permit, but the ornate box turtle and northern spiny softshell may be taken only under a scientific or educational permit. Any reptile you take from the wild must be kept confined and may never be released. Commercial take needs separate authorization.

  Confidence medium.

These are plain-English summaries written from the statutes and agency pages linked on each state page, not legal advice. Laws change; each page shows when it was last checked. When in doubt, call the agency.