Restricted + banned species, permits required, and regulatory contact. Updated May 2026.
California maintains a "restricted species" list - check before purchasing. Most marine species permitted.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Official website: https://wildlife.ca.gov/
Always check the California Department of Fish and Wildlife restricted-species list before any aquarium livestock purchase. Lists update regularly and federal Lacey Act listings apply on top of state rules.
No, piranhas are prohibited in California.
No, all Channa (snakehead) species are illegal in California.
Most common aquarium species do NOT require a permit in California. California maintains a "restricted species" list - check before purchasing. Most marine species permitted. Always check the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website for the current restricted-species list before purchase.
The official source is the California Department of Fish and Wildlife: https://wildlife.ca.gov/. State lists update regularly - check before any purchase.
Yes, most aquarium species ship freely between states. Restricted species (snakeheads, piranhas where banned) cannot ship into California. Vetted Fast Aquatics vendors filter to your state automatically.
Fast Aquatics vendors filter inventory automatically by your shipping state - you'll only see species legal to ship to CA. Browse saltwater, freshwater, coral, or aquatic plants with carrier-tracked Buyer Protection on every order.
Browse the full state legality matrix covering all 50 US states + DC.