Restricted + banned species, permits required, and regulatory contact. Updated May 2026.
Aquarium species permitted.
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Official website: https://dnr.maryland.gov/
Always check the Maryland Department of Natural Resources 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 Maryland.
No, all Channa (snakehead) species are illegal in Maryland.
Most common aquarium species do NOT require a permit in Maryland. Aquarium species permitted. Always check the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website for the current restricted-species list before purchase.
The official source is the Maryland Department of Natural Resources: https://dnr.maryland.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 Maryland. 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 MD. 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.