No, degus are not legal to own as pets in California. The state’s restricted species rules prohibit keeping any rodent in the Order Rodentia except a short list of exempted domesticated species, and degus aren’t on it. Importing, transporting, or possessing a degu without a special permit is a misdemeanor, and those permits aren’t available to private pet owners.
The Law Behind the Ban
California Fish and Game Code Section 2118 makes it unlawful to import, transport, possess, or release any wild animal in the Order Rodentia except under a revocable, nontransferable permit. The statute itself exempts only domesticated golden hamsters, domesticated rats and mice, and domestic guinea pigs.1California Legislative Information. California Fish and Game Code FGC 2118
California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 671 fills in the detail and adds two more exemptions: domesticated dwarf hamsters of the genus Phodopus and domesticated chinchillas. Every other rodent species stays restricted, degus included.2Legal Information Institute. California Code of Regulations Title 14 Section 671 – Importation, Transportation and Possession of Live Restricted Animals
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) administers the permit system for restricted species. Those permits exist for institutional purposes, not personal companionship.3California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Restricted Species Permits
Penalties for Keeping a Degu
Owning a degu without a permit is a misdemeanor. Section 12000 of the Fish and Game Code classifies any violation of the code as a misdemeanor unless a specific statute says otherwise, and Section 2118 doesn’t carve out any lower penalty.4California Legislative Information. California Fish and Game Code FGC 12000
Section 12002(a) sets the default punishment: a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in county jail, or both.5California Fish and Game Code. California Code Fish and Game 12002 – Fines and Penalties The animal can also be confiscated. Good faith doesn’t help. Even if you bought the degu online from an out-of-state breeder who ships to California, the possession in California is itself the violation.
Bringing a degu across state lines adds a separate importation violation under Section 2118 on top of the possession offense.
Who Can Legally Possess a Degu in California
Only holders of a CDFW restricted species permit can keep degus in California, and those permits are issued to qualified institutions: accredited zoos, universities, government research agencies, and educational organizations.6California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Living with Wildlife The authorized purposes are research, public exhibition, and education. Private pet ownership is not an eligible purpose, and no application process exists to make it one.
Legal Rodent Alternatives
If you want a social, interactive rodent and were drawn to degus for that reason, several species are specifically exempted under CCR Title 14, Section 671:
- Domesticated chinchillas (Chinchilla laniger), the closest legal relative to degus in appearance and behavior.
- Domestic guinea pigs, which are vocal, social, and bond readily with owners.
- Golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) and dwarf hamsters of the genus Phodopus.
- Domesticated rats and mice. Rats in particular are intelligent and trainable, and many former degu owners find them the most satisfying substitute.
Anything not on that list stays restricted. That includes gerbils, sugar gliders, and prairie dogs, which are sometimes sold as pets in other states but can’t legally be kept here.2Legal Information Institute. California Code of Regulations Title 14 Section 671 – Importation, Transportation and Possession of Live Restricted Animals
If You Already Own a Degu
If you moved to California with a degu, or bought one before you knew about the restriction, you’re in a difficult position. Keeping the animal is an ongoing misdemeanor exposure. Releasing it outdoors is a separate violation of Section 2118 and causes the exact ecological problem the statute exists to prevent.1California Legislative Information. California Fish and Game Code FGC 2118
The practical options are to contact CDFW directly about voluntary surrender, work with an exotic animal rescue that operates in a state where degus are legal, or transfer the animal to someone in a state that permits ownership. Reaching out to CDFW before the agency contacts you generally produces better outcomes, though CDFW has discretion in how it handles each case. The agency’s headquarters and regional offices can walk you through the specific process.