Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I had a question. I would like to purchase a ball python in the next year and was wondering if there were any laws to be aware of concerning ball pythons in the Denver Metro Area. I don't know where to look or if anyone knows the answer. I don't want to buy one to know that I am breaking a law for the county or something. Also, are there laws concerning owning multiple ball pythons if I decide to make this a hobby? Do I need a permit for a ball python or if I have so many? Thanks for any help on this.

Buzkil

First, check with Colorado Fish and Wildlife to see if you need any exotic animal permits. Then, check with your city hall about any regulations involving snakes, as they may vary from your state laws. for example, where I live, the state requires that I have a permit to have most of my animals, but the township has no regulations regarding the ownership of any of the animals I have.
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www.cafepress.com/jbartolettherps

Not sure about what the city of Denver requires. But I'm down here in the Springs so I've looked up the laws a few times. No permits are required by the state. The only things you may end up needing a permit for at all is collecting various native species here in Colorado. But even then, most of the snakes people are generally interested in do not require any permits as you can have 4 of any of those species and up to 12 total.

This is to chapter 11 of the Colorado Division of Wildlife Regulations. It states - "Unregulated wildlife may be imported, sold, bartered, traded, transferred, possessed, propagated and transported in Colorado provided that all importation, disease requirements and any other state, local or federal requirements are met. Statutory restrictions still apply" As ball pythons are not native to CO, they fall under the unregulated wildlife here. I mean, how do they regulate what's not here? LoL But yea. And it also states "No license is required for wildlife taken in accordance with commission regulation #1000(A)(6)." For regulation #1000(A)(6) see the next one.
wildlife.state.co.us/NR/rdonlyres/BDD5AB1C-D572-4458-AA3C-F7CF3BCA00AE/0/Ch11.pdf

This is to chapter 10 of the Colorado Division of Wildlife Regulations. Check out Article 1, Section A, Paragraph 6. It states "Except as provided in #015.A. of these regulations, up to four individuals of each of the following species and/or subspecies of reptiles and amphibians may be taken annually and held in captivity, provided that no more than twelve in the aggregate may be possessed at any time" and then goes on to list the species. This includes the garters, gophersnake, whiptails, racers, plains hognose and various other species of reptiles and amphibians.
wildlife.state.co.us/NR/rdonlyres/D9BADA66-8CBC-46DD-BE78-97C60EB1B813/0/Ch10.pdf

Hope that helps ya out!

That helps a lot. So, I can have a ball python according to the state but not more than 4? I guess that leaves looking up rules for Denver and its counties.

Thanks,
Buzkil

No no. You can keep more balls. Just 4 of any wild caught species. You could have 20 balls unless Denver says otherwise. Just say 4 wild caught garters and 4 wild caught hognose and 4 racers. 4 of any one wild caught species and up to 12 total wild. Balls, corns, etc that are not native do not fall under that rule.