Washington, DC Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Rescue Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Licensing agency
- Dept. of Energy & Environment
- Minimum age
- 18 years old
- License renewal
- Every 2 years (biennial)
- Denial trigger
- Wildlife/cruelty conviction, past 10 years
- Banned traps
- Sticky, glue, leghold, body-crushing
Summary
In Washington, D.C., anyone who runs a business trapping, removing, or relocating nuisance wildlife must hold a wildlife control operator license from the Department of Energy and Environment, which denies licenses over public-safety risks or animal cruelty convictions.
(a) The Department shall implement a licensing program for wildlife control operators. After the program is implemented, a wildlife control operator shall not engage in the business of providing wildlife control services unless the person is licensed to do so under this chapter. ... (c) The Director shall deny a license if the applicant has been convicted of an offense involving wildlife or cruelty to animals within the previous 10 years.
Full Breakdown
The District's Department of Energy and Environment licenses wildlife control operators under D.C. Code § 8-2204: anyone charging a fee to trap, evict, or relocate wild animals must be licensed, and the Director must deny a license to anyone convicted of a wildlife or animal-cruelty offense in the prior 10 years. Applicants must be at least 18, complete an approved training class, pass an exam, and pay a fee under § 8-2205; licenses are non-transferable and renew every two years. Operators must check traps at least every 24 hours and are barred from using sticky, glue, leghold, or body-crushing traps under § 8-2202.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a license, using banned traps, or violating chapter rules can mean license suspension or revocation under § 8-2208, and the Mayor may go to Superior Court to enjoin ongoing violations under § 8-2211.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to remove a raccoon from someone's attic for a fee in D.C.?
Can a wildlife control operator hold a trapped animal indefinitely?
Can someone with an animal cruelty conviction get a wildlife control license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington
Compare Washington to another location·View the District of Columbia animal ordinances overview
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