Antique engraving of a monkey

Pet monkey laws by state

All primates, from marmosets to capuchins. Among the most heavily regulated exotic pets in the U.S. Below is the legal status of the monkey (Nonhuman primates) in every state we've verified so far — each entry links the actual statute.

Where monkeys are legal: state map

Alabama: Legal — Non-human primates are not on Alabama's restricted list; no state permit required for personal possession.Alaska: Banned — Not on Alaska's 5 AAC 92.029 clean list — possession prohibitedArizona: Banned — Primates are restricted live wildlife — banned as petsArkansas: Partly Legal — Small monkeys permit-required; apes, baboons, macaques prohibitedCalifornia: Banned — All primates restricted — banned as pets statewideColorado: Banned — Regulated wildlife — primates aren't on the unregulated list; no pet licensesConnecticut: Banned — Primates barred after the 2009 chimpanzee attack — narrow pre-2010 grandfather for small primatesDelaware: Permit Required — Primate class permitted by individual exotic-animal permit — in theoryFlorida: Permit Required — Smaller monkeys are Class III with permit + experience requirements; larger primates are Class I/II and effectively out of reach as petsGeorgia: Banned — Wild animals — illegal as pets; single narrow exception for trained service capuchinsHawaii: Banned — Prohibited under HAR 4-71 — Hawaii's near-total exotic-mammal banIdaho: Partly Legal — Most primates need an AZA facility; four small monkeys are exemptIllinois: Banned — All primates banned as pets since 2011 — grandfather window closed; narrow service-capuchin exceptionIndiana: Legal — Primates aren't covered by Indiana's permit classes — legal at the state levelIowa: Banned — All nonhuman primates are 'dangerous wild animals' under Iowa Code ch. 717FKansas: Legal — Not a dangerous regulated animal; exotic wildlife may be possessed without a state permitKentucky: Banned — All non-human primates are classified 'inherently dangerous' and barred from private possession.Louisiana: Banned — All non-human primates are barred from importation and private possession under LAC 76:V.115.Maine: Banned — Primates are restricted; no pet possession permit availableMaryland: Banned — All nonhuman primates named in §10-621 — banned as petsMassachusetts: Banned — Primates aren't exempt — banned as petsMichigan: Legal — No statewide ban — primates fall outside the Large Carnivore Act; local ordinances decideMinnesota: Banned — 'Regulated animal' — all primates banned since 2005; grandfather window closedMississippi: Partly Legal — Apes, macaques, baboons need a permit; smaller monkeys unregulatedMissouri: Permit Required — 'Dangerous wild animal' — legal with registration filed with local law enforcementMontana: Banned — Primate families listed as prohibited exotic wildlifeNebraska: Legal — Primates appear on neither the prohibited list nor the Captive Wildlife Permit listNevada: Legal — Legal — Nevada has no prohibition or permit for pet primatesNew Hampshire: Permit Required — Primates named as controlled species in Fis 804.05New Jersey: Banned — Primates are potentially dangerous species — no pet permitsNew Mexico: Banned — All non-human primates are Group IV - importation prohibited for the publicNew York: Banned — All nonhuman primates banned as pets statewide since 2005North Carolina: Legal — No statewide restriction — legality is decided entirely by your county or cityNorth Dakota: Permit Required — Primates are Category 3 nontraditional livestock - license, facility inspection, extra care rulesOhio: Partly Legal — Split by species: lemurs, marmosets, capuchins, and squirrel monkeys allowed; most other primates are 'dangerous wild animals' closed to new private ownershipOklahoma: Legal — Non-human primates are generally allowed; Oklahoma is permissive and doesn't ban pet monkeys statewide.Oregon: Banned — 'Exotic animal' — new pet permits ended in 2010; primates closed to private ownershipPennsylvania: Unclear — Genuinely murky — primates sit outside the Game Code's 'exotic wildlife' list, and secondary sources conflict; confirm directly with PGCRhode Island: Banned — Primates prohibited without a permit; permits are institutional onlySouth Carolina: Partly Legal — Great apes are banned (2018 law); smaller monkeys/macaques are not prohibited by state statute.South Dakota: Permit Required — All primates need an Animal Industry Board possession permit ($10/animal)Tennessee: Partly Legal — Apes and baboons are Class I (no pets); most monkeys are Class III — legal without a permitTexas: Partly Legal — Most monkeys legal at the state level — but baboons and apes are regulated 'dangerous wild animals,' and many cities ban all primatesUtah: Banned — Order Primates listed as prohibited - personal possession not authorizedVermont: Banned — Primates not unrestricted; no pet-purpose permit issuedVirginia: Legal — Not on Virginia's prohibited list — legal at the state level under the catch-all for unlisted exoticsWashington: Banned — Nonhuman primates are 'potentially dangerous wild animals' — banned statewide since 2007West Virginia: Partly Legal — Most monkeys are 'dangerous wild animals'; small primates carved out and legalWisconsin: Legal — No statewide restriction — one of the most permissive states for primatesWyoming: Banned — Chapter 10 guide: monkeys and primates 'possession not allowed'DC: not yet verified
LegalPermit / partly legalBannedNot yet verified

Status by state

StateStatusDetailVerified
New YorkBannedAll nonhuman primates banned as pets statewide since 20052026-07-02
WashingtonBannedNonhuman primates are 'potentially dangerous wild animals' — banned statewide since 20072026-07-03
TexasPartly LegalMost monkeys legal at the state level — but baboons and apes are regulated 'dangerous wild animals,' and many cities ban all primates2026-07-02
FloridaPermit RequiredSmaller monkeys are Class III with permit + experience requirements; larger primates are Class I/II and effectively out of reach as pets2026-07-02
CaliforniaBannedAll primates restricted — banned as pets statewide2026-07-02
PennsylvaniaUnclearGenuinely murky — primates sit outside the Game Code's 'exotic wildlife' list, and secondary sources conflict; confirm directly with PGC2026-07-02
OhioPartly LegalSplit by species: lemurs, marmosets, capuchins, and squirrel monkeys allowed; most other primates are 'dangerous wild animals' closed to new private ownership2026-07-02
GeorgiaBannedWild animals — illegal as pets; single narrow exception for trained service capuchins2026-07-02
North CarolinaLegalNo statewide restriction — legality is decided entirely by your county or city2026-07-02
IllinoisBannedAll primates banned as pets since 2011 — grandfather window closed; narrow service-capuchin exception2026-07-02
MichiganLegalNo statewide ban — primates fall outside the Large Carnivore Act; local ordinances decide2026-07-03
ArizonaBannedPrimates are restricted live wildlife — banned as pets2026-07-03
NevadaLegalLegal — Nevada has no prohibition or permit for pet primates2026-07-03
TennesseePartly LegalApes and baboons are Class I (no pets); most monkeys are Class III — legal without a permit2026-07-03
MissouriPermit Required'Dangerous wild animal' — legal with registration filed with local law enforcement2026-07-03
VirginiaLegalNot on Virginia's prohibited list — legal at the state level under the catch-all for unlisted exotics2026-07-03
IndianaLegalPrimates aren't covered by Indiana's permit classes — legal at the state level2026-07-03
WisconsinLegalNo statewide restriction — one of the most permissive states for primates2026-07-03
MinnesotaBanned'Regulated animal' — all primates banned since 2005; grandfather window closed2026-07-03
ColoradoBannedRegulated wildlife — primates aren't on the unregulated list; no pet licenses2026-07-03
MarylandBannedAll nonhuman primates named in §10-621 — banned as pets2026-07-03
MassachusettsBannedPrimates aren't exempt — banned as pets2026-07-03
New JerseyBannedPrimates are potentially dangerous species — no pet permits2026-07-03
ConnecticutBannedPrimates barred after the 2009 chimpanzee attack — narrow pre-2010 grandfather for small primates2026-07-03
OregonBanned'Exotic animal' — new pet permits ended in 2010; primates closed to private ownership2026-07-03
AlabamaLegalNon-human primates are not on Alabama's restricted list; no state permit required for personal possession.2026-07-03
South CarolinaPartly LegalGreat apes are banned (2018 law); smaller monkeys/macaques are not prohibited by state statute.2026-07-03
KentuckyBannedAll non-human primates are classified 'inherently dangerous' and barred from private possession.2026-07-03
LouisianaBannedAll non-human primates are barred from importation and private possession under LAC 76:V.115.2026-07-03
OklahomaLegalNon-human primates are generally allowed; Oklahoma is permissive and doesn't ban pet monkeys statewide.2026-07-03
UtahBannedOrder Primates listed as prohibited - personal possession not authorized2026-07-03
IdahoPartly LegalMost primates need an AZA facility; four small monkeys are exempt2026-07-03
MontanaBannedPrimate families listed as prohibited exotic wildlife2026-07-03
WyomingBannedChapter 10 guide: monkeys and primates 'possession not allowed'2026-07-03
New MexicoBannedAll non-human primates are Group IV - importation prohibited for the public2026-07-03
KansasLegalNot a dangerous regulated animal; exotic wildlife may be possessed without a state permit2026-07-03
NebraskaLegalPrimates appear on neither the prohibited list nor the Captive Wildlife Permit list2026-07-03
IowaBannedAll nonhuman primates are 'dangerous wild animals' under Iowa Code ch. 717F2026-07-03
North DakotaPermit RequiredPrimates are Category 3 nontraditional livestock - license, facility inspection, extra care rules2026-07-03
South DakotaPermit RequiredAll primates need an Animal Industry Board possession permit ($10/animal)2026-07-03
MaineBannedPrimates are restricted; no pet possession permit available2026-07-03
New HampshirePermit RequiredPrimates named as controlled species in Fis 804.052026-07-03
VermontBannedPrimates not unrestricted; no pet-purpose permit issued2026-07-03
Rhode IslandBannedPrimates prohibited without a permit; permits are institutional only2026-07-03
DelawarePermit RequiredPrimate class permitted by individual exotic-animal permit — in theory2026-07-03
West VirginiaPartly LegalMost monkeys are 'dangerous wild animals'; small primates carved out and legal2026-07-03
AlaskaBannedNot on Alaska's 5 AAC 92.029 clean list — possession prohibited2026-07-03
HawaiiBannedProhibited under HAR 4-71 — Hawaii's near-total exotic-mammal ban2026-07-03
ArkansasPartly LegalSmall monkeys permit-required; apes, baboons, macaques prohibited2026-07-03
MississippiPartly LegalApes, macaques, baboons need a permit; smaller monkeys unregulated2026-07-03

States where monkeys are legal

States where monkeys need a permit

States with partial or local restrictions

States where monkeys are banned

Research directory, not legal advice. Status can change and local ordinances add restrictions — confirm with the agency listed on each state's entry.