Is it legal to own a monkey in Georgia?
The short answer
No. Monkeys are wild animals under Georgia law and can't be kept as pets. The one exception: a permit may be issued for a capuchin monkey (genus Cebus) trained to assist a mobility-impaired person, under specific criteria.
What Georgia law says
O.C.G.A. §27-5-5 lists primates among regulated wild animals; DNR issues licenses only for commercial and institutional purposes. The service-capuchin permit is the sole individual pathway and requires meeting statutory criteria — it is not a pet permit.
Which agency regulates monkeys in Georgia
Georgia DNR, Wildlife Resources Division (Special Permit Unit) is the authority for monkey (Nonhuman primates) possession in Georgia.
Is there a permit for pet monkeys?
No. There is no permit pathway that allows private pet ownership. Wild animal licenses go to commercial, exhibition, scientific, and educational operations — not pet owners. A narrow permit exists for capuchin monkeys assisting mobility-impaired persons.
Penalties for owning a monkey illegally
Unlawful possession of a wild animal is a misdemeanor under Title 27, with seizure of the animal. Inherently dangerous species add liability-insurance requirements even for the licensed commercial holders who can possess them.
Local city and county rules
The statewide scheme controls; local rules only add restrictions.
Legal alternatives in Georgia
- Sugar Glider in Georgia — A palm-sized gliding marsupial, legal in most states but banned in a handful of cities and states.
Frequently asked questions
Is any monkey legal in Georgia?
Only a trained service capuchin assisting a person with severe mobility impairment, under a specific DNR permit. No pet monkeys.
What if I move to Georgia with a monkey legally owned elsewhere?
Georgia doesn't recognize out-of-state pet ownership of wild animals — importation and possession both violate Title 27.
Sources
More animals in Georgia
- Is it legal to own a raccoon in Georgia?
- Is it legal to own a serval in Georgia?
- Is it legal to own a fennec fox in Georgia?
See all animals on the exotic pet laws in Georgia page, or compare every state on the pet monkey laws by state page.
Last verified 2026-07-02 against the cited primary sources. This is a research directory, not legal advice — confirm current rules with Georgia DNR, Wildlife Resources Division (Special Permit Unit) and your local animal-control authority before acquiring any animal.