Is it legal to own a monkey in Illinois?
The short answer
No. Illinois bans private possession of all nonhuman primates. Owners who had a primate before January 1, 2011 could keep that animal only if they registered it with animal control by April 2011 — that window is long closed. The only ongoing exception is a trained service capuchin assisting a person with severe mobility impairment.
What Illinois law says
720 ILCS 5/48-10 prohibits keeping any primate — the statute's definition runs from chimpanzees and monkeys to lemurs, lorises, and tarsiers — outside zoos, licensed exhibits, research, and similar institutions. The service-capuchin exception requires the monkey to come from a qualifying 501(c)(3) training organization and be registered.
Which agency regulates monkeys in Illinois
Local animal control (registration); Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources is the authority for monkey (Nonhuman primates) possession in Illinois.
Is there a permit for pet monkeys?
No. There is no permit pathway that allows private pet ownership. Pre-2011 registered animals (existing animals only); trained service capuchins for mobility-impaired persons; zoos, licensed exhibits, research institutions.
Penalties for owning a monkey illegally
Class C misdemeanor, with each day a separate offense; seizure and placement of the animal at the owner's cost.
Local city and county rules
The statewide ban controls everywhere; Chicago adds its own prohibitions.
Legal alternatives in Illinois
- Fennec Fox in Illinois — The world's smallest fox — and one of the few foxes legal to own in several U.S. states.
- Sugar Glider in Illinois — A palm-sized gliding marsupial, legal in most states but banned in a handful of cities and states.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Illinois primate ban really include lemurs?
Yes — the statutory definition expressly includes lemurs, lorises, aye-ayes, and tarsiers, not just monkeys and apes.
Can I register a new monkey now?
No. Registration only preserved animals owned before January 1, 2011, and required notification by April 1, 2011.
Sources
More animals in Illinois
- Is it legal to own a raccoon in Illinois?
- Is it legal to own a serval in Illinois?
- Is it legal to own a fennec fox in Illinois?
See all animals on the exotic pet laws in Illinois 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 Local animal control (registration); Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources and your local animal-control authority before acquiring any animal.