Is it legal to own a monkey in New Hampshire?
The short answer
Not for pets. New Hampshire's Fis 804.05 lists primates — from marmosets and capuchins to macaques and great apes — as controlled species requiring a permit. Those permits go to scientific, educational, and similar categories, not private companionship. A pet monkey is effectively out of reach.
What New Hampshire law says
N.H. Admin. Code Fis 804.05 (Table 800.2) designates primates as controlled wildlife; possession requires a permit limited to the permittee categories in Fis 802.01, which are professional/institutional rather than pet-owner categories.
Which agency regulates monkeys in New Hampshire
New Hampshire Fish & Game Dept. is the authority for monkey (Nonhuman primates) possession in New Hampshire.
Is there a permit for pet monkeys?
Yes — the Controlled Species Possession Permit, issued by New Hampshire Fish & Game Dept. (Set by Fish & Game; category dependent). Scientific, educational, and other qualifying permittee categories only.
Penalties and enforcement
Unpermitted primate possession is a wildlife violation with fines and seizure.
Local city and county rules
Local ordinances may further prohibit primates regardless of state permit categories.
Legal alternatives in New Hampshire
- Sugar Glider in New Hampshire — A palm-sized gliding marsupial, legal in most states but banned in a handful of cities and states.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a permit for a pet marmoset in NH?
No — primate permits are for institutional categories, not pet keepers.
Are small monkeys treated differently than apes?
No — the controlled list sweeps in monkeys and apes alike.
Sources
More animals in New Hampshire
- Is it legal to own a raccoon in New Hampshire?
- Is it legal to own a serval in New Hampshire?
- Is it legal to own a fennec fox in New Hampshire?
See all animals on the exotic pet laws in New Hampshire page, or compare every state on the pet monkey laws by state page.
Last verified 2026-07-03 against the cited primary sources. This is a research directory, not legal advice — confirm current rules with New Hampshire Fish & Game Dept. and your local animal-control authority before acquiring any animal.