Is it legal to own a raccoon in New York?
The short answer
No. Raccoons are protected native wildlife in New York and cannot be kept as pets. Possessing a live raccoon requires a DEC license (wildlife rehabilitator or nuisance wildlife control), neither of which permits pet ownership. Raccoons are also a designated rabies-vector species in New York.
What New York law says
New York's Environmental Conservation Law protects native furbearers, and DEC regulations prohibit possessing live protected wildlife without a license. Wildlife rehabilitator licenses allow temporary care of injured or orphaned raccoons for release only. As a rabies-vector species, raccoons face additional public-health rules — a raccoon involved in any bite incident is euthanized for testing.
Which agency regulates raccoons in New York
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is the authority for raccoon (Procyon lotor) possession in New York.
Is there a permit for pet raccoons?
No. There is no permit pathway that allows private pet ownership. Licensed wildlife rehabilitators (temporary, for release) and licensed nuisance wildlife control operators (capture and removal only).
Penalties for owning a raccoon illegally
Confiscation of the animal, fines under the ECL, and mandatory rabies testing (euthanasia) if the animal has had human contact incidents.
Local city and county rules
NYC Health Code separately prohibits raccoons within New York City.
Legal alternatives in New York
- Fennec Fox in New York — The world's smallest fox — and one of the few foxes legal to own in several U.S. states.
- Sugar Glider in New York — A palm-sized gliding marsupial, legal in most states but banned in a handful of cities and states.
Frequently asked questions
Can I rescue and keep an orphaned raccoon in New York?
You can rescue it only long enough to transfer it to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Keeping it yourself is illegal, and DEC maintains a public directory of licensed rehabbers.
Do any nearby states allow pet raccoons?
Pennsylvania does not allow raccoons taken from the wild but has narrow propagation permits; New Jersey and Connecticut prohibit them as pets. Check each state's page for details.
Sources
More animals in New York
- Is it legal to own a monkey in New York?
- Is it legal to own a fennec fox in New York?
- Is it legal to own a sugar glider in New York?
See all animals on the exotic pet laws in New York page, or compare every state on the pet raccoon 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 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and your local animal-control authority before acquiring any animal.