Is it legal to own a monkey in Ohio?
The short answer
It depends on the monkey. Ohio's post-Zanesville Dangerous Wild Animal Act (2012) put most primates — apes, baboons, macaques, and similar — off limits to new private owners. But the Act carves out lemurs and several small monkeys (marmosets, capuchins, squirrel monkeys among them), which remain legal to own.
What Ohio law says
ORC ch. 935 defines 'dangerous wild animal' to include most nonhuman primates, with specified exceptions for lemurs and certain small monkeys. DWA species couldn't be newly acquired after 2014 — existing owners needed state permits, insurance, and microchipping. Exempt species face no ch. 935 restriction, though general animal rules apply.
Which agency regulates monkeys in Ohio
Ohio Department of Agriculture (DWA program) is the authority for monkey (Nonhuman primates) possession in Ohio.
Is there a permit for pet monkeys?
No permit is required at the state level. Pre-2014 registered DWA owners, accredited zoos, sanctuaries, and research facilities.
Penalties and enforcement
Unlawful DWA possession brings misdemeanor-to-felony escalation, seizure, and steep costs — Ohio built real enforcement after the 2011 Zanesville release.
Local city and county rules
Cities may restrict primates beyond state law — check municipal code.
Legal alternatives in Ohio
- Fennec Fox in Ohio — The world's smallest fox — and one of the few foxes legal to own in several U.S. states.
- Sugar Glider in Ohio — A palm-sized gliding marsupial, legal in most states but banned in a handful of cities and states.
Frequently asked questions
Which monkeys are legal in Ohio?
Lemurs and the small monkeys exempted by ORC ch. 935 — including marmosets, capuchins, and squirrel monkeys. Apes, baboons, and macaques are dangerous wild animals closed to new ownership.
Why is Ohio's law so strict about big primates?
The 2011 Zanesville incident — a private owner released dozens of dangerous animals — led directly to the 2012 Act. It's one of the country's clearest examples of an incident-driven exotic pet law.
Sources
More animals in Ohio
- Is it legal to own a raccoon in Ohio?
- Is it legal to own a serval in Ohio?
- Is it legal to own a fennec fox in Ohio?
See all animals on the exotic pet laws in Ohio 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 Ohio Department of Agriculture (DWA program) and your local animal-control authority before acquiring any animal.