Laws and Regulations Regarding Primates Kept as Pets

Many states have outlawed owning a primate, this will probably increase in time. Check with your state, county, city, and communities to find if owning an exotic pet is legal. Home Owners Associations may also prohibit them. Primate ownership can be regulated by any level of government. Should you decide to still obtain a monkey in a state that does not allow it, you will probably find yourself with a broken heart when they come and have the monkey removed from your home.

The best way to be sure is to ask for the enforcement officer of the Division of Wildlife, or Fish and Game department for your state (each state has a slightly different name but all do the same thing), and ask him where you can find your state's animal ordinance. I would not mention that you want a monkey. Simply ask to see the ordinance. If the state does not prohibit them, then move to your county and ask the animal control officer the same question. If you mention a monkey they may tell you they are illegal or give you the run around even though there is no law. Get it in writing either for or against. You can ask for the list of prohibited species and see if all primates are banned, just apes, or none at all. Zoning laws, such as commercial or residential classification, may also put a hamper on your ability to own a monkey. Although a city may not ban monkeys as a whole, they regulate where in the city you can own them. This means it needs to be a rural location zoned for agriculture, and "wild animals" are illegal in commercial areas.

If they are illegal as pets then you can't get a permit to have one. You would have to apply for an exhibitor/breeder license from the USDA for zoological/educational purposes, BUT you would have to meet all USDA standards. This would include meeting experience requirements, allowing unannounced visits to your property for inspections, getting expensive insurance, and "working" your animals (taking them to schools for educational shows, etc). Depending on what state you live in and what USDA officer is in charge in your area, you may not even be able to get a permit unless you are ACTUALLY exhibiting (proof of shows, advertising materials, etc.) Not that easy to get, especially someone with no prior primate experience, AKA they know it is just a pet. So you can pretty much rule that option out, and move to another city/state where they are legal. Depending on the permit/permits required. You may need to apply with your state's Division of Wildlife AND your county may also require a permit or registering with them. Each State, city, & county have different laws, so you will have to do the research on that.

Below is the contact information for each states Wildlife department. It is YOUR responsibility to contact them and find out what the legal requirements are in your state. Laws are constanly changing so please call even though my web site says they are legal. This was the last updated information as of April 2008. It is impossible for me to stay informed as to new laws. If you become aware of additional legislation, or know the specifics of your state I would appreciate an email with the information and sources so that I may update this page. Thank you. NOTE: When traveling with a primate a Health Certificate is required for entry in all states, as well as a travel/entry permit.

Alabama Division of Fish and Game Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources (334) 243-3465 Wildlife and Freshwater Fish Wildlife Section (334)242-3469 Dept. of Agricultural (USDA) Animal Industries (334) 240-7255 Animal Care (334) 396-9808

Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game (907)465-4190 or 465-4100 BANNED

Arizona Game and Fish Dept. (602) 942-3000 or 942-4006 State Permit for Great Apes only (require being bonded)

Arkansas Dept. of Fish and Game (501) 223-6300 or 223-6359

California Dept. of Fish and Game (916)653-6420 Restricted Species Requirements BANNED

Colorado Division of Wildlife (303)297-1192 or 291-7440 BANNED

Connecticut Dept. of Environmental Protection (806)424-3011 State Permit System

Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife (302)739-5295 or 739-5297 State Permit System

Florida Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
(904)488-3641 or 488-6253
Great Apes and baboons- Banned as personal pets. Permits required for all others in Class II and Class III
Main FWC Page click on licenses/permits then Wildlife Dealers, Importers, Owners & Exhibitors
Standard Caging Requirements for Captive Wildlife
Class III permit Application For squirrel monkeys, marmosets, tamarins, capuchins, spider, and woolly monkeys
Husbandry Form
Captive Wildlife Critical Incident-Disaster Plan
The state of FL has one of the most comprehensive laws in the country. Capuchins, wooly, and spider monkeys are Class III animals, BUT require the regulations of class II animals be followed. One needs 1,000 hours of documented experience listing the date, time, lace, species,a dn type of experience gained during that time, 2 letters of recomendation from persons knowing you have said experience (1 being licensed), application and husbandry form, disaster contingency plan filled out, and the following of all structural caging requirements for each species.
NOTE Florida is unique in that ONLY Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commision can ban/regulate exotics and other wildlife. No county in Florida can ban private possession of wild/exotic animals. They can only regulate their enclosures. All enclosures housing animals must meet the city's/county's building codes.

Georgia
Dept. of Natural Resouces
Game and Fish Division (404)656-0778 or 656-35-3523 Great apes and Macaque species BANNED- No mention of others

Hawaii Land and Natural Resources (808)587-0377 or 5448-2681 BANNED (Require being bonded)

Idaho Fish and Game Dept. (208) 334-3736 or 327-7025

Illinois Dept. of Conservation (217)782-7305 or 782-2965

Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife (317)232-4080 or 232-4040 State permit for Great Apes only

Iowa Dept. of National Resources (515)281-4508 or 281-5638 BANNED

Kansas Dept. of Wildlife and Parks (316)671-5911

Kentucky Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Resources (502)564-4224 or 564-3176 BANNED

Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries (504)765-2800 or 765-2821 BANNED

Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (207)287-2571 or 289-3651 State Permit System

Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources (410)260-8540 BANNED

Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (617)727-3151 BANNED

Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources Wildlife Division (517)373-1263

Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources (612)296-4507 or 296-3344 BANNED

Missouri (Illegal in St. Louis, Kansas City, Branson)

Mississippi Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (601)364-2214 or 364-2022 State Permit for Great Apes, Baboons, & Macaques Only

Montana Dept. of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (406)444-2950 ot 444-2535 Regulated-not certain if ban or permit system

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (402)471-5462 or 464-0641

Nevada Dept. of Wildlife (702)688-1500 or 688-1549

New Hampshire Fish and Game Dept. (603)271-3421 or 271-2461 BANNED
Require permit for out os staters passing through to other state.

New Jersey Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife (609)984-0839 or 292-6685 BANNED

New Mexico Dept. of Game and Fish (505)827-7934 BANNED

New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation Division of Fish and Wildlife (518)457-3400 or 439-7635 BANNED

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (919)62-4370 or 733-7291

North Dakota Game and Fish Dept. (701)221-6335 State Permit System

Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources (614)265-6300 or 265-7027

Oklahoma Dept. of Wildlife Conservation (405)521-3851 or 521-2739 State Permit System

Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (541)872-5260 State Permit System

Pennsylvania Game Commission (717)782-4250 or 7875740 State Permit System

Rhode Island Divison of Fish and Wildlife (401)277-3576 or 789-3094 State Permit System

South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Division (803)734-3833 or 734-3888

South Dakota Dept. of Game, Fish and Parks (605)773-3485 or 773-3381

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (615)781-6585 or 781-6610 APES & BABOONS BANNED

Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. (512)389-4419 or 389-4822 State Permit for Great Apes, and Baboons Only

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (801)538-4846 UTAH

Vermont Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (802)244-7331 BANNED

Virginia Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries (804)367-1000 PERMIT FOR GREAT APES ONLY

Washington Dept. of Wildlife (206)753-5719 or 753-5728 BANNED
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West Virginia Dept. of Natural Resources (304)558-2758 or 348-2771

Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources (608)266-2621 or 267-7857

Wyoming Game and Fish Dept. (307)777-4530 or 777-4582 BANNED