Aside from state regulations, several towns, cities, and/or counties in the United States prohibit the private ownership of nonhuman primates. New rules and regulations restricting the keeping of monkeys and apes as “pets” are being enacted at an unprecedented pace.
Hawaii, Iowa, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oregon, and Washington are actively considering legislation to prohibit the private ownership of monkeys/apes.
SUMMARY OF STATE LAWS IN THE UNITED STATES REGARDING THE PRIVATE POSSESSION OF NONHUMAN PRIMATES:
- 17 states have no legislative restrictions for private nonhuman primate ownership. * 19 states prohibit private nonhuman primate possession. * 6 states need a permit for private nonhuman monkey possession.
- Five states have partial prohibitions [specific species bans].
- Two states have partial prohibitions on some species; licenses are necessary for others. One state demands a bond for private ownership of nonhuman primates.
Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin have no requirements for private possession of nonhuman primates.
DELAWARE, Idaho, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, and South Dakota are among the states that need a permit.
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, and Wyoming are among the states that prohibit private possession of nonhuman primates.
Alaska, Arizona, Indiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee have partial bans [bans on some nonhuman primates].
STATES THAT PROHIBIT CERTAIN NONHUMAN PRIMATES AND REQUIRE PERMITS FOR OTHERS: Florida and Texas
STATES THAT REQUIRE BONDING TO POSSESS NONHUMAN PRIMATES: Hawaii