What Pets Are Illegal in New York State? Exotic Pet Laws for 2026
Short answerPartly. Environmental Conservation Law § 11-0512 bans keeping wild animals as pets, including big cats, bears, wolves, primates, venomous snakes and crocodilians. Ferrets, sugar gliders and hedgehogs are not on the state list, so they are legal outside the city, but New York City bans all three.
Last verified: October 29, 2026 against ECL §§ 11-0103, 11-0511, 11-0512 and 11-0523, 6 NYCRR 180.1 and the NYC Health Code
What pets are illegal in New York State? The list is shorter than most people expect, but it covers every animal that most people mean by “exotic pet.” The state bans a defined list of wild animals and a longer list of “dangerous animals,” and New York City adds its own list on top. This page explains each rule in plain English. It is general information, not legal advice.
Key facts
- State ban: keeping a “wild animal” as a pet is unlawful under
ECL § 11-0512. - Fines: up to $500 for a first offense and up to $1,000 for later offenses, plus seizure at the owner’s cost.
- Dangerous animals:
6 NYCRR 180.1bans a longer list, and a pet is never a licensed purpose. - Declawing: banned for cats unless medically necessary, with a civil penalty of up to $1,000.
- New York City: bans ferrets, hedgehogs, sugar gliders and squirrels, among others.
What pets are illegal in New York State?
Wild animals as defined in ECL § 11-0103 are illegal to keep as pets. Under ECL § 11-0512, you may not knowingly possess, harbor, sell, trade or import one. The definition is limited to specific groups.
| Group | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Primates | Monkeys, apes and other non-human primates and prosimians |
| Cats (Felidae) | Lions, tigers, cougars and other wild cats, plus hybrids. Domestic cats are excluded |
| Dogs (Canidae) | Wolves, coyotes, foxes and hybrids. Domestic dogs and captive-bred fennec foxes are excluded |
| Bears (Ursidae) | All bears |
| Reptiles | Venomous reptiles, plus named giant snakes and lizards such as Burmese and reticulated pythons, green and yellow anacondas, and Komodo dragons |
| Crocodilians | Alligators, crocodiles and relatives |
The penalty is a fine of up to $500 for a first offense and up to $1,000 for each later one. Officers can seize the animal, and the owner pays the costs.
What are the “dangerous animals” under state rules?
They are the animals listed in 6 NYCRR 180.1, a DEC rule that bars importing, possessing, buying, selling or breeding them. It goes wider than the pet statute. It adds raccoons, skunks, badgers, wolverines, bats, elephants and rhinoceroses, along with more snakes and lizards.
DEC issues Dangerous Animal Licenses only for scientific, educational, exhibition, zoological or propagation purposes. Its license page says the license does not allow possession of a dangerous animal as a pet. That means a raccoon or skunk cannot be a pet, even if you raised it from a baby.
Which popular exotic pets are legal or illegal?
It depends on the animal and on where you live. These are the animals people ask about most.
| Animal | Statewide | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar gliders | Not on the state lists | Banned (all marsupials) |
| Ferrets | Not on the state lists | Banned (fur-bearing Mustelidae) |
| Hedgehogs | Not on the state lists | Banned (insectivorous mammals) |
| Fennec foxes | Legal if captive-bred | Check with the Health Department; the city bans non-domestic dogs |
| Axolotls | Not on the state lists | Not on the list items we checked |
| Monkeys, lemurs | Banned (primates) | Banned |
| Raccoons, skunks | Banned as dangerous animals | Banned |
| Savannah and early-generation Bengal cats | Banned if a hybrid with wild cat parentage in the last five generations | Banned if non-domestic |
| Gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits | Legal | Legal |
“Not on the state lists” means we found no state ban in the statute or DEC rule. Always ask your town or county clerk, because local law can be stricter.
Are sugar gliders, ferrets and otters legal in NY?
Sugar gliders and ferrets are legal under state law because neither group is on the wild animal or dangerous animal list. Outside New York City, many people keep both. Inside the city, the Health Code bans all marsupials, which includes sugar gliders, and all fur-bearing members of the weasel family, which includes ferrets. For otters, the state statutes we checked do not name them, so ask DEC before you buy or take one in.
Are Bengal and Savannah cats legal in NY?
Only some of them. State law bans wild cats and their hybrids. It exempts domestic cats and hybrids registered with the American Cat Fanciers Association or The International Cat Association that have no wild cat parent in the last five generations. Early-generation Savannahs and Bengals, which have a wild parent more recently than that, fall under the ban.
Is declawing cats illegal in NY?
Yes, unless it is needed for a medical reason. New York added Agriculture and Markets Law § 381 by Chapter 107 of the Laws of 2019, signed July 22, 2019. It bans declawing, tendonectomy and similar procedures. Cosmetic reasons and keeping a cat from scratching furniture do not count as therapeutic. The civil penalty is up to $1,000.
Is it legal to kill squirrels in NY?
Yes, in a limited case. ECL § 11-0523(7) lets owners and occupants of a dwelling or occupied farm take black, gray and fox squirrels at any time and in any manner when the squirrels are damaging property. No DEC permit is needed. A squirrel taken in closed season or by a method not otherwise allowed must be buried or cremated right away.
Local laws on firearms and traps still apply, and animal cruelty is a class A misdemeanor under Agriculture and Markets Law § 353.
New York City rules
The city is stricter than the state, and state law lets cities and counties be stricter. NYC Health Code § 161.01 bars selling, keeping or harboring the animals on its list. The list includes marsupials, squirrels, large rodents, ferrets and other weasels, hedgehogs and shrews, bats and venomous reptiles. It allows gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, domesticated rabbits and small birds such as parakeets.
What to do if an animal is seized or you are charged
Do not hide the animal or move it before you speak with the agency. Ask for the notice in writing and note any hearing deadline. If you are charged, speak with a New York-licensed attorney before you answer questions. Browse more everyday life and animal laws on this site.
Frequently asked questions
Are sugar gliders legal in NY?
Yes under state law, no in New York City. Sugar gliders are marsupials, and they are not on the state wild animal or dangerous animal list. The New York City Health Code bans all marsupials, so you cannot keep one in the five boroughs.
Are ferrets illegal in New York?
Ferrets are legal under state law but banned in New York City. They are fur-bearing members of the weasel family, which the city Health Code prohibits. Outside the city, check your town or county for any local rule before you buy one.
Are pet monkeys legal in New York?
No. Non-human primates are wild animals under state law. The main exception is for certain people with disabilities who keep a trained monkey, along with licensed zoos, research facilities and sanctuaries. A pet monkey can be seized, and the owner can be fined.
Can you own a wolf or wolf hybrid in NY?
No. Wolves, coyotes and foxes are in the dog family, and the state bans them and their hybrids as pets. Only domesticated dogs and captive-bred fennec foxes are excluded from the dog family ban.
What changed on this page
- October 29, 2026: first publication, checked against the Environmental Conservation Law, 6 NYCRR 180.1, Agriculture and Markets Law §§ 353 and 381 and the NYC Health Code. Spotted a mistake? See our corrections page and editorial policy.
If this affects you
For licensing and wildlife questions, contact the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Fish and Wildlife. In New York City, contact the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. For a seizure or charge, talk to a New York-licensed attorney. The New York State Bar Association lawyer referral service can help you find one.
