Connecticut law universally bans private possession of potentially dangerous animals including big cats, primates, bears, wolves, and crocodilians, with state-issued permits required for any limited exceptions.
Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 26-40a prohibits possession of potentially dangerous animals statewide. The list includes felidae (lions, tigers, cougars, leopards), canidae (wolves), ursidae (bears), great apes, and crocodilians. After the 2009 Travis the chimp incident in Stamford, the legislature tightened restrictions in 2010 to ban primates over 35 pounds. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) administers exotic pet rules and issues permits only for accredited zoos, research institutions, and limited grandfathered keepers. Municipalities cannot authorize what state law prohibits.
Possession is a class A misdemeanor with fines up to $2,000 per animal and immediate seizure. Repeat or commercial violations may face felony charges and asset forfeiture.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Hartford County, CT
Connecticut abolished operational county government in 1960, so Hartford County itself has no noise ordinance. Capitol Region COG (CRCOG) towns regulate nois...
Hartford County, CT
Hartford County has no operational government (abolished 1960), so fence height limits are set by each Capitol Region COG town under the state zoning enablin...
Hartford County, CT
Hartford County has no operational county government (abolished 1960). Fireworks are regulated statewide under Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 29-356 and Sec. 29-357. ...
New Britain, CT
New Britain does not require a tag/garage sale permit for residential sales held on the seller's own property. Sales are subject to the city's general zoning...
Hartford County, CT
Hartford County is not a governmental unit and has no parking rules. Connecticut has no statewide STR parking standard. Each town in the Hartford area sets i...
Hartford County, CT
Hartford County has no government and sets no occupancy limits. Connecticut has no statewide STR occupancy cap. Each of the towns in the Hartford County area...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Hartford County.
See how New Britain's exotic pets rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.