New York County, NY Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

NYC Health Code section 161.01 contains one of the most detailed exotic animal prohibition lists in the United States. In New York County it is illegal to possess any non human primate (monkeys, apes, lemurs), all wild cats (lions, tigers, cougars, servals), bears, wolves, hyenas, alligators and crocodiles over 2 feet long, all venomous reptiles, constrictor snakes over 3 feet long or exceeding 12 pounds, raccoons, skunks, foxes, ferrets (specifically prohibited despite being legal elsewhere in New York State), and most wild birds of prey. Allowed pets include dogs, cats, common caged birds, domestic rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, small non venomous reptiles and amphibians, and fish. Violations are investigated jointly by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, NYPD, and the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation. First offense civil penalties start at 500 dollars per animal and the animal is typically seized and transferred to a sanctuary or the Bronx Zoo. Federal Endangered Species Act penalties may stack for protected species. Ferret advocacy groups have repeatedly challenged the NYC ferret ban without success.