Capuchin Monkeys Legal States (November 2025)

Do you want to adopt a capuchin monkey because it looks cute and beautiful? Well, many people want to do so too.

But before you go ahead to get a capuchin monkey, you might need to know if it is legal to do that in the United States.

This is why we put this article together to help you discover the capuchin monkeys’ legal states.

Here, you will find out more about this monkey and whether it is legal to keep one as a pet or not.

What Is a Capuchin Monkey?

A capuchin monkey is one of the New World monkeys. The New World monkeys belong to the monkey family that is commonly found in American tropical regions in South America. They are also found in Mexico and Central America.

But capuchin monkeys are commonly found in South and Central America. You will find a lot of them in tropical forests in Nicaragua, Paraguay, Ecuador, Columbia, Peru, and Honduras.

So, if you see capuchin monkeys in the United States, just know that they were migrated from their homes in the regions mentioned above.

How Can I Tell a Capuchin Monkey from other Monkeys?

Even though capuchin monkeys are primate, they have features that make them different from other monkeys.

So, here are some features of capuchin monkeys that can help recognize one when you see it:

1. They wear a fur cap. In fact, the first thing you will notice about capuchin monkeys is their black hair cap. This cap makes them look unique and cute.
2. They have lighter furs on their faces, ears, necks and shoulders. This color can be white, cream, or light yellow.
3. They have medium sized build. This means they are not too big or too small.
4. They can use their tails for grips and support.

Are Capuchin Monkeys Harmful?

One thing you should know is whether capuchin monkeys are dangerous to keep as pets or not.

Well, if you remember that they are wild animals, you may want to be careful around them.

All the same, capuchin monkeys as wild animals can be aggressive sometimes. The thing about them is they are unpredictable, meaning you can’t tell when they will be friendly and when they will turn aggressive.

So, if you decide to adopt a capuchin monkey as a pet, you should remember this behavior and play safe around it.

Another thing about capuchin monkeys is that they can spread diseases. Remember they are wild animals and can harbor certain diseases. They are known to spread viral diseases, such as chicken pox and measles. You should always have this in mind when you adopt this monkey.

Should You Own a Capuchin Monkey as a Pet?

Now that you have seen what it is like to have a capuchin monkey as a pet, the next thing you have to worry about is if you should go ahead to adopt one or not.

So, should you get a capuchin monkey as a pet or not?

Well, let’s look at the odds.

1. They can be aggressive without provocation.
2. They need a lot of space, where they can exercise, stay active, and move around like they do in the wild.
3. They can spread viral diseases, such as chicken pox and measles, to humans.
4. They desire to live with other capuchin monkeys they can interact with.
5. They need to be cared for, for up to forty years or more. That’s how long they can live.
6. They need lots of trees they can swing on.
7. It is not easy to supplement their natural foods and nutritional needs.
8. Their immune system is not as robust as that of human beings. So they easily get sick and it is not easy to find a vet that specializes in treating primates.

Well, these are some of the odds that come with keeping a capuchin monkey as a pet. If you are up to it, you should go ahead and adopt one. But that is if it is legal to have a capuchin monkey a pet in your state.

Arguments for and against Owning Capuchin Monkeys as Pets

There are arguments concerning whether it is good to own capuchin monkeys as pets or not. Here, we are going to show you what each side says so you can see their points of view.

Arguments that Support Owning Capuchin Monkeys as Pets

Here are the arguments people have for supporting ownership of capuchin monkeys as pets:

1. They are very intelligent. In fact, they are the most intelligent among the New World monkeys. This makes them easily trained to perform certain tasks.
2. They can play certain tricks that make them adorable.
3. They easily bond with their owners.
4. They can be trained to act as service animals.

Arguments against Owning Capuchin Monkeys as Pets

So, why do some people kick against having capuchin monkeys as pets?

Here are some of things they say:

1. Capuchin monkeys are unhappy when they are domesticated because they feel like they are living in captivity.
2. They can become harmful and aggressive, even to their owners, when they feel cornered, frustrated, scared, or threatened.
3. They are very active and energetic and so need their natural wild environment to jump, swing, and exercise.
4. They can become depressed if they are not in the company of other capuchin monkeys.
5. They can destroy household items out of curiosity.
6. They can escape at every opportunity they can find.
7. They can easily contract human sicknesses and it is difficult to treat them.

Capuchin Monkeys Legal States

Now that you know much about capuchin monkeys, it is time to find out whether it is legal to have one as a pet in your state or not.

Here, we will show you where you can adopt a capuchin monkey with permit and where you don’t need a permit to do so.

Legal States without Permits

If you are living in any of these states, you are free to own a capuchin monkey without getting a permit:

1. Alabama
2. Kansas
3. Missouri
4. Nebraska
5. Nevada
6. North Carolina
7. South Carolina
8. Virginia
9. West Virginia
10. Wisconsin

Legal States with Permits

If you live in any of the states that we mention below, you will need a permit before you can own a capuchin monkey:

1. Arizona
2. Arkansas
3. Delaware
4. Florida
5. Idaho
6. Indiana
7. Michigan
8. Minnesota
9. Mississippi
10. Montana
11. North Dakota
12. Ohio
13. Oklahoma
14. South Dakota
15. Tennessee
16. Texas
17. Wyoming

Let’s Wrap It Up

Capuchin monkeys are cute and can play tricks that make them adorable. If you want to own one as a pet, you should remember that they belong to the list of exotic pets. This means you can only adopt and own a capuchin monkey if it is legal to do so in your state. You also need to consider a lot of things, especially the behavior and needs of the monkey, before getting one as a member of your family.