Is it legal to own a kangaroo? A state-by-state guide
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
Kangaroos are marsupials native to Australia. The red kangaroo lives across the dry inland and can weigh up to 90 kilograms, with males about 1.3 to 1.6 meters long in the body and standing up to 1.8 meters tall. Large individuals can run at about 64 kilometers per hour. They eat only plants and live in groups called mobs. People ask about owning one after seeing a baby joey and wondering how big the animal really gets. Rules differ by state.
Banned 13Permit needed 6Depends 3No state restriction found 24Not verified yet 5
State by state
Tap a state name for every animal we cover there. The source link on each row goes to the rule itself.
| State | Status | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No state restriction found | Kangaroos are not named in Alabama's prohibited lists and no state permit is required under the rules read. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 220-2-.26(1) |
| Alaska | Banned | Kangaroos are not on Alaska's clean list, and the state issues no permit to keep game animals as pets. Private pet ownership is barred.Only clean list species may be kept; no permit is issued for pets | 5 AAC 92.029(a), (c) |
| Arizona | No state restriction found | Kangaroos and other Macropodidae are not on Arizona's restricted mammal list, so no state license is required. | Ariz. Admin. Code R12-4-406 |
| Arkansas | Depends | Only the red kangaroo is on the permit-required list, so it can be bought from a permitted dealer. Other kangaroo species are not listed and are prohibited until evaluated.Red kangaroo only. Buy from a Commission-permitted Wildlife Breeder/Dealer or import under a Wildlife Importation Permit; keep acquisition records; vet certificate of freedom from diseases and parasites; separate sexes or neuter (Code 09.02). | AGFC Code Addendum R1.02 (Permit Required Cap... |
| California | Banned | Kangaroos are marsupials, and all marsupials are restricted. The only permits are for specified purposes such as exhibiting, breeding or research, so there is no pet permit. | 14 CCR 671(c)(2)(C) |
| Colorado | Depends | Only red kangaroos and wallaroos are on Colorado's unregulated list and need no licence. Other kangaroo species, such as eastern grey, are regulated wildlife and not available to pet owners.Red kangaroo and wallaroo only | 2 CCR 406-11 #1103(B) |
| Connecticut | Banned | Red and gray kangaroos (subgenera Osphranter and Macropus) are Category Two. Private individuals may not import or possess them.Category Two Wild Animal; no pet-owner route | Regs. Conn. State Agencies 26-55-6(a)(3)(B),... |
| Delaware | Permit needed | A kangaroo is a nonnative wild mammal, so it needs a Delaware Individual Exotic Animal Permit, one per animal, with a $25 fee. The Department may inspect the premises.Individual Permit (Dept. of Agriculture), $25 fee, valid 3 years, one per animal | 3 Del. C. 7201, 7202; 3 DE Admin. Code 903 se... |
| District of Columbia | Banned | DC bans possessing or giving as a household pet any living animal that is not on a short exception list, including captive-bred animals. This species is not on the list. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Florida | Permit needed | Kangaroos are not listed as Class I or II, so they are Class III. A private owner needs a no-cost personal-use wildlife permit and caging that meets FWC rules.Class III personal-use permit, no fee, age 16+, approved caging | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.003(8); 68A-6.002(1)(c... |
| Georgia | Banned | Georgia lists all kangaroos, wallabies and wallaroos as inherently dangerous wild animals needing a licence and insurance. Georgia wild animal licences go only to wild animal businesses and public exhibitors, so a pet owner cannot get one.Licence and liability insurance required; not issued to pet owners | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-8-.04; O.C.G.A. 27... |
| Hawaii | Banned | Hawaii lists every Macropus species, including red kangaroo, on its research and exhibition list. Red kangaroo also appears on the private and commercial list, but the state says Part B animals cannot be imported as pets.Part A research and exhibition only; Part B animals not allowed as pets | HAR 4-71-6.5(b)(2)-(3); HDOA Plant Quarantine... |
| Idaho | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Idaho's rule for this animal yet. Ask Idaho State Department of Agriculture (deleterious exotic animals) and Idaho Department of Fish and Game (captive wildlife) before you buy. | |
| Illinois | No state restriction found | Kangaroos and other marsupials are not named in any Illinois restricted list I read, so no state permit is needed. Local rules were not checked. | 720 ILCS 5/48-10; 520 ILCS 5/2.2 |
| Indiana | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Indiana's rule for this animal yet. Ask Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife before you buy. | Agency page |
| Iowa | No state restriction found | Kangaroos and other marsupials are not on Iowa's dangerous wild animal list, and no state permit applies. Check local rules. | Iowa Code ch. 717F (not covered) |
| Kansas | No state restriction found | Kansas treats the kangaroo as exotic wildlife, which may be possessed and bought without a state permit if legally obtained where it came from and kept confined.Legal origin required; must be confined at all times | K.A.R. 115-20-3(a), (d) |
| Kentucky | Depends | Kentucky does not ban kangaroos by name. A transportation permit is required before receiving one shipped from outside Kentucky. Only a short list of animals is exempt from possession permits, so ask Kentucky Fish and Wildlife about in-state purchases.Transportation permit needed to receive from out of state; in-state purchase rules unclear | 301 KAR 2:082 Sections 1, 2, 4, 7, 10(5) |
| Louisiana | No state restriction found | Kangaroos are not named on any Louisiana prohibited or permit list I read, so no state permit applies. | LAC 76:V.115(C); LAC 76:XV.101(K); LAC 76:V.701 |
| Maine | Banned | Maine lists kangaroos, wallabies and relatives (Family Macropodidae) as a Category 1 Restricted Species. Only exhibitors, wildlife rehabilitators, USDA-registered laboratories and accredited research facilities may hold Category 1 species, not private pet owners. | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, secs. 7.06(3)(A), 7.18(2)(F) |
| Maryland | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Maryland's rule for this animal yet. Ask Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service before you buy. | |
| Massachusetts | Banned | The kangaroo is not on the state exempt or domestic lists, so a state licence is needed, and licence applications to keep animals as pets are denied. Ordinary owners cannot keep it. | 321 CMR 9.01(1); 9.02(2)(c); 2.12(9)(a); M.G.... |
| Michigan | No state restriction found | Kangaroos are not on any Michigan prohibited or permit list that I read. Local rules may differ. | MCL 324.41301(1)(k) and (o) (Part 413 lists);... |
| Minnesota | No state restriction found | Minnesota does not list the kangaroo as a protected wild animal, a regulated animal or a prohibited invasive species, so no state permit or ban was found. | Minn. Stat. 97A.015 subd. 39 and 53; 97A.501... |
| Mississippi | No state restriction found | Mississippi does not require a permit to own a kangaroo. The Board of Animal Health names kangaroos among other exotic animals. Animals brought in from out-of-state need an entry permit and health certificate.Import: entry permit and veterinary health certificate | Mississippi Board of Animal Health, Other Exo... |
| Missouri | No state restriction found | Missouri lets people keep a kangaroo without a state permit because it is not native to Missouri and is not on the prohibited species list. | 3 CSR 10-9.110(2) |
| Montana | Banned | Large kangaroos are not on Montana's noncontrolled list, and nonnative wildlife not authorized by law or rule may not be possessed. Only the wallaroo is classified, as controlled with a permit. | MCA 87-5-705(1); ARM 12.6.2205, 12.6.2208 |
| Nebraska | No state restriction found | The import list covers Macropus species, which includes kangaroos, and kangaroos are not a native wild mammal, so no captive wildlife permit applies under the rules read. | 163 NAC 4-008.08A |
| Nevada | No state restriction found | Nevada lets people keep marsupials, which includes kangaroos, without an NDOW license. Marsupials are not on the prohibited list.No NDOW license needed; animals may not be released into the wild | NAC 503.140(1)(o) |
| New Hampshire | Banned | New Hampshire lists the red kangaroo as a controlled species, but only exhibitors can hold a permit for it. Private pet owners cannot legally keep one.Permit available only to exhibitors (permittee category 5) | N.H. Admin. Code Fis 804.05, Table 800.2; Fis... |
| New Jersey | Permit needed | The kangaroo is an exotic animal that is not on New Jersey's exempt list, so a state possession permit is required. The Individual Hobby permit is the pet route.Individual Hobby permit from the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife; $10 per year, expires December 31 | N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.5; 7:25-4.2(a); 7:25-4.6(a) |
| New Mexico | Banned | Kangaroos are in group IV of the Director's Species Importation List. Group IV is closed to the general public, and possessing a group IV animal needs a department permit that pet owners cannot get.Group IV; permits only for science, zoos, qualified experts | Director's Species Importation List, group IV... |
| New York | No state restriction found | The kangaroo is not on New York's dangerous animal list or covered by the state wild-animal pet ban, so state law does not restrict it. | 6 NYCRR 180.1(b); ECL 11-0103(6)(e) |
| North Carolina | No state restriction found | North Carolina has no rule naming kangaroos. The state captivity licence rule covers only native wild animals, and kangaroos are not native. A separate import permit rule for live wild animals may apply to out-of-state purchases; ask the Commission. | 15A NCAC 10H .1401(b), (d)(13), (d)(16) |
| North Dakota | Not verified yet | We could not confirm North Dakota's rule for this animal yet. Ask North Dakota Department of Agriculture, State Board of Animal Health (State Veterinarian) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Ohio | No state restriction found | Kangaroos are not on Ohio's dangerous wild animal list and are not native wildlife. No state permit was found. | ORC 935.01(C) |
| Oklahoma | No state restriction found | Oklahoma names kangaroos in its list of animals exempt from wildlife import permits and breeder licences, so no state permit is needed to keep one. Check the Wildlife Department for any other rule. | OAC 800:25-25-3(a) |
| Oregon | No state restriction found | Oregon names kangaroos and wallabies (all Macropodidae species) on its noncontrolled list, so no state wildlife permit is needed to keep one. | OAR 635-056-0060(1)(h)(B) |
| Pennsylvania | Banned | Pennsylvania bars importing, possessing or selling any wild animal, meaning any mammal other than horses, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, that is held in captivity or captive bred elsewhere. The rules name no pet permit for kangaroos.Exotic wildlife permit definition does not name this animal; a permit would need 2 years hands-on experience at an approved facility | 58 Pa. Code 137.1(a)(11); 34 Pa.C.S. 102 (wil... |
| Rhode Island | Permit needed | The kangaroo is not on the exempt list, so a Department exotic animal possession permit is required, issued at DEM's discretion after inspection and a health certificate.Exotic animal possession permit from DEM Division of Agriculture | 250-RICR-40-05-3 3.17(A), 3.9(B)-(D) |
| South Carolina | No state restriction found | No state rule I found names kangaroos or marsupials. They are not on any prohibited or permit list I read. Check with SC DNR before buying. | S.C. Code Title 50 ch. 16; 47-2-10; 47-5-50;... |
| South Dakota | Not verified yet | We could not confirm South Dakota's rule for this animal yet. Ask South Dakota Animal Industry Board (captive nondomestic animals) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Tennessee | No state restriction found | Marsupials are listed as Class III wildlife, which needs no TWRA permit. The state agriculture department may have its own import rules.Class III; no TWRA permit | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(3)(J) |
| Texas | No state restriction found | Kangaroos are not named in Texas dangerous wild animal or other state possession rules, so no state permit applies. | Tex. Health & Safety Code 822.101(4); Tex. Pa... |
| Utah | Permit needed | Kangaroos (Macropodidae) are controlled. You need a Division of Wildlife Resources certificate of registration before keeping one.Certificate of registration (controlled species) | Utah Admin. Code R657-3b-7 and Table 3b-1; R6... |
| Vermont | Banned | The kangaroo is not on Vermont's Domestic, Unrestricted or Restricted lists, so it is treated as Restricted. The wildlife rule says no permit is issued to keep a wild animal in captivity except for scientific or educational purposes.Permit only for bona fide scientific or educational purposes (10 V.S.A. 4152) | 10 App. V.S.A. 18 sections 4.1 and 5.1(a) |
| Virginia | No state restriction found | Virginia has no state ban or permit for kangaroos. Unlisted nonnative animals may be possessed, purchased and sold. | 4VAC15-30-40(H) |
| Washington | No state restriction found | Kangaroos are not named in any Washington prohibited, dangerous or deleterious list, so state law does not restrict them. | RCW 16.30.010(2); WAC 220-640-050; WAC 220-64... |
| West Virginia | No state restriction found | Not on West Virginia's dangerous wild animal list, and not a native mammal under the wildlife possession law, so no state permit is required. | W. Va. Code R. 74-1-3; W. Va. Code 20-1-2 |
| Wisconsin | No state restriction found | The kangaroo is a nonnative wild animal that is not on Wisconsin's harmful list, so state law requires no licence to keep one as a pet. | Wis. Stat. 169.04(4)(b) |
| Wyoming | Permit needed | Kangaroos need a Game and Fish importation and possession permit in Wyoming, issued at the Department's discretion. The Department guide lists kangaroos and wallabies as permit species.Chapter 10 permit, discretionary; approved holding facility | Wyo. Game & Fish Comm'n Ch. 10, Sections 3, 1... |
Federal law
- Endangered Species Act. The Tasmanian forester kangaroo is listed as endangered, which bars interstate sale of it without FWS authorization. Red and eastern grey kangaroos, other than that subspecies, are not on the list. 50 CFR 17.11(h); 50 CFR 17.21(f)
Why states regulate it
Governments that restrict kangaroos generally focus on a few concerns. Kangaroos have never been domesticated, so their behavior is driven by instinct. An adult male may treat a person's upright stance as a challenge, then kick or strike with clawed feet that can cause severe bruising and internal injuries. Captive macropods also suffer from lumpy jaw, a periodontal disease that a retrospective study of captive animals says causes high illness and death, with a typically poor outlook. Those factors together make kangaroos hard to keep safely.
Before you buy
- Joeys grow up. A hand-reared male is much bigger and harder to handle by sexual maturity at about 4 years, and play-sparring with a carer becomes more dangerous.
- Large kangaroos kick and strike with clawed feet, and a person standing upright can be read as a threat, so do not assume a tame joey stays gentle.
- Kangaroos eat only plants. Lumpy jaw is a serious disease in captive macropods, and a study of captive animals found the risk rises with age, particularly past 10 years.
- Large red kangaroos can weigh up to 90 kilograms and stand up to 1.8 meters, so think hard about the space, fencing and vet care that takes.
- This is not a pet for most households. If you love kangaroos, consider supporting an accredited zoo or sanctuary instead.
Sources for the facts about the animal: animaldiversity.org, findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
Check your own state
The legality checker shows one animal in one state with its source, and exotic pet laws by state lists every state we cover. Related guides: wallaby, sugar glider, capybara.
How we checked. For each state we read the statutes, administrative code and agency lists that govern keeping wild or exotic animals, and every row above links to the text it rests on. A second, independent reviewer then re-read the same sources, and a row is shown only if it survived that check. "Not verified yet" means a state's rule could not be read or confirmed, which is a gap in our data and not a green light. County and city ordinances, landlord and insurance rules, and federal law sit on top of the state rule. Read how we check. See an error? Email hello@creaturesincrisis.org with the link.
Quick answers
- Is it legal to own a kangaroo in California?
- Banned. Kangaroos are marsupials, and all marsupials are restricted. The only permits are for specified purposes such as exhibiting, breeding or research, so there is no pet permit.
- Is it legal to own a kangaroo in Texas?
- No state restriction found. Kangaroos are not named in Texas dangerous wild animal or other state possession rules, so no state permit applies.
- Is it legal to own a kangaroo in Florida?
- Permit needed. Kangaroos are not listed as Class I or II, so they are Class III. A private owner needs a no-cost personal-use wildlife permit and caging that meets FWC rules.
- Is it legal to own a kangaroo in New York?
- No state restriction found. The kangaroo is not on New York's dangerous animal list or covered by the state wild-animal pet ban, so state law does not restrict it.
- Is it legal to own a kangaroo in Pennsylvania?
- Banned. Pennsylvania bars importing, possessing or selling any wild animal, meaning any mammal other than horses, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, that is held in captivity or captive bred elsewhere. The rules name no pet permit for kangaroos.
- Is it legal to own a kangaroo in Illinois?
- No state restriction found. Kangaroos and other marsupials are not named in any Illinois restricted list I read, so no state permit is needed. Local rules were not checked.
- Is it legal to own a kangaroo in Ohio?
- No state restriction found. Kangaroos are not on Ohio's dangerous wild animal list and are not native wildlife. No state permit was found.
- Is it legal to own a kangaroo in Georgia?
- Banned. Georgia lists all kangaroos, wallabies and wallaroos as inherently dangerous wild animals needing a licence and insurance. Georgia wild animal licences go only to wild animal businesses and public exhibitors, so a pet owner cannot get one.
- Is kangaroo legal in every state?
- No. In our data it is banned in 13 states and needs a permit in 6. The table above shows each state.
- Does 'no state restriction found' mean I can buy one?
- No. It means the state rule we read does not ban it or require a state permit. County and city rules, federal law, sale and import rules and your landlord can still stop you.