Is it legal to own a kinkajou? A state-by-state guide
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
The kinkajou (Potos flavus) is a rainforest mammal from southern Mexico to Brazil. It belongs to the raccoon family, not the monkeys, though it climbs with a long gripping tail. Adults weigh roughly 1.4 to 4.5 kg and measure about 42 to 76 cm in body length, plus a tail of 40 to 57 cm. Kinkajous eat mostly fruit and nectar and are active at night. Their cute looks and modest size make them a popular exotic pet request, which is why people ask whether they can own one. Rules differ by state.
Banned 17Permit needed 7Depends 2No state restriction found 20Not 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 | Kinkajous 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 | Kinkajous 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 | Banned | Kinkajous are barred under the all-Carnivora restriction. No special license type is open to ordinary pet owners. | Ariz. Admin. Code R12-4-406(F)(3) |
| Arkansas | Depends | The kinkajou is on the permit-required list. It must be bought from a Commission-permitted dealer or imported under a permit, with records and a vet certificate kept.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 | Kinkajous are Procyonidae, and all species in that family 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)(K)4 |
| Colorado | Banned | Colorado does not allow private pet possession of any animal that is not on its domestic or unregulated lists. CPW issues no licence for pet possession of other wildlife. | CPW Wildlife and Animal Possession page; C.R.... |
| Connecticut | Banned | Kinkajous are Procyonidae, which is 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 kinkajou 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 | Kinkajous 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 approved caging.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 | Kinkajous are in the order Carnivora, and every Carnivora species except the domestic ferret needs a wild animal licence. Georgia wild animal licences go only to wild animal businesses and public exhibitors, so a pet owner cannot get one.Wild animal licence required; not issued to pet owners | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-8-.05; O.C.G.A. 27... |
| Hawaii | Banned | Kinkajous are on Hawaii's research and exhibition list only, so private individuals cannot keep them as pets.Listed only on Part A (research and exhibition); not available for private pets | HAR 4-71-6.5(b)(2), Restricted Animal List Pa... |
| Idaho | Permit needed | The kinkajou is a listed deleterious exotic animal in Idaho. A possession permit from the State Department of Agriculture is required, with a facility review and proof of sterilization.ISDA possession permit; proof of sterilization unless propagation approved; facility inspection | IDAPA 02.04.27.100(01), 02.04.27.409(02) |
| Illinois | No state restriction found | Kinkajous are not named in any Illinois restricted list I read, since only the raccoon is protected among procyonids. No state permit is needed. Local rules were not checked. | 720 ILCS 5/48-10; 520 ILCS 5/2.2 |
| Indiana | No state restriction found | Indiana does not name the kinkajou. Mammals not named in the rules are exempted wild animals and no state permit is listed for it. | 312 IAC 9-3-20 |
| Iowa | No state restriction found | Kinkajous 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 kinkajou 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 kinkajous 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 | Kinkajous 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 the kinkajou (Potos flavus) 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 kinkajou 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 | Kinkajous 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 kinkajou 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 kinkajou. The Board of Animal Health names it 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 kinkajou 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 | The kinkajou is not on Montana's noncontrolled, controlled or prohibited lists, and nonnative wildlife not authorized by law or rule may not be possessed. | MCA 87-5-705(1); ARM 12.6.2205 |
| Nebraska | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Nebraska's rule for this animal yet. Ask Nebraska Game and Parks Commission before you buy. | |
| Nevada | Permit needed | Nevada requires a noncommercial wildlife possession license from NDOW for wild mammals not on the prohibited list, and the kinkajou is not listed. Approval is at the Department's discretion.Noncommercial license for possession of live wildlife (NRS 504.295); the Department must find the species not detrimental to Nevada wildlife | NRS 504.295(1)(a); NAC 504.460(2)(b) |
| New Hampshire | Banned | New Hampshire lists the kinkajou 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 | Kinkajous are named on New Jersey's list of exotic species requiring a possession permit. A pet owner needs an Individual Hobby permit from the state.Individual Hobby permit; $10 per year | N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.3(a)2 |
| New Mexico | Banned | The kinkajou is 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 kinkajou 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. The raccoon entry covers only the genus Procyon, not other procyonids. | 6 NYCRR 180.1(b); ECL 11-0103(6)(e) |
| North Carolina | No state restriction found | North Carolina has no rule naming kinkajous. The state captivity licence rule covers only native wild animals, and kinkajous 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 | Kinkajous 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 | No Oklahoma statute or rule I read bars or requires a permit for pet kinkajous. Breeding wildlife needs a breeder licence, and shipping wildlife into Oklahoma needs Department authorization. | OAC 800:25-23-2; 29 O.S. 7-502 |
| Oregon | No state restriction found | The kinkajou is named on Oregon's noncontrolled list, so no state wildlife permit is needed to keep one. | OAR 635-056-0060(1)(b)(F) |
| 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 kinkajous.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 | Banned | The kinkajou is a Carnivora with no USDA licensed rabies vaccine, so DEM may not issue a permit to a private person. | 250-RICR-40-05-3 3.7(A), 3.9(B) |
| South Carolina | Not verified yet | We could not confirm South Carolina's rule for this animal yet. Ask South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR) before you buy. | Agency page |
| 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 | Not named or restricted. A nonnative mammal not listed in another class falls in Class III, which needs no TWRA permit.Class III; no TWRA permit | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(3) |
| Texas | No state restriction found | Kinkajous 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 | Banned | Kinkajous are not on any Utah list, and unlisted species are presumed prohibited until the Division assesses them.Not on any list; treated as prohibited until assessed | Utah Admin. Code R657-3b-7 and Table 3b-1 |
| Vermont | Banned | The kinkajou 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 | Permit needed | Virginia lists raccoon relatives (Procyonidae), which include kinkajous, as nonnative animals needing a special permit from the Department of Wildlife Resources to possess.Special DWR permit; issuance is at the department's discretion | 4VAC15-30-40(A) |
| Washington | No state restriction found | Kinkajous 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 kinkajou 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 | A kinkajou is not domestic in Wyoming and is not on the prohibited list, so a discretionary Game and Fish importation and possession permit is required.Chapter 10 permit, discretionary; approved holding facility | Wyo. Game & Fish Comm'n Ch. 10, Sections 3, 1... |
Federal law
- CITES. The kinkajou is in CITES Appendix III, listed by Honduras. Exports from Honduras need a CITES permit. This matters to importers and exporters, not to ordinary keepers. 50 CFR 23.13; CITES Appendices
Why states regulate it
When agencies restrict kinkajous, they are generally working from the fact that this is an undomesticated tropical animal rather than a pet species. San Diego Zoo says kinkajous are not tame, have a painful bite and can be destructive to a home in the middle of the night. Their care needs exotic-animal-trained professionals. Wild trade adds a conservation angle: kinkajous are hunted for pelts and meat, and hundreds of live animals and skins are exported each year from Peru. Escapes of non-native animals are a further general concern.
Before you buy
- Kinkajous are strictly nocturnal, so expect activity, noise and mess while you sleep; San Diego Zoo notes they can be destructive to a home in the middle of the night.
- San Diego Zoo describes kinkajous as not tame, with a painful bite, so this is not a beginner animal and not a cuddle pet.
- Kinkajous live about 20 years on average and up to 40 in captivity, so this is a long commitment. Plan for it before you buy.
- Their care needs exotic-animal-trained professionals, so find a vet who will actually see kinkajous before you buy.
- Ask whether the animal is captive-bred, and walk away from sellers who cannot show where it came from; wild trade in kinkajous exists.
Sources for the facts about the animal: animals.sandiegozoo.org, animaldiversity.org, bpsanctuary.org.
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: raccoon, pet monkey, sugar glider.
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 kinkajou in California?
- Banned. Kinkajous are Procyonidae, and all species in that family 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 kinkajou in Texas?
- No state restriction found. Kinkajous are not named in Texas dangerous wild animal or other state possession rules, so no state permit applies.
- Is it legal to own a kinkajou in Florida?
- Permit needed. Kinkajous 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 approved caging.
- Is it legal to own a kinkajou in New York?
- No state restriction found. The kinkajou 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. The raccoon entry covers only the genus Procyon, not other procyonids.
- Is it legal to own a kinkajou 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 kinkajous.
- Is it legal to own a kinkajou in Illinois?
- No state restriction found. Kinkajous are not named in any Illinois restricted list I read, since only the raccoon is protected among procyonids. No state permit is needed. Local rules were not checked.
- Is it legal to own a kinkajou in Ohio?
- No state restriction found. Kinkajous 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 kinkajou in Georgia?
- Banned. Kinkajous are in the order Carnivora, and every Carnivora species except the domestic ferret needs a wild animal licence. Georgia wild animal licences go only to wild animal businesses and public exhibitors, so a pet owner cannot get one.
- Is kinkajou legal in every state?
- No. In our data it is banned in 17 states and needs a permit in 7. 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.