Go Bananas! Can You Legally Own A Monkey In Arizona?

When I was in elementary school, I had an incredibly eccentric teacher. She always bragged about the roller coaster she built in her backyard or the jetpack she was working on (I still want to see it), but she had one thing that fascinated all of us.

She had a pet, but not just any pet, a MONKEY. At that age, I obviously wanted a monkey as a pet, just like her, but not every state is as lenient as Georgia.

Can You Own a Monkey as a Pet in Arizona?

While the Grand Canyon State is quite lenient on its pet laws, this is one they take no tolerance on. According to the Arizona Game & Fish Department, primates of any kind are not allowed as pets.

This includes monkeys, chimpanzees, and humans (I'd hope you know that last bit). There is a plethora of reasons why these critters are banned, but the most major is that these apes are unpredictable and very strong, which means they could turn on a dime and hurt a lot of people.

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How Can I Legally Own a Monkey in Arizona?

Okay so, you can't own a monkey as a pet, but you can own a primate here in Arizona, under very strict regulations. You'll have to start with written approval from the Arizona Game and Fish Department, before getting a permit from the state.

Once this is taken care of, you'll have to follow a list of requirements for your import, such as ensuring the animal has permanent identification, checking it's clean from disease, and must be no less than 50% of its adult weight.

Once you check a few more boxes, congratulations, you now own a primate in Arizona! Sure, you've got a very limited course of action with it, but you've got one!

[National Humane Education Society][Arizona Department of Agriculture]