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What you can legally keep in New York City

Which animals are legal as pets in NYC, and which must go to a rehabber or sanctuary.

Species care & legality (NYC / NYS)

This tab is orientation, not legal advice. NYC and NYS rules change; confirm current status with NYC Health, NYC ACC, or NYS DEC before acquiring or rehoming an animal. General picture as of the last-verified date:

Prohibited as pets in NYC (illegal to keep - a non-exhaustive list):

  • NYC Health Code bans keeping most wild and exotic animals as pets. Ferrets specifically are banned in NEW YORK CITY under the NYC Health Code (Article 161.01, which lists ferrets among prohibited animals), even though ferrets are legal in the rest of NEW YORK STATE including Long Island. The NYC Board of Health considered lifting the ban in 2015 and voted to keep it; it remained in place as of the last-verified date (confirm current status with NYC Health before acquiring or rehoming a ferret in the five boroughs). Other weasel-family animals - minks, skunks, badgers, wolverines, mongooses - are likewise barred in NYC.
  • Also prohibited as pets in NYC: most non-human primates, many reptiles (venomous snakes, large constrictors, crocodilians/alligators), and most wild carnivores.
  • Roosters are generally not permitted in NYC residential settings; farm animals (pigs, goats, sheep, cows, including 'teacup'/'mini' pigs) are barred from most residential zoning.
  • Venomous reptiles and dangerous wild animals are prohibited.

Native NY wildlife & native reptiles/amphibians:

  • Most native wildlife cannot legally be kept. Injured/orphaned wildlife must go to a NYS-licensed wildlife rehabilitator (see the Wildlife rehabilitation tab).
  • NYS DEC now requires a permit to keep ANY reptile or amphibian native to New York, including all 12 native NY turtle species. It is illegal to sell native NY reptiles/amphibians - report violations to DEC at 1-800-847-7332.

Generally legal companion exotics (with care caveats):

  • Rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils, chinchillas: legal in NYC; all need species-specific housing/diet and exotics-savvy vet care. Rabbits and guinea pigs live 8-12+ years. (Note: unlike those, ferrets are NOT legal in NYC - see the prohibited list above.)
  • Companion birds (parrots, budgies, cockatiels, finches, doves): legal; parrots can outlive their owners and go through multiple homes - a lifetime commitment.
  • Many non-native reptiles kept as pets (bearded dragons, corn snakes, ball pythons, leopard geckos) are legal, but red-eared sliders create a serious surrender/dumping problem and must never be released.

Authoritative care & rule sources:

  • House Rabbit Society: rabbit.org (diet, housing, health). NYC chapter: rabbitrescueandrehab.org.
  • NYTTS turtle/tortoise care & the DEC native-reptile regulations overview at nytts.org.
  • NYS DEC wildlife & licensed-rehabilitator info: dec.ny.gov.
  • NYC ACC (surrender, adoption, guinea pigs/small animals): nycacc.org.
  • Confirm NYC-specific pet legality with NYC Health (nyc.gov/health).

This guide is compiled from the project's research files. Contact details inside it can go stale — check the directory for the current listing, and confirm a number is live before you rely on it.