If you want to know the states where you can own a kangaroo, the short answer is: a handful allow it outright, several more allow it with a permit, and a growing number ban private ownership entirely. Georgia, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Washington have clear permit pathways. Texas, Ohio, Idaho, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and South Carolina don’t single out kangaroos for state-level restriction. New York, Hawaii, and Iowa prohibit private ownership. And in every state, your county or city can block ownership even when state law allows it.
States That Allow Kangaroo Ownership With a Permit
Several states let you keep a kangaroo if you obtain the right license and meet their conditions.
Georgia classifies kangaroos, wallabies, and wallaroos (the entire genus Macropus) as “inherently dangerous” animals. Despite the label, you can own one with a wildlife license or permit and liability insurance meeting the state’s minimum requirements.1Justia. 2024 Georgia Code 27-5-5 – Wild Animals for Which License or Permit Required The insurance requirement raises Georgia’s bar above most permit states.
Pennsylvania issues an exotic wildlife possession permit through its Game Commission that authorizes holders to purchase, receive, or possess exotic wildlife from any lawful source. Nevada requires a license to possess any live wildlife, kangaroos included. Washington requires both a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection issued within 30 days and an entry permit before any exotic animal crosses state lines.2Legal Information Institute (LII) / Cornell Law School. Washington Administrative Code 16-54-030 – Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and Entry Permit Requirements Maine, New Jersey, and New Mexico are commonly cited as permit states as well, though the permit type and issuing agency vary.
States Where Kangaroos Aren’t on Restricted Lists
Some states regulate exotic animals by naming specific prohibited species, and kangaroos simply aren’t among them.
In Texas, the Dangerous Wild Animal subchapter covers big cats, bears, hyenas, coyotes, and certain primates. No kangaroos. Ohio’s Dangerous Wild Animal Act targets big cats, bears, elephants, hyenas, gray wolves, alligators, crocodiles, and nonhuman primates. No kangaroos. Idaho’s deleterious exotic animal list covers certain canids, felids, primates, and rodents; the only marsupial on it is the brush-tailed possum.3Idaho State Department of Agriculture. Deleterious Exotic Animals
Being absent from a restricted list isn’t the same as being unregulated. General animal cruelty laws, health codes, and local ordinances still apply. And states update these lists periodically, so a species unregulated this year can require a permit the next.
A smaller group of states leaves kangaroos essentially untouched at the state level. Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture does not decide whether a particular exotic species is legal to own and does not require a state-level permit for kangaroos; the agency tells prospective owners to check with county, township, and municipal officials before buying.4Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Exotic Species Movement West Virginia and South Carolina also lack statewide permit requirements specific to kangaroos, though both apply their general animal welfare laws.
States That Prohibit Kangaroo Ownership
Several states ban private ownership outright, usually with narrow exceptions for accredited zoos, licensed exhibitors, and research facilities.
New York prohibits any person from possessing, selling, or importing a wild animal for use as a pet. The exceptions are limited to accredited zoos, licensed exhibitors under the federal Animal Welfare Act, research facilities, veterinarians temporarily holding an animal, wildlife rehabilitators, and sanctuaries.5New York State Senate. New York Environmental Conservation Law 11-0512 – Possession, Sale, Barter, Transfer, Exchange and Import of Wild Animals as Pets Prohibited A grandfather provision lets owners keep animals they already had when the law took effect, but new acquisitions by private individuals are not allowed.
Hawaii is stricter still. The state restricts virtually all animal imports to protect its island ecosystems, and any animal not on Hawaii’s approved import lists is considered prohibited. Kangaroos do not appear on those lists. Importing an illegal animal can bring up to three years in prison and fines as high as $500,000.6State of Hawaii Plant Industry Division. Importing Animals to Hawaii from the U.S. Mainland
Iowa prohibits owning, possessing, breeding, or transporting a “dangerous wild animal” into the state.7Justia. Iowa Code 717F.3 – Dangerous Wild Animals – Prohibitions People who already owned a covered animal before July 1, 2007, can keep it under a grandfather clause, but no new private acquisitions are permitted.8Justia. Iowa Code 717F.4 – Owning or Possessing Dangerous Wild Animals on July 1, 2007
Illinois has historically allowed kangaroo ownership, but legislation to ban private possession of kangaroos, wallabies, servals, and caracals has passed the state House in recent sessions. Check the current status before buying, because the law there is actively changing.
Florida’s rules sit somewhere in between. The state sorts captive wildlife into three classes: Class I animals cannot be kept as personal pets, Class II requires demonstrated experience and a permit, and Class III needs a basic permit.9Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Wildlife as a Personal Pet Wallabies appear on the Class III list, but the classification for full-sized kangaroos isn’t spelled out in publicly available materials. Contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission before counting on legal ownership.
What the Permit Process Looks Like in Permit States
Where a permit is required, applications tend to ask for similar documentation regardless of state.
- Enclosure details, including dimensions, fencing materials, shelter type, and perimeter security. USDA regulations require outdoor facilities for potentially dangerous animals to have perimeter fences at least six feet high, and some states set higher standards.10Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations
- A veterinary care plan naming a vet qualified to treat macropods, along with emergency protocols.
- Proof the kangaroo was acquired from a licensed breeder or other lawful source.
- Liability insurance. Georgia requires it. New York’s dangerous animal license for exhibitors requires at least $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate.11Department of Environmental Conservation. Dangerous Animal License
- A written emergency escape plan covering notifications to local authorities, staff roles, and public safety measures.11Department of Environmental Conservation. Dangerous Animal License
Fees range from nothing to a few hundred dollars, processing often takes weeks to months, and many states inspect the enclosure before issuing the permit. Permits require periodic renewal, and letting one lapse can convert a legal pet into an illegal one.
Separately, the federal Lacey Act makes it a crime to transport, sell, or acquire wildlife taken or possessed in violation of state law.12Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 16 U.S. Code 3372 – Prohibited Acts Buying a kangaroo illegally in one state and moving it across state lines stacks a federal offense on top of state penalties.
Strict Liability If Something Goes Wrong
Where kangaroo ownership is legal, the common law rule in most states still treats owners of wild animals as strictly liable for any physical harm the animal causes. If your kangaroo kicks a neighbor, you’re financially responsible for the injuries no matter how secure your fencing was. The injured person does not need to prove you were negligent. Courts treat keeping a wild animal as an inherently dangerous activity.
An adult male red kangaroo can stand over six feet tall and deliver kicks capable of breaking bones. Liability insurance for exotic pet owners is available but typically customized to the animal and situation, and several permit states require proof of coverage before they approve an application.
Local Zoning Can Override State Law
Even in a state that permits kangaroo ownership or doesn’t regulate it, your city or county zoning code may prohibit keeping exotic or farm animals in residential areas. Many municipalities ban all non-domestic animals within city limits except by special event or city council approval. Some jurisdictions carve out exceptions for rural-residential zones, but standard residential zoning rarely accommodates a 200-pound marsupial.
Wisconsin’s agriculture department states the issue plainly: the state does not decide whether a particular exotic species is legal to own, and prospective owners should contact officials at “all levels of the local government in the destination jurisdiction” before acquiring one.4Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Exotic Species Movement That guidance travels well across state lines. Before you buy, call your county animal control office, read your municipal code, and check any homeowners association rules. A state permit won’t help you if your city says no.