Bounty Hunter Legal States 2025

Legal
Illegal
6
State
Bounty Hunting Legality
License Required
Notes
Alabama Flag
AlabamaLegalNo
Alaska Flag
AlaskaLegalYes
Arizona Flag
ArizonaLegalYes
Arkansas Flag
ArkansasLegalYesOnly licensed professional bail bondsmen and their authorized agents are allowed to engage in bounty hunting.
California Flag
CaliforniaLegalYes
Colorado Flag
ColoradoLegalYes
Connecticut Flag
ConnecticutLegalYesBounty hunting is legal in Connecticut, but there are restrictions and regulations surrounding the practice. According to Connecticut state law, a bail enforcement agent (bounty hunter) must be employed by a Connecticut licensed bail bond agent or surety bail bond agent.
Delaware Flag
DelawareLegalYes
District of Columbia Flag
District of ColumbiaLegalYes
Florida Flag
FloridaLegalBail AgentUnder current Florida statutes, bounty hunters, or runners as they are known in Florida, are required to be licensed as bail agents. Without a bail agent license, bounty hunting is now strictly prohibited in the state.
Georgia Flag
GeorgiaLegalBail Recovery AgentGeorgia allows the practice of bounty hunting but does not use the term “bounty hunter” in its statutes. Instead, those employed in the capacity of fugitive recovery are known in the state as bail recovery agents.
Hawaii Flag
HawaiiLegalYesHawaii allows the practice of bounty hunting and has few laws regulating bounty hunters, also known as bail enforcement agents.
Idaho Flag
IdahoLegalNo
Illinois Flag
IllinoisIllegal
Indiana Flag
IndianaLegalBail Recovery Agent
Iowa Flag
IowaLegalYes
Kansas Flag
KansasLegalNo
Kentucky Flag
KentuckyIllegal
Louisiana Flag
LouisianaLegalBail Recovery Agent
Maine Flag
MaineLegalNo
Maryland Flag
MarylandLegalNo
Massachusetts Flag
MassachusettsLegalNo
Michigan Flag
MichiganLegalNo
Minnesota Flag
MinnesotaLegalNo
Mississippi Flag
MississippiLegalBail Recovery Agent
Missouri Flag
MissouriLegalYes
Montana Flag
MontanaLegalNo
Nebraska Flag
NebraskaLegalNo
Nevada Flag
NevadaLegalBail Recovery AgentThe state allows bail enforcement but prohibits the use of the word “bounty hunter.” Bail enforcement agents in Nevada must be licensed by the Nevada Division of Insurance (DOI). Bail enforcement agents work for bail bondsmen to locate and return defendants who have skipped bail.
New Hampshire Flag
New HampshireLegalYes
New Jersey Flag
New JerseyLegalNo
New Mexico Flag
New MexicoLegalYes
New York Flag
New YorkLegalYes
North Carolina Flag
North CarolinaIllegalBail BondingBounty hunting in itself is not legal in North Carolina. In order to preform or engage in duties related to the recovery of fugitives or other bail bonding activities, individuals must obtain a bail bonding license, issued by the North Carolina Department of Insurance.
North Dakota Flag
North DakotaLegalNo
Ohio Flag
OhioLegalNoSince 2001, bounty hunting in the state of Ohio has been explicitly regulated by state law. As such, only a law enforcement officer or a qualified, licensed and appointed surety bail bond agent are authorized to arrest fugitives in the state.
Oklahoma Flag
OklahomaLegalYes
Oregon Flag
OregonIllegal
Pennsylvania Flag
PennsylvaniaLegalYes
Rhode Island Flag
Rhode IslandLegalNo
South Carolina Flag
South CarolinaLegalYes
South Dakota Flag
South DakotaLegalBail Recovery Agent
Tennessee Flag
TennesseeLegalYesBounty hunters in Tennessee must be employed by and work as agents of a professional bondsmen to find and return defendants who have “skipped” bail.
Texas Flag
TexasIllegalBounty hunters are not allowed to work as such in Texas, those interested in working to apprehend fugitives (or “skips”) may wish to become private investigators. Private investigators must be at least 18 years of age.
Utah Flag
UtahLegalNo
Vermont Flag
VermontLegalNo
Virginia Flag
VirginiaLegalNo
Washington Flag
WashingtonLegalYes
West Virginia Flag
West VirginiaLegalBail Recovery Agent
Wisconsin Flag
WisconsinIllegal
Wyoming Flag
WyomingLegalNo