Genet Legal States 2026
Genet Legality
State | Genet Legality↓ | |
|---|---|---|
 | Alabama | Illegal |
 | Alaska | Illegal |
 | Arizona | Illegal |
 | Arkansas | Illegal |
 | California | Illegal |
 | Colorado | Illegal |
 | Connecticut | Illegal |
 | Delaware | Illegal |
 | Florida | Illegal |
 | Georgia | Illegal |
 | Hawaii | Illegal |
 | Idaho | Illegal |
 | Illinois | Illegal |
 | Indiana | Illegal |
 | Iowa | Illegal |
 | Kansas | Illegal |
 | Kentucky | Illegal |
 | Louisiana | Illegal |
 | Maine | Illegal |
 | Maryland | Illegal |
 | Massachusetts | Illegal |
 | Michigan | Illegal |
 | Minnesota | Illegal |
 | Mississippi | Illegal |
 | Missouri | Illegal |
 | Montana | Illegal |
 | Nebraska | Illegal |
 | Nevada | Illegal |
 | New Hampshire | Illegal |
 | New Jersey | Illegal |
 | New Mexico | Illegal |
 | New York | Illegal |
 | North Carolina | Illegal |
 | North Dakota | Illegal |
 | Ohio | Illegal |
 | Oklahoma | Illegal |
 | Oregon | Illegal |
 | Pennsylvania | Illegal |
 | Rhode Island | Illegal |
 | South Carolina | Illegal |
 | South Dakota | Illegal |
 | Tennessee | Illegal |
 | Texas | Illegal |
 | Utah | Illegal |
 | Vermont | Illegal |
 | Virginia | Illegal |
 | Washington | Illegal |
 | West Virginia | Illegal |
 | Wisconsin | Illegal |
 | Wyoming | Illegal |
- Species belonging to the family Viverridae, including civets, binturongs, genets, linsangs, etc., may not be imported into the U.S. They are prohibited because they may carry the SARS virus.
- The common or European genet is native to northern Africa and has also spread to Europe.
Genets are small to medium-sized carnivorous mammals belonging to the family Viverridae, which also includes civets, binturongs, and linsangs. The common or European genet is native to northern Africa and parts of Europe.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) previously prohibited the importation of all members of Viverridae under an embargo introduced in 2004 over concerns about SARS. CDC rescinded that import embargo effective August 22, 2025. The rescission covers genets, civets, binturongs, and other members of the family.
Genets are no longer subject to this CDC import embargo. The notice addresses federal importation, rather than state or local rules for keeping genets as pets. Whether a genet may be kept as a pet remains a separate question under applicable state and local exotic-animal laws; the rescission does not establish that possession is legal in every state.
