Can You Own a Parrot in South Dakota? What State and Federal Law Actually Say
September 6, 2026
If you’re wondering whether you can own a parrot in South Dakota, the short answer is yes for most species, but not all of them. South Dakota has a reputation as one of the more permissive states for exotic animal ownership, yet it still draws a hard line on at least one popular pet bird. Understanding where that line sits, and which federal rules stack on top of it, matters before you bring home a feathered companion.
This guide walks through South Dakota’s approach to parrot ownership, the species that face restrictions, the federal statutes that apply regardless of state law, the permits you may need, and what local governments and penalty structures look like if you get it wrong.
Is It Legal to Own a Parrot in South Dakota
South Dakota takes a notably relaxed stance on exotic pets compared to many other states. South Dakota will let you keep a bear on your property, but domestic pigs are prohibited. That contrast tells you something important: the state’s exotic animal framework isn’t built around a simple “wild versus tame” logic, and the same is true for birds.
South Dakota’s primary exotic animal statutes, found in South Dakota’s exotic pet regulations, focus heavily on nondomestic mammals rather than birds. South Dakota’s regulations primarily focus on nondomestic mammals, which means certain categories of exotic pets face fewer restrictions under state law, and these animals aren’t explicitly listed as prohibited, though you should still verify local requirements before acquiring any exotic pet. This means most common pet-trade parrots, including African greys, macaws, cockatiels, budgerigars, conures, and Amazon parrots, generally fall outside the state’s nondomestic mammal permitting system entirely.
That doesn’t mean parrot ownership is a free-for-all. Some South Dakota cities specifically prohibit exotic animals unless lawfully permitted beforehand, and you might have a valid state permit but still violate local ordinances, because state approval doesn’t guarantee local compliance and you must satisfy both regulatory levels. You’ll want to check both your city’s municipal code and any homeowners’ association rules before assuming a pet parrot is automatically welcome.
Pro Tip: Before purchasing any parrot species in South Dakota, call your city clerk’s office directly. Many municipal exotic animal ordinances aren’t well indexed online and may define “exotic bird” differently than the state does.
Which Parrot Species Face Restrictions in South Dakota
Most parrot species sold through licensed breeders and pet stores face no special state restriction in South Dakota. The major exception is the Quaker parrot, also known as the monk parakeet and scientifically classified as Myiopsitta monachus. South Dakota is one of 14 states in the US that prohibit owning Quaker Parrots, along with Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Why single out this one species? These states view Quaker Parrots as exotic animals or consider them to be a threat to native species. Quaker parrots are unusual among parrots because they build large, communal stick nests and can survive cold climates, which makes them one of the few parrot species capable of establishing feral populations outside the tropics. Other states have taken similar action against a related concern: Monk Parakeets aren’t currently listed under CITES, but some places, such as the state of California, ban them as pets because of their invasive potential.
Beyond the Quaker parrot ban, you might also wonder whether large, showy species like hyacinth macaws or umbrella cockatoos face South Dakota-specific limits. They generally don’t at the state level, but they can trigger federal permitting requirements discussed in the next section, since many are listed under international trade agreements regardless of where you live. For comparison, South Dakota applies a similar species-by-species approach to other unconventional pets, as outlined in the state’s hedgehog ownership rules, where legality hinges on the specific animal rather than a blanket exotic pet ban.
| Parrot Category | South Dakota State Status | Key Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Common pet-trade parrots (budgies, cockatiels, conures, African greys) | Generally legal, no state permit | Verify local city ordinance |
| Quaker parrot / monk parakeet | Prohibited | Invasive nesting behavior in cold climates |
| CITES-listed macaws and cockatoos | Legal with compliance | May require federal import or transfer documentation |
| Endangered parrot species (certain macaws) | Restricted federally | Endangered Species Act permit required |
Federal Laws That May Apply to Parrot Ownership
Even when South Dakota law is silent on a species, federal statutes still apply to every parrot owner in the country. Four laws matter most for pet parrot ownership.
The Wild Bird Conservation Act shapes what you can legally acquire in the first place. The Wild Bird Conservation Act bans wild-caught bird imports, except for species covered under CITES Appendix I and II programs. Passed in 1992, this law effectively shifted the U.S. pet bird trade toward captive-bred stock. The Wild Bird Conservation Act requires permits for importing certain birds, listing protected species and requiring special permits for imports. If you’re buying from a domestic breeder, this law rarely creates paperwork for you directly, but it explains why wild-caught parrots are essentially unavailable through legal retail channels.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act is less about parrots specifically and more about native species you might confuse with legal pets. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act prohibits the take, including killing, capturing, selling, trading, and transport, of protected migratory bird species without prior authorization from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Most parrots aren’t native migratory species covered by this treaty, but if you’re also interested in keeping native birds, this is the law that governs it. Anyone tracking seasonal bird activity in the state, such as through South Dakota’s spring bird migration patterns, will encounter this same federal framework, and it’s the same authority behind permitting for regulated activities like dove hunting season in South Dakota.
The Lacey Act is the oldest federal wildlife law and backs up nearly every other statute on this list with enforcement teeth. The Lacey Act was the first federal law protecting wildlife in the U.S., and today it regulates the import and export of protected species, prevents the spread of non-native invasive species, and enforces penalties on people who violate the law by illegally trading wildlife. Under the Lacey Act it is illegal to transport, sell, buy, or otherwise acquire any plant or animal species taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of state or foreign law, including acquiring any plant or animal in interstate commerce that was taken, possessed, or sold in violation of state law. This is the mechanism that turns a South Dakota state violation, like transporting a banned Quaker parrot across state lines, into a potential federal offense.
Finally, CITES, the international wildlife trade treaty, governs many parrot species directly. The trading of wildlife, including parrots, is highly regulated by local, national and international laws, most notably CITES, which maintains lists of species whose trade either is forbidden or requires permits, including many parrot species. Large macaws, certain cockatoos, and African greys are commonly listed under CITES Appendix I or II, meaning ownership itself is usually fine, but breeding, selling, or transporting them across state or national lines can require documentation.
Key Insight: Federal law generally governs how a parrot entered the pet trade and how it moves across borders. State and local law generally govern whether you can keep that species where you live. You need to clear both.
Permits Required to Own a Restricted Parrot in South Dakota
South Dakota’s permitting infrastructure for exotic animals runs primarily through the state Animal Industry Board, and its process offers a useful template even though it was built with nondomestic mammals in mind. The board may permit the entry of restricted animals after consulting with the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks and after holding a public hearing and considering public opinion, and only after obtaining approval for importing such animals from the Secretary of the Department of Game, Fish and Parks. This same general model, agency review followed by GFP sign-off, is the pattern South Dakota uses across its regulated-species programs, similar to the process required under the state’s goat ownership laws for livestock that carries disease or habitat concerns.
For a species that touches on endangered or threatened status, such as certain macaws or cockatoos listed under the Endangered Species Act, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks handles permitting through a separate process. The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Game, Fish and Parks may permit the taking, possession, purchase, sale, transportation, exportation, or shipment of species on the state list of endangered or threatened species for scientific, zoological, or educational purposes, or for captive propagation to ensure their survival, and the request should be submitted at least six weeks prior to the time the authorization is needed. A complete application generally needs to identify who is responsible for compliance, what activity is planned, and the scientific name, common name, and number of individual birds involved. The request should include the individual responsible for complying with the permit along with address and contact information, the specific activity planned such as capture, possession, or exportation, and the scientific name, common name, and number of individuals requested.
If you’re simply buying a captive-bred Quaker parrot from an out-of-state breeder, no South Dakota permit exists that will make that legal, since the species is prohibited outright rather than restricted-with-permit. Permits in South Dakota’s system are designed for species the state allows conditionally, not for the handful it bans entirely.
Important Note: If your parrot species is CITES-listed, you may need federal documentation (a CITES certificate or Fish and Wildlife Service permit) even when South Dakota itself requires nothing. Always confirm federal status separately from state status.
Local Ordinances That May Apply in South Dakota
State law is only half the picture. Some South Dakota cities specifically prohibit exotic animals unless lawfully permitted beforehand, defining their own lists of what constitutes an exotic animal separate from state classifications, and you might have a valid state permit but still violate local ordinances. This dual-layer system means a parrot species that’s perfectly legal under South Dakota state law could still be restricted or banned within a specific city or county.
This isn’t unique to birds. South Dakota municipalities routinely regulate animals with their own local rules layered on top of state law, much like the breed-specific restrictions found in South Dakota’s pit bull ordinances or the nuisance-animal provisions covered in local cat and property laws. Noise ordinances deserve particular attention for parrot owners specifically. Large parrots like macaws and cockatoos can produce sound levels loud enough to trigger residential noise complaints, and some cities enforce decibel limits or “unreasonable disturbance” rules that apply regardless of whether the bird itself is legal.
- Check your city’s municipal code for exotic or “wild” animal definitions before purchase.
- Review HOA covenants, which can be stricter than any government ordinance.
- Ask your landlord or property management company directly if you rent, since lease terms often override what’s technically legal.
- Contact your county extension office if you live in unincorporated areas, since county rules can differ from nearby city rules.
Penalties for Illegally Owning a Restricted Parrot in South Dakota
Violating South Dakota’s exotic animal framework typically triggers enforcement through the Animal Industry Board or, for endangered species, through Game, Fish and Parks. Because the state’s captive wildlife rules require prior board and GFP approval before an animal is imported or possessed, keeping a prohibited species like a Quaker parrot without authorization puts you outside a system built on advance permitting rather than after-the-fact registration.
Penalties can extend well beyond South Dakota’s own statutes if interstate transport was involved. The Lacey Act enforces penalties on people who violate the law by illegally trading wildlife, and because it covers animals possessed in violation of state law once they cross state lines, a South Dakota resident who bought a banned Quaker parrot from an out-of-state seller can face federal exposure on top of any state enforcement action. Consequences in cases like this commonly include confiscation of the animal, fines, and in serious or repeat cases, criminal charges.
Important Note: Exact fine schedules and misdemeanor classifications can change and vary by jurisdiction. Contact the South Dakota Animal Industry Board or your local state’s attorney’s office for current penalty specifics before assuming any figure applies to your situation. This article provides general legal information, not legal advice.
If you’re unsure whether a bird you already own falls into a restricted category, proactive contact with the Animal Industry Board or GFP is almost always treated more favorably than waiting for enforcement to find you. The same logic applies to other regulated wildlife situations in the state, including how South Dakota handles unexpected wildlife encounters under its roadkill possession laws, where voluntary compliance and permit-seeking behavior generally produces better outcomes than after-the-fact violations.
Owning a parrot in South Dakota is straightforward for the overwhelming majority of species sold in the pet trade. The state’s light-touch approach to bird ownership means most owners never interact with a permitting agency at all. The exceptions, Quaker parrots at the state level and CITES-listed or endangered species at the federal level, are narrow but carry real consequences if ignored. Confirm your specific species against state, federal, and local rules before you bring a new bird home, and when in doubt, a quick call to the Animal Industry Board or GFP costs far less than an enforcement action later.