diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 01a38d9337..9d31b83471 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@ The required dependencies to install Py-ART in addition to Python are:
 * `pooch <https://pypi.org/project/pooch/>`_
 * `Cython <https://cython.readthedocs.io/en/latest/>`_
 * `setuptools <https://setuptools.pypa.io/en/latest/index.html>`_
+* `cartopy <https://scitools.org.uk/cartopy/docs/latest/>`_
 
 A working C/C++ compiler is required for some optional modules. An easy method
 to install these dependencies is by using a
diff --git a/pyart/graph/gridmapdisplay.py b/pyart/graph/gridmapdisplay.py
index 80ca87b877..518ac6e89f 100644
--- a/pyart/graph/gridmapdisplay.py
+++ b/pyart/graph/gridmapdisplay.py
@@ -6,16 +6,10 @@
 
 import warnings
 
+import cartopy
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 import numpy as np
 
-try:
-    import cartopy  # noqa
-
-    _CARTOPY_AVAILABLE = True
-except ImportError:
-    _CARTOPY_AVAILABLE = False
-
 try:
     import metpy  # noqa
 
@@ -76,11 +70,6 @@ class GridMapDisplay:
 
     def __init__(self, grid, debug=False):
         """initalize the object."""
-        # check that cartopy and xarray are available
-        if not _CARTOPY_AVAILABLE:
-            raise MissingOptionalDependency(
-                "Cartopy is required to use GridMapDisplay but is not installed!"
-            )
         if not _XARRAY_AVAILABLE:
             raise MissingOptionalDependency(
                 "Xarray is required to use GridMapDisplay but is not installed!"
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index c1fe381533..736c3569c0 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -11,4 +11,5 @@ xradar>=0.5.0
 pandas
 mda-xdrlib
 xarray!=0.21.0
+cartopy
 pint
diff --git a/tests/graph/test_gridmapdisplay.py b/tests/graph/test_gridmapdisplay.py
index 7068bb142c..2180edf5ca 100644
--- a/tests/graph/test_gridmapdisplay.py
+++ b/tests/graph/test_gridmapdisplay.py
@@ -12,9 +12,6 @@
 import pyart
 
 
-@pytest.mark.skipif(
-    not pyart.graph.gridmapdisplay._CARTOPY_AVAILABLE, reason="Cartopy is not installed"
-)
 def test_gridmapdisplay_simple(outfile=None):
     # test basic GridMapDisplat functionally.
     grid = pyart.testing.make_target_grid()
@@ -26,9 +23,6 @@ def test_gridmapdisplay_simple(outfile=None):
         fig.savefig(outfile)
 
 
-@pytest.mark.skipif(
-    not pyart.graph.gridmapdisplay._CARTOPY_AVAILABLE, reason="Cartopy is not installed"
-)
 def test_gridmapdisplay_fancy(outfile=None):
     import cartopy.crs as ccrs
 
@@ -79,9 +73,6 @@ def test_gridmapdisplay_fancy(outfile=None):
         fig.savefig(outfile)
 
 
-@pytest.mark.skipif(
-    not pyart.graph.gridmapdisplay._CARTOPY_AVAILABLE, reason="Cartopy is not installed"
-)
 def test_generate_filename():
     grid = pyart.testing.make_target_grid()
     display = pyart.graph.GridMapDisplay(grid)
@@ -89,9 +80,6 @@ def test_generate_filename():
     assert isinstance(filename, str)
 
 
-@pytest.mark.skipif(
-    not pyart.graph.gridmapdisplay._CARTOPY_AVAILABLE, reason="Cartopy is not installed"
-)
 def test_generate_titles():
     grid = pyart.testing.make_target_grid()
     display = pyart.graph.GridMapDisplay(grid)
@@ -103,9 +91,6 @@ def test_generate_titles():
     assert isinstance(title, str)
 
 
-@pytest.mark.skipif(
-    not pyart.graph.gridmapdisplay._CARTOPY_AVAILABLE, reason="Cartopy is not installed"
-)
 def test_error_raising():
     grid = pyart.testing.make_target_grid()
     display = pyart.graph.GridMapDisplay(grid)
diff --git a/tests/graph/test_plot_maxcappi.py b/tests/graph/test_plot_maxcappi.py
index 857183fcd2..0b05cf5b11 100644
--- a/tests/graph/test_plot_maxcappi.py
+++ b/tests/graph/test_plot_maxcappi.py
@@ -1,14 +1,10 @@
 import os
 
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
-import pytest
 
 import pyart
 
 
-@pytest.mark.skipif(
-    not pyart.graph.gridmapdisplay._CARTOPY_AVAILABLE, reason="Cartopy is not installed"
-)
 def test_plot_maxcappi_simple(outfile=None):
     """
     Test the basic functionality of plot_maxcappi.
@@ -31,9 +27,6 @@ def test_plot_maxcappi_simple(outfile=None):
     plt.close()
 
 
-@pytest.mark.skipif(
-    not pyart.graph.gridmapdisplay._CARTOPY_AVAILABLE, reason="Cartopy is not installed"
-)
 def test_plot_maxcappi_with_save(outfile=None):
     """
     Test plot_maxcappi and save the output to a file.
@@ -62,9 +55,6 @@ def test_plot_maxcappi_with_save(outfile=None):
     assert os.path.exists(outfile), "The plot was not saved as expected."
 
 
-@pytest.mark.skipif(
-    not pyart.graph.gridmapdisplay._CARTOPY_AVAILABLE, reason="Cartopy is not installed"
-)
 def test_plot_maxcappi_with_all_options(outfile=None):
     """
     Test plot_maxcappi with all options enabled.