Antique engraving of a serval

Pet serval laws by state

A tall African wildcat, popular in the exotic cat trade and the parent breed of the Savannah cat. Below is the legal status of the serval (Leptailurus serval) in every state we've verified so far — each entry links the actual statute.

Where servals are legal: state map

Alabama: Legal — Servals are not on Alabama's restricted/prohibited list; no state permit for personal possession.Alaska: Banned — Not on Alaska's 5 AAC 92.029 clean list — possession prohibitedArizona: Banned — Restricted live wildlife — all non-domestic cats banned as petsArkansas: Permit Required — Serval is on AGFC's permit-required list (Addendum R1.02)California: Banned — Restricted species — all non-domestic cats banned as petsColorado: Banned — Regulated wildlife — exotic cats closed to private ownershipConnecticut: Banned — Potentially dangerous animal — banned as a petDelaware: Permit Required — Non-native carnivore — individual exotic-animal permit requiredFlorida: Permit Required — Class II wildlife — permit available but demanding: documented experience, facility standards, and feesGeorgia: Banned — Inherently dangerous wild animal — illegal as a petHawaii: Banned — Prohibited under HAR 4-71 — Hawaii's near-total exotic-mammal banIdaho: Permit Required — Small Felidae on the deleterious list - possession permit requiredIllinois: Legal — Not on the dangerous animal list — legal at the state level; local bans (notably Chicago) applyIndiana: Permit Required — Exotic cats fall under Indiana's Class III dangerous-animal permittingIowa: Banned — Servals are named explicitly in the Felidae ban; only F4+ savannah cats are exemptKansas: Legal — Servals are not on the dangerous regulated animal list; no state permit neededKentucky: Permit Required — Servals aren't 'inherently dangerous,' but a transportation permit is required to bring one into Kentucky.Louisiana: Legal — Servals aren't 'big exotic cats' under LAC 76:V.115; no state permit required.Maine: Banned — Exotic cat treated as restricted; no pet permit issuedMaryland: Banned — 'Any other non-domestic feline' — banned by the wild-cat clauseMassachusetts: Banned — Exotic cats aren't exempt — banned as petsMichigan: Legal — Not a 'large carnivore' under Michigan law — legal without a state permit; local rules varyMinnesota: Banned — 'Regulated animal' — all non-domestic cats bannedMississippi: Legal — Serval is not on Mississippi's inherently-dangerous list — no state permitMissouri: Legal — Not on the dangerous wild animal list — legal at the state levelMontana: Legal — Serval cat expressly listed as a noncontrolled species - no permitNebraska: Banned — All non-domestic Felidae are prohibited; Game & Parks names serval cats explicitlyNevada: Legal — Legal — not on the prohibited list, no state permitNew Hampshire: Permit Required — 'Serval, African' listed as controlled species in Fis 804.05New Jersey: Banned — Exotic cats are potentially dangerous species — no pet permitsNew Mexico: Banned — Serval is Group IV - importation prohibited for the general publicNew York: Banned — Non-domestic cats are 'wild animals' under state law — banned statewide, with NYC's ban on topNorth Carolina: Legal — No statewide restriction — county and city ordinances decideNorth Dakota: Permit Required — Non-domestic cats below the big-cat tier are Category 2 - licensed but allowedOhio: Banned — 'Dangerous wild animal' — new private ownership closed since 2014Oklahoma: Permit Required — Servals are legal with a noncommercial wildlife breeder permit; 100 hours of Class III feline experience is required.Oregon: Banned — Non-native cats are 'exotic animals' — banned as pets since 2010Pennsylvania: Permit Required — 'Exotic wildlife' under PGC regulations — permit required, and PGC's experience requirements make it hard to getRhode Island: Permit Required — Not exempt; DEM exotic-animal possession permit requiredSouth Carolina: Legal — Servals aren't 'large wild cats' under the 2018 ban; no state permit required.South Dakota: Permit Required — All nondomestic Felidae need a $10 possession permit and facility approvalTennessee: Legal — Class III — legal without a permit; one of the states that made servals famousTexas: Permit Required — 'Dangerous wild animal' — legal with county registration, $100k insurance, and caging standards; some counties prohibitUtah: Banned — Unlisted - default 'presumed prohibited'; DWR won't authorize servals as petsVermont: Banned — Not unrestricted; no pet captivity permit availableVirginia: Banned — All non-domestic cats (Felidae) are listed — no pet permitsWashington: Legal — Not listed under the dangerous wild animal ban — legal at the state level, but local bans are commonWest Virginia: Legal — Serval is not on WV's Dangerous Wild Animal List — no permit neededWisconsin: Legal — No statewide exotic-cat restriction — legal at the state levelWyoming: Unclear — Not named in the Chapter 10 quick-reference guideDC: not yet verified
LegalPermit / partly legalBannedNot yet verified

Status by state

StateStatusDetailVerified
WashingtonLegalNot listed under the dangerous wild animal ban — legal at the state level, but local bans are common2026-07-02
New YorkBannedNon-domestic cats are 'wild animals' under state law — banned statewide, with NYC's ban on top2026-07-03
TexasPermit Required'Dangerous wild animal' — legal with county registration, $100k insurance, and caging standards; some counties prohibit2026-07-02
FloridaPermit RequiredClass II wildlife — permit available but demanding: documented experience, facility standards, and fees2026-07-02
CaliforniaBannedRestricted species — all non-domestic cats banned as pets2026-07-02
PennsylvaniaPermit Required'Exotic wildlife' under PGC regulations — permit required, and PGC's experience requirements make it hard to get2026-07-02
OhioBanned'Dangerous wild animal' — new private ownership closed since 20142026-07-02
GeorgiaBannedInherently dangerous wild animal — illegal as a pet2026-07-02
North CarolinaLegalNo statewide restriction — county and city ordinances decide2026-07-02
IllinoisLegalNot on the dangerous animal list — legal at the state level; local bans (notably Chicago) apply2026-07-02
MichiganLegalNot a 'large carnivore' under Michigan law — legal without a state permit; local rules vary2026-07-03
ArizonaBannedRestricted live wildlife — all non-domestic cats banned as pets2026-07-03
NevadaLegalLegal — not on the prohibited list, no state permit2026-07-03
TennesseeLegalClass III — legal without a permit; one of the states that made servals famous2026-07-03
MissouriLegalNot on the dangerous wild animal list — legal at the state level2026-07-03
VirginiaBannedAll non-domestic cats (Felidae) are listed — no pet permits2026-07-03
IndianaPermit RequiredExotic cats fall under Indiana's Class III dangerous-animal permitting2026-07-03
WisconsinLegalNo statewide exotic-cat restriction — legal at the state level2026-07-03
MinnesotaBanned'Regulated animal' — all non-domestic cats banned2026-07-03
ColoradoBannedRegulated wildlife — exotic cats closed to private ownership2026-07-03
MarylandBanned'Any other non-domestic feline' — banned by the wild-cat clause2026-07-03
MassachusettsBannedExotic cats aren't exempt — banned as pets2026-07-03
New JerseyBannedExotic cats are potentially dangerous species — no pet permits2026-07-03
ConnecticutBannedPotentially dangerous animal — banned as a pet2026-07-03
OregonBannedNon-native cats are 'exotic animals' — banned as pets since 20102026-07-03
AlabamaLegalServals are not on Alabama's restricted/prohibited list; no state permit for personal possession.2026-07-03
South CarolinaLegalServals aren't 'large wild cats' under the 2018 ban; no state permit required.2026-07-03
KentuckyPermit RequiredServals aren't 'inherently dangerous,' but a transportation permit is required to bring one into Kentucky.2026-07-03
LouisianaLegalServals aren't 'big exotic cats' under LAC 76:V.115; no state permit required.2026-07-03
OklahomaPermit RequiredServals are legal with a noncommercial wildlife breeder permit; 100 hours of Class III feline experience is required.2026-07-03
UtahBannedUnlisted - default 'presumed prohibited'; DWR won't authorize servals as pets2026-07-03
IdahoPermit RequiredSmall Felidae on the deleterious list - possession permit required2026-07-03
MontanaLegalServal cat expressly listed as a noncontrolled species - no permit2026-07-03
WyomingUnclearNot named in the Chapter 10 quick-reference guide2026-07-03
New MexicoBannedServal is Group IV - importation prohibited for the general public2026-07-03
KansasLegalServals are not on the dangerous regulated animal list; no state permit needed2026-07-03
NebraskaBannedAll non-domestic Felidae are prohibited; Game & Parks names serval cats explicitly2026-07-03
IowaBannedServals are named explicitly in the Felidae ban; only F4+ savannah cats are exempt2026-07-03
North DakotaPermit RequiredNon-domestic cats below the big-cat tier are Category 2 - licensed but allowed2026-07-03
South DakotaPermit RequiredAll nondomestic Felidae need a $10 possession permit and facility approval2026-07-03
MaineBannedExotic cat treated as restricted; no pet permit issued2026-07-03
New HampshirePermit Required'Serval, African' listed as controlled species in Fis 804.052026-07-03
VermontBannedNot unrestricted; no pet captivity permit available2026-07-03
Rhode IslandPermit RequiredNot exempt; DEM exotic-animal possession permit required2026-07-03
DelawarePermit RequiredNon-native carnivore — individual exotic-animal permit required2026-07-03
West VirginiaLegalServal is not on WV's Dangerous Wild Animal List — no permit needed2026-07-03
AlaskaBannedNot on Alaska's 5 AAC 92.029 clean list — possession prohibited2026-07-03
HawaiiBannedProhibited under HAR 4-71 — Hawaii's near-total exotic-mammal ban2026-07-03
ArkansasPermit RequiredServal is on AGFC's permit-required list (Addendum R1.02)2026-07-03
MississippiLegalServal is not on Mississippi's inherently-dangerous list — no state permit2026-07-03

States where servals are legal

States where servals need a permit

States where servals are banned

Research directory, not legal advice. Status can change and local ordinances add restrictions — confirm with the agency listed on each state's entry.