Is it legal to own a serval in Maryland?
The short answer
No. Maryland bans the named big cats and 'any other member of the cat family other than the domestic cat' — which sweeps in servals. No pet permits exist.
What Maryland law says
§10-621's feline clause is catch-all beyond the named species, so mid-size exotic cats don't slip through the way they do in list-only states.
Which agency regulates servals in Maryland
Maryland DNR / local animal control is the authority for serval (Leptailurus serval) possession in Maryland.
Is there a permit for pet servals?
No. There is no permit pathway that allows private pet ownership.
Penalties for owning a serval illegally
Misdemeanor, fines, and seizure.
Local city and county rules
Statewide ban controls.
Legal alternatives in Maryland
- Sugar Glider in Maryland — A palm-sized gliding marsupial, legal in most states but banned in a handful of cities and states.
Frequently asked questions
Are Savannah cats legal in Maryland?
Domestic cat hybrids are generally treated as domestic; pure servals fall under the non-domestic feline ban. Keep hybrid registration paperwork.
Sources
More animals in Maryland
- Is it legal to own a raccoon in Maryland?
- Is it legal to own a monkey in Maryland?
- Is it legal to own a fennec fox in Maryland?
See all animals on the exotic pet laws in Maryland page, or compare every state on the pet serval laws by state page.
Last verified 2026-07-03 against the cited primary sources. This is a research directory, not legal advice — confirm current rules with Maryland DNR / local animal control and your local animal-control authority before acquiring any animal.