Is it legal to own a serval in Massachusetts?
The short answer
No. Servals aren't on the exemption list, so they're banned as pets under the whitelist system.
What Massachusetts law says
No non-domestic cat appears in 321 CMR 9.01; licenses are institutional only.
Which agency regulates servals in Massachusetts
MassWildlife (Division of Fisheries and Wildlife) is the authority for serval (Leptailurus serval) possession in Massachusetts.
Is there a permit for pet servals?
No. There is no permit pathway that allows private pet ownership.
Penalties for owning a serval illegally
Criminal penalties and confiscation.
Local city and county rules
Statewide framework controls.
Legal alternatives in Massachusetts
- Sugar Glider in Massachusetts — 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 Massachusetts?
Massachusetts treats domestic cat hybrids cautiously; later-generation Savannahs are generally regarded as domestic cats. Pure servals are banned.
Sources
More animals in Massachusetts
- Is it legal to own a raccoon in Massachusetts?
- Is it legal to own a monkey in Massachusetts?
- Is it legal to own a fennec fox in Massachusetts?
See all animals on the exotic pet laws in Massachusetts 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 MassWildlife (Division of Fisheries and Wildlife) and your local animal-control authority before acquiring any animal.