Is it legal to own a serval in Minnesota?
The short answer
No. Minnesota's regulated animal statute covers all members of the cat family except domestic cats — servals included. No new private possession since 2005.
What Minnesota law says
Minn. Stat. §346.155's definition reaches all Felidae except Felis catus; institutional exceptions only.
Which agency regulates servals in Minnesota
Local animal control / Minnesota Board of Animal Health is the authority for serval (Leptailurus serval) possession in Minnesota.
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 to gross misdemeanor charges and seizure.
Local city and county rules
Statewide ban controls.
Legal alternatives in Minnesota
- Fennec Fox in Minnesota — The world's smallest fox — and one of the few foxes legal to own in several U.S. states.
- Sugar Glider in Minnesota — 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 Minnesota?
The statute exempts domestic cats and generally hybrids registered as domestic breeds; later-generation Savannahs are kept lawfully. Pure servals are banned.
Sources
More animals in Minnesota
- Is it legal to own a raccoon in Minnesota?
- Is it legal to own a monkey in Minnesota?
- Is it legal to own a fennec fox in Minnesota?
See all animals on the exotic pet laws in Minnesota 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 Local animal control / Minnesota Board of Animal Health and your local animal-control authority before acquiring any animal.