Is it legal to own a serval in New Hampshire?
The short answer
Not for pets. New Hampshire's Fis 804.05 names the African serval as a controlled species, so a Fish & Game permit is required — and those permits are issued to scientific/educational categories, not private pet owners. In practice, you cannot keep a pet serval in NH.
What New Hampshire law says
N.H. Admin. Code Fis 804.05 (Table 800.2) lists 'Serval, African' as controlled wildlife requiring a possession permit limited to the permittee categories in Fis 802.01, which don't include ordinary pet ownership.
Which agency regulates servals in New Hampshire
New Hampshire Fish & Game Dept. is the authority for serval (Leptailurus serval) possession in New Hampshire.
Is there a permit for pet servals?
Yes — the Controlled Species Possession Permit, issued by New Hampshire Fish & Game Dept. (Set by Fish & Game; category dependent). Scientific and educational permittee categories may qualify.
Penalties and enforcement
Possessing a serval without a qualifying permit is a wildlife violation with fines and seizure.
Local city and county rules
Towns may ban exotic cats entirely; local rules stack on top of state law.
Legal alternatives in New Hampshire
- Sugar Glider in New Hampshire — A palm-sized gliding marsupial, legal in most states but banned in a handful of cities and states.
Frequently asked questions
Is a pet serval possible in New Hampshire?
No — it's a controlled species and permits aren't issued for pets.
What about savannah cat hybrids?
Domestic-cat hybrids can be treated differently; confirm generation and status with Fish & Game.
Sources
More animals in New Hampshire
- Is it legal to own a raccoon in New Hampshire?
- Is it legal to own a monkey in New Hampshire?
- Is it legal to own a fennec fox in New Hampshire?
See all animals on the exotic pet laws in New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire Fish & Game Dept. and your local animal-control authority before acquiring any animal.