Is it legal to own a serval in New Jersey?
The short answer
No. Non-domestic cats including servals are potentially dangerous species in New Jersey; no individual hobby permits are issued for them.
What New Jersey law says
Same structure: the hobby permit covers benign exotics, and Felidae aren't among them.
Which agency regulates servals in New Jersey
NJ Fish & Wildlife (Exotic and Nongame Wildlife Permits) is the authority for serval (Leptailurus serval) possession in New Jersey.
Is there a permit for pet servals?
No. There is no permit pathway that allows private pet ownership.
Penalties for owning a serval illegally
Civil and criminal penalties with seizure.
Local city and county rules
Statewide permit scheme controls.
Legal alternatives in New Jersey
- Sugar Glider in New Jersey — 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 New Jersey?
Later-generation domestic hybrids are generally treated as domestic cats; pure servals are potentially dangerous species with no pet pathway.
Sources
More animals in New Jersey
- Is it legal to own a raccoon in New Jersey?
- Is it legal to own a monkey in New Jersey?
- Is it legal to own a fennec fox in New Jersey?
See all animals on the exotic pet laws in New Jersey 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 NJ Fish & Wildlife (Exotic and Nongame Wildlife Permits) and your local animal-control authority before acquiring any animal.