Is it legal to own a serval in Pennsylvania?
The short answer
Yes with a permit — but Pennsylvania's is among the harder permits to actually obtain. PGC regulations sweep all non-domestic cats into 'exotic wildlife,' so a serval requires an Exotic Wildlife Possession Permit. PGC requires demonstrated experience (generally two years of hands-on work with the species), adequate housing inspected before issuance, and it does not issue permits casually to first-time keepers.
What Pennsylvania law says
The statute lists big cats, and 58 Pa. Code expands 'exotic wildlife' to all members of Felidae except house cats. Applicants must satisfy PGC that housing, care, and public protection are adequate, and demonstrate two years of experience caring for the species applied for. Permits are per-animal, and PGC inspects.
Which agency regulates servals in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Game Commission, Special Permits Enforcement Division is the authority for serval (Leptailurus serval) possession in Pennsylvania.
Is there a permit for pet servals?
Yes — the Exotic Wildlife Possession Permit, issued by Pennsylvania Game Commission, Special Permits Enforcement Division (Per PGC fee schedule (modest fee; the experience requirement is the real barrier)). Menagerie and exhibitor permits cover zoos and displays separately.
Penalties and enforcement
Possession without a permit is an offense under the Game and Wildlife Code with fines and confiscation; PGC actively enforces against unpermitted exotic cats.
Local city and county rules
Municipal bans on exotic cats apply in many Pennsylvania cities and boroughs regardless of PGC permits.
Legal alternatives in Pennsylvania
- Sugar Glider in Pennsylvania — A palm-sized gliding marsupial, legal in most states but banned in a handful of cities and states.
Frequently asked questions
How do I qualify for Pennsylvania's exotic wildlife permit?
Document roughly two years of hands-on experience with the species, build housing that meets 58 Pa. Code standards, and pass PGC inspection. First-time applicants without documented experience are routinely denied.
Are Savannah cats exotic wildlife in Pennsylvania?
PGC treats early-generation hybrids of exotic cats as exotic wildlife; later-generation Savannah cats are generally treated as domestic. Confirm your cat's generation paperwork.
Sources
More animals in Pennsylvania
- Is it legal to own a raccoon in Pennsylvania?
- Is it legal to own a monkey in Pennsylvania?
- Is it legal to own a fennec fox in Pennsylvania?
See all animals on the exotic pet laws in Pennsylvania page, or compare every state on the pet serval laws by state page.
Last verified 2026-07-02 against the cited primary sources. This is a research directory, not legal advice — confirm current rules with Pennsylvania Game Commission, Special Permits Enforcement Division and your local animal-control authority before acquiring any animal.