Is it legal to own a serval in Utah?
The short answer
No. Utah's table doesn't list the serval among domestic, noncontrolled, or controlled species, and everything unlisted is presumed prohibited pending a division assessment. In practice that means no pet servals - a case where blog lists calling servals 'legal in Utah' are simply wrong.
What Utah law says
Bird and Mammal Classification Table 3b-1 states that except as otherwise listed all species are presumed prohibited and unlisted species require an assessment before possession is authorized; the serval (Leptailurus serval) appears nowhere on the controlled or domestic lists.
Which agency regulates servals in Utah
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is the authority for serval (Leptailurus serval) possession in Utah.
Is there a permit for pet servals?
No. There is no permit pathway that allows private pet ownership. An unlisted species could theoretically be assessed, but DWR does not authorize servals for personal possession.
Penalties for owning a serval illegally
Class B misdemeanor with seizure.
Local city and county rules
State default applies; no city can override the prohibition upward into legality.
Legal alternatives in Utah
- Fennec Fox in Utah — The world's smallest fox — and one of the few foxes legal to own in several U.S. states.
- Sugar Glider in Utah — A palm-sized gliding marsupial, legal in most states but banned in a handful of cities and states.
Frequently asked questions
I read servals are legal in Utah - true?
No. Servals aren't on Utah's controlled list, and unlisted mammals are presumed prohibited. Several pet blogs get this wrong.
What about Savannah cats?
Domestic Savannah hybrids are treated as domestic cats; a pure serval is not.
Sources
More animals in Utah
- Is it legal to own a raccoon in Utah?
- Is it legal to own a monkey in Utah?
- Is it legal to own a fennec fox in Utah?
See all animals on the exotic pet laws in Utah 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 Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and your local animal-control authority before acquiring any animal.