Savannah cats are legal in Maryland under state law, but only if the hybrid weighs 30 pounds or less, and several local jurisdictions ban them outright regardless of weight. Whether you can actually keep one depends more on your county or city than on the state statute.
Maryland Criminal Law § 10-621 prohibits possessing, importing, breeding, or selling any member of the cat family other than a domestic cat. The statute then carves out an exception for hybrids: a cross between a cat-family member and a domestic cat is prohibited only if the hybrid weighs over 30 pounds.1Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Criminal Law 10-621 – Import, Offer for Sale, Trade, Barter, Possess, Breed, or Exchange Certain Live Animals Prohibited Most Savannah cats fall well below that line. Later-generation Savannahs (F3 and beyond) typically weigh between 10 and 20 pounds. Early-generation males are where it gets risky, since F1 males can reach 25 pounds or more and an unusually large individual could push past the threshold.
The statute doesn’t distinguish between generations. It only cares about weight. And there is no state registration or permit that certifies a Savannah cat as legal. You either fall under the 30-pound line or you don’t.
Where Savannah Cats Are Banned in Maryland
This is where most people get caught. State law allows the hybrid; your local animal control code may not.
Baltimore City
Baltimore City’s Health Code bans keeping any “cats other than a domesticated cat (Felis catus)” on your premises, and separately prohibits any hybrid animal whose possession is banned by federal, state, or city law.2City of Baltimore Law Library. Baltimore City Health Code – Prohibited Wild, Exotic, Hybrid, and Livestock Animals The city defines “hybrid animal” as any animal crossbred between a domesticated, exotic, or wild animal, and “exotic animal” explicitly includes any hybrid that is part exotic.3City of Baltimore Law Library. Baltimore City Health Code 10-601 – Wild, Exotic, and Hybrid Animals A Savannah, being a domestic-Serval cross, fits both definitions. The Health Commissioner can issue permits, but they are not routinely granted for household pets.
Prince George’s County
Prince George’s County prohibits keeping any “member of the cat family other than the domestic cat” as a pet, for breeding, for sale, or for display. The county code makes no exception for hybrids or weight, mirroring the state ban without the hybrid carve-out.4Prince George’s County Government. Prince George’s County Code of Ordinances – Animal Control A director-issued permit exists for display purposes, but the process is built for exhibitors, not pet owners.
Howard County
Howard County’s rules prohibit wild or exotic animals as pets and specifically include “the offspring of domesticated animals bred with a wild or exotic animal.” That language captures Savannah cats of any generation or weight.
Everywhere Else
Many counties haven’t published a specific hybrid cat rule, but animal control agencies have broad authority to interpret their own codes. Before you bring a Savannah cat home, call your local animal control office and ask directly whether Savannah cats are permitted. Get any favorable answer in writing. A verbal reassurance from a desk officer will not help you if a field officer makes a different call later.
DNR Permits for Owners Who Need One
The one path for a private individual to legally keep a hybrid that exceeds the state weight limit is a license or permit from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.1Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Criminal Law 10-621 – Import, Offer for Sale, Trade, Barter, Possess, Breed, or Exchange Certain Live Animals Prohibited Contact DNR directly, because the agency has discretion over whether to issue one. A DNR permit does not override a local ban.
What Happens If You Own One Illegally
A violation of § 10-621 is a misdemeanor. An individual faces a fine of up to $1,000; a business or organization can be fined up to $10,000.1Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Criminal Law 10-621 – Import, Offer for Sale, Trade, Barter, Possess, Breed, or Exchange Certain Live Animals Prohibited
The more serious consequence is seizure. Law enforcement or animal control can take your cat immediately if there is probable cause of a violation or if the animal poses a risk to public health or safety. Once seized, you have 10 days to request a hearing. If you don’t, the authority will try to place the animal with a facility equipped for the species, and if no suitable facility exists, the animal can be euthanized.1Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Criminal Law 10-621 – Import, Offer for Sale, Trade, Barter, Possess, Breed, or Exchange Certain Live Animals Prohibited That outcome is rare but not hypothetical, because exotic cat placements are hard to arrange on short notice and sanctuaries often operate at capacity. Baltimore City and Prince George’s County can also issue administrative citations, removal orders, and additional fines under their own codes.
The Rabies Vaccine Problem Nobody Warns You About
No rabies vaccine is approved by the USDA for use in hybrid or wild cats. Manufacturers have never completed efficacy trials in hybrid felines, so no one can confirm the standard feline rabies vaccine works in a Savannah the same way it does in a domestic shorthair.5CDC. Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, 2008
Vets can still administer the vaccine off-label, and most exotic-cat vets will. The problem comes if your cat bites someone. Under standard rabies protocols, a domestic cat that bites a person is quarantined and observed for 10 days. A hybrid with no recognized vaccination status may instead be euthanized so brain tissue can be tested.5CDC. Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, 2008 Local health departments make that call under Maryland’s rabies control program. Vaccinate your Savannah anyway. An off-label vaccination is better than none, and some jurisdictions may accept it, but the certificate does not carry the same legal weight as it would for a standard domestic cat.
Homeowners Insurance and Liability
Standard homeowners policies often exclude exotic animals from liability coverage. Some insurers will add coverage through a separate endorsement; many will refuse to cover hybrid cats at all. If your Savannah injures a guest and your policy excludes exotic pets, you are personally liable for the damages.
You are legally required to disclose all animals in your household to your insurer, even if the application doesn’t specifically ask about exotic pets. Not disclosing can void your coverage. Call your insurer before you buy the cat and ask specifically whether a domestic-wild hybrid feline is covered. If it isn’t, ask about an exotic animal endorsement or an umbrella policy. The rabies vaccination gap makes this worse, because an injured person’s claim is stronger when you owned an animal that lacked an approved rabies vaccine.
Paperwork That Protects You
Because Maryland issues no license or certificate declaring your Savannah legal, your protection is the file you assemble yourself. Keep these records accessible at home:
- Breeding pedigree from The International Cat Association or a comparable registry showing lineage and generation, establishing that the animal is a hybrid rather than a purebred wild cat.
- Veterinary records documenting the cat’s weight at every visit. A consistent record well below 30 pounds is your strongest evidence of compliance.
- The rabies vaccination certificate with vaccine brand, lot number, and date, even though the vaccine is off-label.
- Any written communication from your county or city animal control office confirming Savannah cats are permitted where you live.
If animal control ever questions your cat’s status, having this file at hand can be the difference between a conversation and a seizure. Once the animal is taken, the 10-day hearing clock starts, and getting a cat back is far harder than preventing the seizure.
Bringing a Savannah Cat Into Maryland
If you are importing a Savannah from another state, the owner of any cat four months or older must forward a veterinary certificate to the state’s Public Health Veterinarian within 10 days of arrival. The certificate must describe the cat, identify the rabies vaccine brand and manufacturer, and confirm the most recent dose was given at least 30 days before the animal arrived.6Legal Information Institute. Maryland Code Regulations 10.06.02.11 – Importation of Animals If you are passing through for fewer than 30 days, you don’t need to send the certificate to the state, but you must carry a signed copy from your vet and produce it immediately if a local health officer requests it.