Lions are among the most powerful animals on the planet, and it’s no surprise that some people are drawn to the idea of owning one. Whether you’ve come across the question out of curiosity or are seriously researching what the law allows, the answer in New Hampshire is layered — and the consequences of getting it wrong are serious.
New Hampshire places lions in a regulated category of wildlife, but a sweeping federal law enacted in 2022 now makes private lion ownership effectively off-limits for almost everyone in the United States, regardless of what any individual state permits. Understanding both layers of the law — state and federal — is the only way to get a clear picture of where things stand.
This article walks you through exactly what New Hampshire law says, what the federal government requires, and what happens if someone tries to own a lion without meeting every legal standard. If you’re curious about other regulated animals in the Granite State, you may also want to read about raccoon ownership laws in New Hampshire or the most dangerous animals found in New Hampshire.
Is It Legal to Own a Lion in New Hampshire?
The short answer is no — not for a private individual seeking a pet. New Hampshire classifies animals into controlled and non-controlled species, and the controlled list — which requires a permit — includes lions along with kangaroos, primates, venomous reptiles, and crocodilians. That permit requirement, however, is only part of the story.
Under New Hampshire state law, animals on the controlled list can be owned or sold only by individuals with a permit from the Fish and Game Department. Permits are issued at the discretion of the executive director, who is supposed to consider whether the animal would pose a threat to other wildlife, the public, or New Hampshire’s ecosystem if released. For a lion, that risk threshold is essentially impossible to clear for a private owner.
Beyond the state permit system, federal law enacted in December 2022 closed the door on new private lion ownership nationwide. Even if New Hampshire’s permit system were theoretically accessible, the federal Big Cat Public Safety Act now supersedes any permissive reading of state rules for private individuals. You also cannot legally bring a lion across state lines, which makes acquiring one in the first place a federal violation. If you’re interested in wildlife that does live in New Hampshire, check out the types of owls in New Hampshire or learn about the state’s native snake species.
What Federal Law Says About Lion Ownership
The Big Cat Public Safety Act was enacted December 20, 2022, to end the private ownership of big cats as pets and prohibit exhibitors from allowing public contact with big cats, including cubs. This was the first time the United States had a federal law specifically addressing the possession and breeding of big cats at the private level.
The law amends the Captive Wildlife Safety Act to prohibit the private possession of lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, cougars, or any hybrid of these species. This prohibition is narrowly focused on pet big cats and exempts zoos, sanctuaries, and universities. If you are not operating under one of those institutional exemptions, the law applies to you.
Even if your state law allows private big cat ownership, you must have registered your big cat with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by June 18, 2023, unless another exception of the Act applies. Registration is now closed. This means that no new private owners can legally possess a lion anywhere in the country, regardless of what their state’s rules might otherwise say.
Important Note: The Big Cat Public Safety Act registration window closed on June 18, 2023. If you did not already own and register a lion before that date, there is no legal pathway for private ownership of a lion in the United States.
The Act placed new restrictions on the commerce, breeding, possession, and use of certain big cat species. Current law prohibits the import, export, purchase, sale, receipt, transport, or acquisition of big cats in interstate or foreign commerce, including across state lines or the national border. This means you cannot legally purchase a lion from another state and bring it to New Hampshire.
Lions, tigers, and other big cats are powerful animals who can easily kill or severely injure humans. Private ownership of big cats endangers those living in the neighborhood, as well as first responders who are ill-equipped to handle situations where an animal has escaped. These public safety concerns were central to the law’s passage. For context on how mountain lions — a related species — factor into American wildlife, see which American states have mountain lions.
New Hampshire’s Laws on Owning a Lion
New Hampshire’s wildlife possession framework is governed primarily by RSA 207:14 and the administrative rules under Chapter Fis 800. No person shall import, possess, sell, exhibit, or release any live marine species or wildlife, or the eggs or progeny thereof, without first obtaining a permit from the executive director except as permitted under Title XVIII.
Table 800.2 lists the controlled species, which include many wild turtles and salamanders, alligators, crocodiles, badgers, bears, cougars, coyotes, elephants, kangaroos, big cats, and large primates such as chimpanzees and gorillas. Lions fall squarely within the “big cats” designation on that controlled list.
All species not specifically listed under the categories of non-controlled, prohibited, or controlled shall be designated as prohibited. This default-to-prohibited approach means that any ambiguity in the regulations works against the would-be owner, not in their favor. New Hampshire does not leave gray areas open for interpretation when it comes to potentially dangerous wildlife.
It is also worth noting that New Hampshire’s framework distinguishes between controlled and prohibited species. No person shall be issued a permit to possess wildlife that has been designated as prohibited. Lions are listed as controlled — meaning a permit is theoretically required — but in practice, the federal law now makes private possession impermissible regardless of state classification. You can read more about how New Hampshire handles other exotic animal questions, such as goat ownership laws in New Hampshire.
Permits and Requirements for Lion Ownership in New Hampshire
Even setting aside the federal prohibition, the state permit process for controlled wildlife in New Hampshire is demanding and not designed for private pet ownership. The executive director shall review each application to possess and shall make a determination as to whether such possession shall be permitted. No permit to possess shall be issued if there is any significant disease, genetic, ecological, environmental, health, safety, or welfare risks to the public or other wildlife species.
A lion presents obvious risks under every one of those categories. No private applicant seeking a lion as a pet would reasonably pass that review. The permit system exists to accommodate institutions — research facilities, accredited zoos, licensed exhibitors — not backyard enclosures.
Key Insight: New Hampshire issues six different types of wildlife possession permits. None of them are designed to accommodate private individuals keeping lions as pets, and the executive director has broad discretion to deny any application that poses a safety or ecological risk.
Health certificates must meet standards set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture pursuant to 9 CFR, 2.78 and/or the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture. Any facility housing a controlled species would also need to meet USDA Animal Welfare Act standards for enclosures, veterinary care, and record-keeping — requirements that carry significant cost and infrastructure demands.
The following table summarizes who may legally possess big cats under the exemptions that do exist at both the state and federal level:
| Entity Type | Federal BCPSA Exemption | NH State Permit Available |
|---|---|---|
| Accredited zoo (AZA-member) | Yes | Yes, with permit |
| Licensed wildlife sanctuary | Yes | Yes, with permit |
| Accredited university / research institution | Yes | Yes, with permit |
| Private individual (pet ownership) | No (registration closed June 2023) | No — safety risk standard cannot be met |
| Licensed exhibitor (circus, traveling show) | Limited — no public cub contact allowed | Permit required; subject to review |
If you are interested in wildlife that is actually native to or found in New Hampshire, the state has a rich variety of animals worth learning about. The bats of New Hampshire and the moths of New Hampshire are two examples of fascinating wildlife that do not require any permit to observe.
Local Laws That May Apply in New Hampshire
State and federal law are not the only layers you need to consider. Local restrictions can also exist in accordance with city or municipal ordinances. Many New Hampshire cities and towns have their own animal control codes that may be stricter than state rules, and some explicitly ban exotic or dangerous animals within municipal limits.
Zoning regulations present another barrier. Keeping a lion requires a substantial enclosure, specialized fencing, and buffer space from neighboring properties. Most residential zones in New Hampshire — whether in Manchester, Concord, Nashua, or smaller towns — do not permit structures or land uses associated with housing large predatory animals. Agricultural or rural zones may have different rules, but even there, local ordinances often address nuisance animals and public safety.
While your state may allow you to keep certain animals as pets, local laws can restrict ownership. State laws are frequently changing in response to concerns for public safety and animal well-being. This means that even if you found a hypothetical gap in state law, your town or city likely has its own code that would close it.
Homeowners’ associations can add yet another layer of restriction. Many HOA agreements in New Hampshire explicitly prohibit exotic, dangerous, or non-domestic animals on the property, and violations can result in fines or legal action independent of any criminal penalty. Before exploring any exotic animal ownership question in New Hampshire, it is worth checking with your local town clerk, zoning board, and animal control officer. You can also review related local animal topics like rooster crowing laws in New Hampshire to get a sense of how local ordinances work in practice.
Penalties for Illegally Owning a Lion in New Hampshire
The consequences of illegally possessing a lion in New Hampshire operate on two levels: state penalties and federal penalties. Both are significant, and they can apply simultaneously.
At the state level, any person who violates RSA 207:14 or any rule adopted under that section shall be guilty of a violation and guilty of an additional violation for each marine species or wildlife possessed contrary to the provisions of this section. This per-animal structure means that owning multiple big cats compounds the charges and fines. All fish or the fry thereof, living wild birds or the eggs thereof, or wild animals imported or released in this state contrary to the provisions of this subdivision shall be seized and forfeited. The lion itself would be subject to immediate confiscation.
Animal cruelty statutes can also come into play. In addition to other penalties prescribed by law, the court shall issue an order prohibiting or limiting a person who is convicted of a violation from owning or possessing any animals for a period not less than five years. Any animal involved in a violation of a court order prohibiting or limiting ownership or possession of animals shall be subject to immediate forfeiture. Any person violating such an order may be fined in the amount of $1,000 in any court of competent jurisdiction for each animal held in unlawful ownership or possession.
Federal penalties under the Big Cat Public Safety Act, enforced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, add another tier of consequences. It is your responsibility to follow all local, state, tribal, and federal laws and regulations regarding prohibited wildlife species. Registration under the Big Cat Public Safety Act does not constitute authorization to engage in any activity prohibited by such laws and regulations. Federal wildlife violations can carry civil fines and criminal charges under the Lacey Act, potentially including imprisonment.
Important Note: If a lion escapes or injures someone, you face not only criminal wildlife charges but also civil liability. New Hampshire follows strict liability principles for owners of dangerous animals, meaning you can be held financially responsible for injuries regardless of whether you took precautions.
Beyond the legal penalties, the practical outcome is that the animal is removed and placed — if space is available — with a licensed sanctuary. Privately owned big cats from the United States cannot be released into the wild because they lack the skills to survive; consequently, confiscated big cats must be placed in other captive environments. Sanctuaries with the capacity and accreditation to take in large cats are limited, and the welfare of the animal suffers in the process.
If you have a genuine interest in big cats, the most responsible path is to support accredited sanctuaries and conservation organizations that provide proper care for lions in need. For wildlife closer to home, explore what New Hampshire has to offer — from woodpeckers to brown birds to the predator-prey dynamics of mountain lions in the broader region. New Hampshire’s wild spaces have plenty to offer without the legal and safety risks that come with keeping a lion.