If you have ever wondered whether you could legally keep a lion in Nebraska, the short answer is no. Lions are prohibited under Nebraska state law, and a federal law enacted in 2022 closed remaining loopholes across the country. Whether you live in Omaha, Lincoln, or a rural county, owning a lion as a private pet is not a legal option in the Cornhusker State.
Understanding exactly why — and what the law says — can help you make informed decisions about exotic animal ownership and avoid serious legal consequences. This article walks through both the state and federal rules that apply to lion ownership in Nebraska, along with what local ordinances and penalties you should know about.
Is It Legal to Own a Lion in Nebraska?
No, it is not legal to own a lion in Nebraska. Tigers, lions, cougars, leopards, and jaguars are completely illegal to own in the state. This prohibition applies to private individuals regardless of how the animal was acquired or how well it is cared for.
Nebraska operates under a partial ban system for exotic animals, meaning the state prohibits certain dangerous species while allowing others with appropriate permits. Lions fall squarely into the prohibited category, with no pathway for a private citizen to obtain a permit that would allow personal possession. If you are researching exotic pets that are legal in Nebraska, you will find that many non-dangerous species can be kept with the right paperwork — but big cats are not among them.
Important Note: Nebraska’s prohibition on lion ownership exists at both the state and federal level. Even if you believed a loophole existed, federal law enacted in 2022 independently bans private lion ownership nationwide. Both layers of law apply to you simultaneously.
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 law applies in every state, including Nebraska, and it operates independently of whatever your state law says.
The Act placed new restrictions on the commerce, breeding, possession, and use of certain big cat species. The Big Cat Public Safety Act refers to big cats as “prohibited wildlife species,” and the list explicitly includes the lion (Panthera leo), tiger, leopard, snow leopard, clouded leopard, jaguar, cheetah, and cougar, as well as any hybrid of these species.
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, and this prohibition is narrowly focused on pet big cats and exempts zoos, sanctuaries, and universities. If you are not affiliated with one of those qualifying institutions, the federal ban applies to you directly.
A narrow grandfather exception existed for people who already owned big cats before December 20, 2022. Even if your state law allowed private big cat ownership, you had to register your big cat with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service no later than June 18, 2023 — 180 days after enactment — in order to continue legally possessing it, and registration is now closed. Only 27 people nationwide registered their cats. Those who registered may keep the cats they have but cannot acquire more.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service enforces the Big Cat Public Safety Act. It is your responsibility to follow all local, state, tribal, and federal laws regarding prohibited wildlife species, and registration under the Act does not constitute authorization to engage in any activity prohibited by such laws.
Key Insight: The Big Cat Public Safety Act also prohibits allowing members of the public to have direct contact with big cats, including cubs. This means cub-petting operations and pay-to-play photo encounters with lions are also illegal under federal law, not just private ownership.
Nebraska’s Laws on Owning a Lion
Well before the federal law passed, Nebraska had already banned lion ownership through its own statutes. Nebraska Revised Statute 37-477 states that no person shall keep in captivity any wild birds, any wild mammals, or any wildlife determined to be an endangered or threatened species without first obtaining a permit, and — critically — no person shall keep in captivity any wolf, any skunk, or any member of the families Felidae and Ursidae.
Lions belong to the family Felidae, which makes them explicitly covered by this prohibition. No person shall keep in captivity in this state any wolf, any skunk, or any member of the families Felidae (except the domestic cat) and Ursidae (the bear family). The only Felidae exemption is for domestic cats — the African lion does not qualify.
Except for an entity operated by federal, state, or local government, you cannot own wolves, non-domestic felines, skunks, or bears in Nebraska. This means government-operated wildlife facilities and accredited institutions have a separate legal standing that private individuals do not share. You can learn more about the wildlife found naturally in Nebraska, including the types of hawks in Nebraska and other native species that live here without any permit requirements.
Nebraska also has a grandfather clause embedded in its statute. Any person legally holding in captivity, on March 1, 1986, any animal subject to the prohibition shall be allowed to keep the animal for the duration of its life, but such animal shall not be traded, sold, or otherwise disposed of without written permission from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. This clause is effectively historical at this point, since any lion held under that provision would have died of natural causes decades ago.
Permits and Requirements for Lion Ownership in Nebraska
Nebraska does have a Captive Wildlife Permit system administered by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, but lions are not eligible under it. A Captive Wildlife Permit is required to retain any wild birds or wild mammals in captivity for personal use, and the permit system covers many species — just not members of the Felidae family beyond domestic cats.
Before a permit is issued, a Conservation Officer will come to your property and inspect pens or enclosures to ensure there is adequate shelter and structures for the animals you wish to acquire. Permits expire on December 31 of the designated permit year, animal reporting and renewal is due no later than January 15 of the next year, and annual reporting is required even if you do not have captive wildlife in your possession.
Even if you were to apply for a Captive Wildlife Permit hoping to keep a lion, the application would be denied because the species falls under the absolute prohibition in Nebraska Revised Statute 37-477. Sections 37-477 to 37-480 do not require a permit for certain exempt entities, such as any zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums or the Zoological Association of America, or any circus licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture — but these exemptions apply to qualifying institutions, not private individuals.
There is also no federal exhibitor license pathway that would allow a Nebraska resident to simply keep a lion at home. The Big Cat Public Safety Act specifically targets private pet ownership, and the exemptions that do exist — for accredited zoos, wildlife sanctuaries, and certain research institutions — require formal institutional affiliation and oversight. If you are interested in Nebraska’s wildlife more broadly, the venomous animals in Nebraska and the types of snakes in Nebraska pages cover species you are far more likely to encounter in the wild here.
Local Laws That May Apply in Nebraska
Even setting aside state and federal law, Nebraska municipalities add another layer of restriction. State law provides the baseline, but individual cities can impose stricter restrictions. For example, Kearney prohibits all wild animals, while Grand Island maintains an approved species list.
If you live within city limits, you should check with your local Animal Control Office, City Attorney, or applicable city office to determine if a specific animal may be kept in captivity, as animals such as raccoons are not allowed in some cities and towns. For lions, the answer will be the same everywhere in Nebraska — the state ban already prohibits them — but local ordinances may add civil penalties or property-specific restrictions on top of state consequences.
The City of Seward, for example, has its own animal code that lists lions explicitly. It is unlawful for any person to keep, own, or harbor any exotic or wild animal within the City limits of Seward unless a permit has been obtained, and the definition of regulated animals includes leopards, panthers, tigers, lions, and lynx. Similar language appears in ordinances across the state.
Each city has its own rules. No wild animals are allowed in Kearney, while Hastings and Grand Island have approved species lists. None of those approved lists include lions. If you are curious about what wildlife you might legally observe or encounter near your city, take a look at the hummingbirds in Nebraska or the types of doves in Nebraska for a sense of the native species sharing your region.
Penalties for Illegally Owning a Lion in Nebraska
Keeping a lion in Nebraska without legal authorization exposes you to penalties at multiple levels of government. At the state level, the consequences are established under Nebraska’s Game Law. Any person violating the provisions of sections 37-477 to 37-481 shall be guilty of a Class IV misdemeanor. In Nebraska, a Class IV misdemeanor can carry a fine of up to $500.
Beyond the criminal classification, any conservation officer or other peace officer authorized to enforce the Game Law may, at any time, enter a facility associated with a captive wildlife permit for the purpose of inspecting the facility or enforcing the Game Law. This means authorities have the right to inspect your property if they have reason to believe a prohibited animal is present.
Federal penalties under the Big Cat Public Safety Act are considerably more serious. Violations of the Act — which is enforced through the Lacey Act framework — can result in federal criminal charges, civil penalties, and forfeiture of the animal. Allowing untrained people to maintain big cats in their homes not only harms animals, it threatens public safety. Lions, tigers, and other big cats are powerful animals who can easily kill or severely injure humans, and private ownership endangers those living in the neighborhood, as well as first responders who are ill-equipped to handle situations where an animal has escaped.
If a lion escapes or injures someone, you could also face significant civil liability. Carrying liability insurance is also a good idea for owners of exotic animals in case such animals injure others — though for a prohibited species like a lion, insurance would not shield you from criminal charges or the animal’s removal. The Animal Legal Defense Fund provides additional context on how the federal law is enforced and what consequences owners have faced.
Practically speaking, if authorities discover you are keeping a lion illegally, the animal will be confiscated. 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. Finding a qualified sanctuary willing and able to take the animal is not guaranteed, and the process can be costly and distressing for the animal.
Pro Tip: If you are passionate about lions and big cats, consider supporting an accredited sanctuary or wildlife conservation organization. Groups like those involved in the Big Cat Public Safety Act advocacy work directly to improve conditions for captive big cats and protect wild populations.
If you are interested in Nebraska’s wildlife scene from a legal and educational standpoint, resources like American states with mountain lions and information on how much a mountain lion weighs can give you a deeper appreciation for large wild cats without running afoul of the law. You might also find the guide on whether it is legal to own a raccoon in Nebraska useful if you are exploring other exotic pet questions in the state.