The idea of owning a lion captures the imagination, but the legal reality in North Dakota is layered, specific, and governed by rules at both the state and federal level. Before you take a single step toward acquiring one of the world’s most powerful predators, you need to understand exactly where the law stands — and what can happen if you get it wrong.
North Dakota handles exotic animal ownership differently than most states. Rather than issuing a blanket ban, it uses a tiered classification system that places lions firmly in the most restricted category. That does not mean ownership is impossible, but it does mean the bar is high and the obligations are serious. This article walks you through every layer of the law so you can make a fully informed decision.
Is It Legal to Own a Lion in North Dakota?
The short answer is: not as a private pet under current federal law, and not without significant licensing and facility requirements under state law. In North Dakota, Category 3 animals are deemed “inherently dangerous” and require a permit for residential ownership. Lions fall squarely into that category.
However, the more important answer involves federal law. 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. That federal law now overrides whatever leeway North Dakota’s state permit system might otherwise have offered to private individuals.
If you are a zoo, accredited sanctuary, or qualifying research institution, a separate set of rules applies. For a private individual simply wanting a lion on their property, the combined weight of federal and state law makes that effectively off the table today. Understanding both layers is essential.
Important Note: Laws governing exotic animal ownership change. Always verify current requirements directly with the North Dakota Department of Agriculture’s Animal Health Division and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service before taking any action.
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. It placed new restrictions on the commerce, breeding, possession, and use of certain big cat species. The lion (Panthera leo) is explicitly named as a prohibited wildlife species under this law.
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. That means qualifying institutions can still house lions, but private individuals cannot acquire new ones.
The Act includes an exception for private individuals or entities who owned big cats before this law was enacted on December 20, 2022. If you are a private big cat owner, you may keep your prohibited big cats under this law, provided you had registered each big cat in your possession with the USFWS no later than June 18, 2023. That registration window is now permanently closed.
Public contact with big cat cubs had to cease immediately, and private owners had 180 days to register their cats with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Only 27 did. Those who registered may keep the cats they have but cannot acquire more.
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. In other words, even a registered owner still has to comply with North Dakota’s state-level requirements.
Key Insight: Before the BCPSA passed, federal law had no direct prohibition on possessing big cats — only on interstate commerce. Prior to the enactment of the BCPSA, the United States had no federal law regarding the possession or breeding of big cats, except where there is a violation of another federal law, such as take under the Endangered Species Act or international trade contrary to CITES.
North Dakota’s Laws on Owning a Lion
In North Dakota, non-domestic animals are classified into three categories of Non-Traditional Livestock. This classification system, administered by the North Dakota State Board of Animal Health under the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, determines what permits you need and what housing standards you must meet.
Category 3 animals are those species determined by the board to pose special concerns, including species which are inherently dangerous or environmentally hazardous. Owners of Category 3 species must maintain nontraditional livestock licensure and are subject to additional housing and care requirements.
Big cats, including mountain lion, jaguar, leopard, lion, tiger, and cheetah, are listed as Category 3 species of nontraditional livestock. This classification applies to hybrids of these species as well. The Animal Legal & Historical Center’s summary of North Dakota Admin. Code 48.1-09-06-01 outlines the full scope of housing and handling requirements that flow from this classification.
It is also worth noting that North Dakota law has specific provisions for certain big cats beyond lions. Any person who keeps a mountain lion, wolf, or wolf hybrid in captivity must obtain an identification number from the board, which must be tattooed in indelible ink inside the ear of the animal for permanent identification purposes. While this provision specifically names mountain lions rather than African lions, it illustrates the level of oversight North Dakota applies to large felids generally. If you also have questions about other regulated animals in the state, our guide to venomous animals in North Dakota covers additional species subject to state restrictions.
Permits and Requirements for Lion Ownership in North Dakota
Even setting aside the federal prohibition on new private ownership, the state-level requirements for Category 3 animals are substantial. Those wishing to have a nontraditional livestock license must have appropriate facilities completed and inspected before submitting an application. A license must be obtained prior to obtaining animals. You cannot acquire the lion first and build the enclosure later.
The physical enclosure standards for lions are among the most demanding in the Category 3 rules. Large felids must be maintained in enclosures utilizing thick laminated safety glass, bars, or sturdy wire, or in large outdoor exhibits employing barriers to separate animals and the public. A cage for a single animal must measure at least twenty feet wide by fifteen feet deep, and cages must be fifty percent larger per additional animal.
Lions and tigers carry additional enclosure height requirements beyond other big cats. Outdoor cages for very large pantherids (lions and tigers) must have vertical walls at least sixteen feet high, or thirteen feet high with a minimum three-foot overhang, or be provided with tops at least ten feet high. These are not guidelines — they are minimum legal standards that must be in place before a license is issued.
Importation adds another layer of documentation. Importation for large felids requires a certificate of veterinary inspection and an importation permit number from the board. Animals imported from out of state must meet health requirements specific to that species. Annual reporting obligations also apply: license renewals and inventory reports are sent out to current licensees in December of each year and are due by January 31st, and any births, deaths, sales, or purchases must be recorded on the form provided by the board.
Supervision requirements apply whenever a lion is around people outside the immediate household. Large felids that are in the presence of persons other than the owner, handler, or immediate family must be under the direct control and supervision of the owner or handler at all times.
Pro Tip: Contact the North Dakota State Board of Animal Health at (701) 328-2655 to request the full application packet and species-specific health and testing requirements from the State Veterinarian’s office before making any plans.
For context on how North Dakota handles other regulated animals, see our article on pit bull laws in North Dakota, which covers a separate but related area of the state’s animal ownership framework.
Local Laws That May Apply in North Dakota
State-level compliance is only part of the picture. Just because an animal is legal to own in the state does not mean the city you live in allows it. You should check with your local authorities. Cities, counties, and townships in North Dakota can each impose their own restrictions on exotic animal ownership that go beyond state minimums.
The gap between state and local rules can be significant. Just because an animal is legal to own in the state does not mean the city you live in allows it. For example, it is legal to have chickens in Mandan, but not in Bismarck. If that kind of disparity exists for chickens, the restrictions on a lion can be far more stringent at the municipal level.
Homeowners association rules and zoning ordinances are also separate considerations. Agricultural or rural-zoned parcels may have different rules than residential zones, and many municipalities in North Dakota explicitly prohibit keeping dangerous animals within city limits regardless of what state permits you hold. Before pursuing any licensing process, contact your city’s animal control office, your county’s zoning department, and review any applicable HOA covenants.
Liability exposure at the local level is another practical concern. Carrying liability insurance is a good idea for owners in case such animals injure others. Many standard homeowners insurance policies exclude coverage for exotic or dangerous animals, meaning you would need a specialized policy — and many insurers will simply decline to cover a lion owner at any price. For related context on how North Dakota handles animal liability more broadly, see our overview of what happens if a dog bites someone in North Dakota.
If you are curious about how North Dakota regulates other wildlife-related activities, our articles on roadkill laws in North Dakota and leash laws in North Dakota cover additional areas where state and local rules interact.
Penalties for Illegally Owning a Lion in North Dakota
The consequences for non-compliance operate at both the state and federal level, and they are serious. At the state level, the North Dakota State Board of Animal Health has broad enforcement authority. If, after a hearing, the board finds that a person has brought, kept, or received any nontraditional livestock in this state and the livestock are not in compliance with the rules, a civil penalty up to five thousand dollars per violation may be assessed against that person. A person who knowingly violates any rule of the board is guilty of an infraction.
The animal itself faces serious consequences as well. Any nontraditional livestock brought into this state illegally may be ordered by the board to be returned to the state of origin, or the board may order the animals slaughtered or destroyed. Any animal kept in violation must be confiscated and disposed of. You would also be billed for the costs of any seizure or destruction — a reasonable fee will be assessed to the owner to seize, capture, or destroy the animal.
Federal penalties under the Big Cat Public Safety Act add another dimension. The Act makes it unlawful for any person to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase in interstate or foreign commerce, or in a manner substantially affecting interstate or foreign commerce, any live prohibited wildlife species. The Act also makes it unlawful for any person to attempt to commit any of these acts with prohibited wildlife species. Federal wildlife violations can carry significant fines and potential criminal charges.
There have been hundreds of dangerous incidents involving captive big cats in the United States. Big cats have taken the lives of at least five children and caused serious injuries to others, including lost limbs and other traumatic injuries. Captive big cats have also killed at least 20 adults and mauled scores of others. These statistics underscore why regulators treat violations seriously and why enforcement agencies prioritize public safety in these cases.
Beyond fines and animal confiscation, an illegal exotic animal incident that results in injury or death could expose you to civil lawsuits, criminal animal cruelty charges, and permanent bans from owning regulated animals in the future. The Animal Legal Defense Fund tracks enforcement actions under the BCPSA and notes that federal and state agencies have been increasingly coordinated in pursuing violations since the law’s passage.
If your interest in North Dakota’s wildlife laws extends to other animals in the state, you may also find our articles on endangered animals in North Dakota and neighbor’s cat in my yard laws in North Dakota useful for understanding the broader regulatory landscape. For anyone curious about the wild feline species that actually do live in the state, our guide on wildlife presence in North Dakota provides additional context on what animals naturally call the state home.
The bottom line is straightforward: private ownership of a lion in North Dakota is effectively prohibited under federal law for anyone who did not register a pre-existing animal by June 18, 2023. State law layers on top of that with its own licensing, facility, and reporting requirements for any qualifying entity. If you have a genuine institutional purpose — such as operating an accredited sanctuary or research facility — consult directly with the North Dakota Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service before proceeding. For everyone else, the legal path to owning a lion in North Dakota does not exist under current law.