Is It Legal to Own a Lion in Washington State? What the Law Says

Washington state is home to remarkable wildlife — from mountain lions roaming its forests to eagles soaring over its coastlines. But if you have ever wondered whether you could bring an African lion home as a pet, the answer under Washington law is a firm no.

Lions are classified as potentially dangerous wild animals under state law, and a separate federal law reinforces that ban nationwide. Understanding exactly what these laws say — and what limited exceptions exist — can save you from serious legal and financial consequences.

Is It Legal to Own a Lion in Washington State

No, it is not legal to own a lion as a private resident of Washington state. A person shall not own, possess, keep, harbor, bring into the state, or have custody or control of a potentially dangerous wild animal. This prohibition has been in place since 2007 and applies to lions specifically by name.

Washington’s approach to exotic animal ownership is worth understanding from the start. Washington state’s laws around exotic pets and legal animals are “exclusionary” — meaning that the law spells out what animals are not allowed, without specifying permissible animals. Lions fall squarely within the prohibited category, and no private ownership permit exists for them.

Important Note: Washington does not issue permits that allow private individuals to keep lions as pets. The exemptions that exist under state law apply only to qualified institutions, not private owners.

What Federal Law Says About Lion Ownership

Even if Washington’s state law did not exist, federal law would independently prohibit you from acquiring a lion. 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.

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.

A narrow grandfather clause exists, but it is now closed. 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 cat(s) 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 has passed, and the Act does not allow for pre-Act owners to acquire additional big cats after December 20, 2022.

The penalties under federal law are significant. A person who knowingly violates the act must be fined not more than $20,000, or imprisoned for no more than five years, or both. The act considers each violation to be a separate offense.

Key Insight: Federal and state law work together here. Even if you somehow navigated one layer of prohibition, the other would still apply. Both independently ban private lion ownership for Washington residents.

Washington’s Laws on Owning a Lion

Washington’s primary statute governing lion ownership is found in Chapter 16.30 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), which was adopted in 2007. This Washington chapter passed in 2007 regulates the keeping of dangerous wild animals. By definition, a potentially dangerous wild animal includes, among others, lions, tigers, captive-bred cougars, jaguars, cheetahs, leopards, wolves (but excluding wolf-hybrids), bears, hyenas, non-human primates, elephants, rhinoceroses, certain reptiles, and venomous snakes.

The law is comprehensive in its reach. A person shall not own, possess, keep, harbor, bring into the state, or have custody or control of a potentially dangerous wild animal. A person shall not breed a potentially dangerous wild animal. This means that even temporarily housing a lion — or attempting to breed one — is a violation.

A limited grandfather provision applies to people who had lions before the law took effect. A person in legal possession of a potentially dangerous wild animal prior to July 22, 2007, and who is the legal possessor of the animal may keep possession of the animal for the remainder of the animal’s life. The person must maintain veterinary records, acquisition papers for the animal, if available, or other documents or records that establish that the person possessed the animal prior to July 22, 2007. The person shall have the burden of proving that he or she possessed the animal prior to July 22, 2007.

The state also has a secondary layer of animal regulation. There are four laws that prevent certain animals from being adopted as pets in Washington state. These include the rabies law, wild animal law, deleterious animal law, and dangerous animal law. Lions are primarily restricted under the dangerous animal law, but other provisions of Washington law reinforce the same outcome.

Permits and Requirements for Lion Ownership in Washington State

There are no permits available to private residents of Washington that would allow them to own a lion. The state’s exemptions are reserved exclusively for qualified institutions. Exemptions apply to institutions authorized by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to hold, possess, and propagate deleterious exotic wildlife; institutions accredited or certified by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association or a facility with a current signed memorandum of participation with an association of zoos and aquariums species survival plan; duly incorporated nonprofit animal protection organizations such as humane societies and shelters; animal control authority and law enforcement officers; and holders of a valid wildlife rehabilitation permit issued by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Additional exemptions cover a narrow set of circumstances. A person temporarily transporting and displaying a potentially dangerous wild animal through the state is exempt if the transit time is not more than twenty-one days and the animal is at all times maintained within a confinement sufficient to prevent the animal from escaping. Game farms and fairs approved by the Washington Department of Agriculture may also qualify under specific conditions.

If you operate or work for one of these qualifying institutions, there are still documentation and compliance requirements to meet. Individuals who legally possessed a potentially dangerous wild animal before July 22, 2007, may keep the animal for the remainder of its life. To qualify, owners must maintain proper documentation and comply with all applicable state and local requirements.

Pro Tip: If you are involved with a licensed zoo, sanctuary, or research facility and have questions about what your institution can legally possess, contact the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife directly for guidance specific to your situation.

Local Laws That May Apply in Washington State

State law sets the floor, but local governments in Washington can go further. A city or county may adopt an ordinance governing potentially dangerous wild animals that is more restrictive than this chapter. However, nothing in this chapter requires a city or county to adopt an ordinance to be in compliance with this chapter.

Some cities have done exactly that. For example, in Bellingham, no person shall be permitted to own, harbor, or maintain any lion, tiger, bear, gorilla, lynx, cougar, jaguar, or venomous snake, coyote, or any other native species to Washington except as licensed under state law. Other municipalities across the state have their own specific ordinances that may add additional restrictions or requirements on top of state law.

This layered system means you need to check both state and local rules before making any decisions involving exotic animals. Just because an animal is legal under state law doesn’t mean it’s allowed where you live. Cities and counties in Washington can enforce their own rules, which may include permit requirements, inspections, or complete bans on certain exotic species. Always verify regulations with local authorities before bringing home an exotic pet. For lions specifically, both levels of government are aligned: ownership is prohibited.

If you are curious about the wildlife that does legally inhabit Washington state, you can explore resources on eagles in Washington, owls found across the state, or the venomous animals native to Washington.

Penalties for Illegally Owning a Lion in Washington State

The consequences of illegally keeping a lion in Washington are serious and operate on multiple levels — civil, criminal, and involving the animal itself.

At the state level, civil penalties apply per animal and per day. A person who violates RCW 16.30.030 is liable for a civil penalty of not less than two hundred dollars and not more than two thousand dollars for each animal with respect to which there is a violation and for each day the violation continues. Because violations accrue daily, the financial exposure can grow quickly.

Law enforcement has the authority to act immediately. The animal control authority or a law enforcement officer may immediately confiscate a potentially dangerous wild animal if the animal control authority or law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that the animal was acquired after July 22, 2007, in violation of RCW 16.30.030; the animal poses a public safety or health risk; the animal is in poor health and condition as a result of the possessor; or the animal is being held in contravention of the act.

Confiscation carries additional financial burdens. The animal control authority or law enforcement officer shall serve notice upon the possessor notifying them of the confiscation, that the possessor is responsible for payment of reasonable costs for caring and providing for the animal during the confiscation, and that the possessor must meet the requirements in order for the animal to be returned.

In the most serious cases, the outcome for the animal can be irreversible. If the animal control authority or law enforcement officer is unable to relocate the animal within a reasonable period of time, it may euthanize the animal. An animal control authority or law enforcement officer may euthanize a potentially dangerous wild animal under this section only if all known reasonable placement options, including relocation to a wildlife sanctuary, are unavailable.

Federal penalties under the Big Cat Public Safety Act add another layer of exposure. Violations at the federal level can result in fines of up to $20,000 and up to five years in prison per offense. Combined with state civil penalties and the cost of housing a confiscated animal, the legal and financial risks of illegally owning a lion in Washington are substantial.

Common Mistake: Some people assume that raising a lion from a cub makes ownership more defensible legally. It does not. Washington law and the federal Big Cat Public Safety Act apply regardless of how the animal was obtained or how it was raised.

Washington’s laws reflect a clear policy position: it is the intent of the state of Washington to protect the public against the serious health and safety risks that dangerous wild animals pose to the community. If your interest in lions stems from a love of big cats and wildlife, supporting accredited sanctuaries or learning more about lions in their natural context are meaningful alternatives that align with both the law and the animals’ well-being. You might also find it worthwhile to read about what animals interact with mountain lions in the wild, or explore the hawks and other remarkable wildlife that Washington’s ecosystems naturally support.