Is It Legal to Own a Tiger in Maryland? What State and Federal Law Say
July 27, 2026
Tigers are among the most powerful animals on Earth, and it is no surprise that some people find them fascinating enough to consider keeping one. If you live in Maryland and have ever wondered whether owning a tiger is possible, the answer is clear: private tiger ownership is prohibited under both state and federal law. Understanding exactly why — and what narrow exceptions exist — can save you from serious legal consequences.
Maryland sits on the stricter end of the national spectrum when it comes to exotic animal regulations. The state’s dangerous animal statute has been in place since 2002, and a landmark federal law passed in 2022 added an additional nationwide prohibition. Whether you are a curious resident, a prospective exotic animal keeper, or someone who simply spotted an unusual animal in a neighbor’s yard, this guide walks you through every layer of the law.
Is It Legal to Own a Tiger in Maryland?
No — owning a tiger as a private individual in Maryland is illegal. Maryland bans private ownership of a specific list of animals under its dangerous animal statute, Criminal Law § 10-621. Tigers fall squarely within that prohibition as members of the wild cat family. This applies whether you want to keep a tiger as a pet, breed one, or simply possess one on your property.
The ban is not a gray area or a matter of interpretation. The Maryland Criminal Code (Section 10-621) prohibits the private ownership of, among other animals, any member of the cat family other than the domestic cat — which explicitly excludes lions and tigers. That language covers all tiger subspecies, including the Bengal tiger and every other variety you can read about in a guide to different types of tigers.
Key Insight: Maryland’s prohibition covers not just possession but also importing, offering for sale, trading, bartering, breeding, and exchanging tigers. The law reaches every step of the ownership chain.
What Federal Law Says About Tiger Ownership
Even if Maryland’s state law did not exist, a separate federal statute would still block you from owning a tiger. 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 Act ended private ownership of lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, and cougars. It also prohibits public contact with big cats and restricts the commerce, breeding, possession, and use of these species. The law was driven in part by high-profile incidents and the cultural attention brought by the 2020 “Tiger King” documentary series, which exposed widespread abuses in the private big cat industry.
The legislation requires federal permitting for all big cats, increasing oversight to reduce the risk of tiger parts from the US entering the illegal wildlife trade, removing the strongest incentive for breeding, and improving public safety and animal welfare. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers and enforces the Act.
One narrow exception existed for people who already owned big cats before the law’s enactment. In order to continue legally possessing privately owned big cats, the Act required individuals or entities to register any big cats in their possession before the date of enactment with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, unless another exception applied. This registration had to occur no later than June 18, 2023. Registration is now closed. If you did not own a tiger before December 20, 2022, and did not register by the deadline, no grandfathering provision applies to you.
The Big Cat Public Safety Act provides a baseline of what is prohibited. It did not preempt existing state laws but cooperates with them, meaning state laws that are more stringent with regard to big cats still stay in place. In Maryland’s case, both layers of law point in the same direction: no private tiger ownership.
Important Note: The federal registration window closed on June 18, 2023. There is no current pathway for a private individual to legally acquire and keep a tiger in the United States under federal law.
Maryland’s Laws on Owning a Tiger
Maryland’s primary exotic animal statute, Criminal Law § 10-621, has prohibited private tiger ownership since it took effect in 2006. Exotic pet laws in Maryland went into effect in October of 2006. These laws aim to protect wild animals from being bought, bred, sold, and held domestically because it is both potentially dangerous and cruel.
The wild cat ban covers lions, tigers, leopards, clouded leopards, snow leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, cougars, and any other non-domestic feline. This means no subspecies of tiger — whether a Bengal, Siberian, Sumatran, or any hybrid — is permitted for private possession in Maryland. You can learn more about the species and subspecies involved by exploring a general overview of tigers.
The law also applies to hybrid cats. The state bans hybrids of members of the cat family and the domestic cat if those hybrids weigh over 30 pounds, which would cover most large exotic cat crosses as well.
A very limited pre-2006 grandfather clause exists in the statute. The section does not prohibit a person who had lawful possession of an animal listed above on or before May 31, 2006, from continuing to possess that animal, provided the person gave written notification to the local animal control authority on or before August 1, 2006. In practical terms, this exception affects almost no one today — any tiger covered by it would be well past the natural lifespan of the animal.
Maryland’s approach reflects a broader legislative intent. This chapter of Maryland laws declares that it is in the public interest to ensure public health and safety by strictly regulating the possession, breeding, and importation of certain animals that pose risks to humans.
Permits and Requirements for Tiger Ownership in Maryland
There is no permit available to an ordinary Maryland resident that would allow private tiger ownership. However, the statute does carve out a small number of institutional exceptions for qualified entities.
The following categories are exempt from the general prohibition under Maryland Criminal Law § 10-621:
- Research facilities or federal research facilities licensed under the federal Animal Welfare Act
- Holders of a Class C Exhibitor’s License under the Animal Welfare Act whose primary function is displaying animals to the public in a public setting
- Persons holding a valid license or permit issued by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to import, sell, trade, barter, possess, breed, or exchange a listed animal
- Animal sanctuaries that operate as places of refuge for abused, neglected, or displaced wildlife and do not conduct commercial activity with respect to owned animals
- Licensed veterinarians treating a listed animal in accordance with normal veterinary practices
Even for licensed exhibitors, the rules are strict. The holder of a Class C Exhibitor’s License may acquire or breed a tiger or other listed big cat only if the holder maintains a liability insurance policy of at least $1,000,000, has at least one paid full-time staff member trained in the care of each species kept, has an animal disposition policy providing for placement of animals if the facility closes, and maintains a training plan regarding zoonotic disease risk and prevention.
There is also a hard cutoff date for licensed exhibitors. The statute imposes a specific cutoff date on holders of federal Class C Exhibitor’s Licenses under the Animal Welfare Act. Even licensed exhibitors cannot possess a nonhuman primate, bear, lion, tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, snow leopard, jaguar, cheetah, or cougar that they did not already own on June 30, 2014.
Animal sanctuaries, AWA licensed facilities, those holding valid permits from the Department of Natural Resources, and veterinarians are exempted from the general ban — but none of these categories apply to a private individual seeking a pet tiger. If you are interested in Maryland’s wildlife more broadly, you might enjoy reading about snakes in Maryland or hawks in Maryland, which represent the kinds of wildlife that can be observed legally in the state.
Local Laws That May Apply in Maryland
Maryland’s state law sets a floor, not a ceiling. Counties and municipalities can — and do — impose additional restrictions that go beyond what the state requires. This section does not limit a county or municipality from enacting laws or adopting regulations that are more restrictive pertaining to any potentially dangerous animals, including those specified in subsection (b) of this section.
Several Maryland jurisdictions have done exactly that. Baltimore County requires a permit for possession of “any animal of a species that in the natural life of the species is wild, dangerous, or ferocious.” Baltimore City requires a permit to keep “any animal normally found in the wild.” Prince George’s County requires a permit for “any animal which is not included in the definition of ‘domesticated animal'” — including hybrids.
This matters for a practical reason: even if you somehow qualified for one of the narrow state-level exemptions, you would still need to check whether your specific county or city imposes separate permit requirements or outright bans. While your state may allow you to keep certain animals as pets, local laws can restrict ownership. With tigers, the state prohibition already blocks private ownership, so local rules serve as an additional enforcement layer rather than an independent pathway.
Separate state and federal protections on endangered species and native wildlife add additional layers of restriction, and local counties can impose even stricter rules than the state. If you have questions about a specific county’s ordinances, contacting your local animal control authority directly is the most reliable approach.
Maryland is home to many fascinating animals you can observe and appreciate legally. The state’s diverse ecosystems support everything from owls and woodpeckers to frogs and lizards — all far more appropriate for local wildlife appreciation than a captive big cat.
Penalties for Illegally Owning a Tiger in Maryland
Violating Maryland’s dangerous animal statute carries real legal consequences at both the state and federal level. At the state level, the penalties under Criminal Law § 10-621 are as follows:
| Violator Type | Maximum Fine | Criminal Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | $1,000 | Misdemeanor |
| Organization or Business | $10,000 | Misdemeanor |
A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 if an individual, or a fine not exceeding $10,000 if not an individual. A misdemeanor conviction carries consequences beyond the fine itself, including a criminal record that can affect employment, housing, and professional licensing.
Beyond fines, you also face the seizure of the animal. If any Natural Resources police officer or law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that any person possesses any mammal in violation of the relevant title, the officer may seek a search warrant and, upon finding the animal, seize and take possession of it until further order by the judge. The animal’s fate after seizure is at the discretion of the authorities.
Federal penalties under the Big Cat Public Safety Act are separate and can be more severe. Violations of the Lacey Act — the underlying federal statute amended by the BCPSA — can result in criminal fines up to $20,000 per violation and up to five years in federal prison for knowing violations, in addition to civil penalties.
Maryland also applies strict liability in civil cases involving exotic animals. In Maryland, strict liability is the law of the land in cases involving exotic animals. This means that if you are the owner of such an animal and the animal injures someone or damages their property, you can be held liable for damages. You can behave as responsibly as one can, providing ample space, a healthy diet, and professional care for your animal, but this will not negate strict liability.
Important Note: State criminal penalties, federal Lacey Act penalties, and civil strict liability claims are all independent of one another. A single incident involving an illegally kept tiger could expose you to all three simultaneously.
If you have a genuine passion for tigers, the most meaningful and legal way to engage with them is through supporting accredited sanctuaries and conservation organizations. The World Wildlife Fund and the Animal Legal Defense Fund both offer resources on big cat conservation and the legal landscape surrounding captive tigers in the United States. Closer to home, Maryland’s own remarkable wildlife — from butterflies to bats — offers plenty of opportunities for meaningful wildlife appreciation without legal risk.