Atlanta, GA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- License required
- Cats over 4 months, Fulton side
- Tag source
- Fulton County Animal Control shelter
- At-large rule
- Cats exempt from leash/confinement duty
- DeKalb portion
- Governed by DeKalb County code instead
- Enforcement
- Impoundment and citation, § 18-119
Summary
In the Fulton County portion of Atlanta, every cat over four months old must be licensed and wear a vaccination tag through Fulton County Animal Control, but the code's at-large restrictions expressly exempt cats from leash and confinement requirements.
It shall be the duty of each owner, custodian, or harborer of any dog or cat over four months of age kept, maintained, or harbored within the unincorporated area of Fulton County, or within any municipality in Fulton County, who has or may enter into an agreement with Fulton County for animal control services, to obtain a dog/cat license for such dog or cat.(b)It shall be the duty of all persons owning or having custody of any dog or cat over four months of age brought into the areas of Fulton County designated in subsection (a) of this section to obtain a dog or cat license for such dog or cat within 14 days from the date of entry. (Ord. No. 2017-30(17-O-1033), § 1, 6-14-17)
Full Breakdown
Atlanta Code § 18-120 requires owners in the city's Fulton County portion to license any cat over four months old with Fulton County Animal Control and, under § 18-121, to obtain a rabies vaccination/license tag. A replacement tag is required if the original is lost. Unlike dogs, cats are explicitly carved out of the running-at-large prohibition in § 18-124(a), so they aren't required to be leashed, confined to the owner's property, or restrained like dogs and other animals. The city's DeKalb County portion instead incorporates DeKalb County's own animal code (§ 18-61) rather than Atlanta's Fulton-specific licensing rules.
Violations & Fines
Fulton County Animal Control enforces licensing by impoundment and citation (§ 18-119); a general Code violation under § 1-8 carries a fine up to $1,000, up to six months' imprisonment, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Atlanta require cat licenses?
Can my cat roam free in Atlanta?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Atlanta
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Cat Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fulton County handle cat rules.