Aurora, CO Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Household cap
- 5 cats per property, nursing litter excepted
- License required
- City license for cats over 6 months
- Colony program
- SNR permit from Aurora Animal Services
- Impound hold waived
- SNR-returned cats skip 5-day hold
- Governs
- City of Aurora, CO only, not Denver
Summary
Aurora caps household cats at five per property and requires a city license for cats over six months old; unowned community cats can instead be legally managed under a permitted Shelter-Neuter-Return colony program rather than treated as strays.
It shall be unlawful to own, keep or harbor more than five cats on any premises except a litter of kittens belonging to a queen at the residence... A registered community cat caretaker, or a registered SNR organization, who participates in the SNR program shall: (1) Obtain a SNR permit from the Aurora animal services division before engaging in the SNR program... (6) Return the cat as soon as is practical to as close as possible to its location of capture after treatment.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-30, passed June 22, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Aurora City Code § 14-101 bars owning, keeping or harboring more than five cats on any premises, exempting a nursing queen's litter until four months old and PACFA-licensed kennels, pet shops, rescues and shelters. Separately, § 14-102 lets a registered community-cat caretaker or SNR organization obtain a Shelter-Neuter-Return permit from Aurora Animal Services, trap free-roaming cats, have them sterilized, ear-tipped and rabies-vaccinated, then return them to their colony location -- exempt from the routine five-day impound hold and the § 14-41 licensing requirement that otherwise applies to every cat over six months old. Both sections are current through Ord. No. 2026-17 (May 18, 2026).
Violations & Fines
Keeping more than five cats without a PACFA exemption, or running a colony without an SNR permit from Aurora Animal Services, exposes an owner or caretaker to citation under Chapter 14's general penalty, section 1-13.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be cited for feeding stray cats in Aurora, Colorado?
How many cats can I legally own in Aurora?
Does my cat need a city license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Aurora
Compare Aurora to another location·View the Colorado animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.