Bartow County, GA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- TNR defined
- Trap, sterilize, vaccinate, ear-tip, return
- Exempt from
- Secure-control law (Sec. 14-14)
- Exempt from
- Public nuisance rule (Sec. 14-16)
- Exempt from
- Numeric cat limits if unowned (Sec. 14-17)
- Not exempt
- Disease, attacks, or real nuisance conduct
- Governing section
- Bartow County Code § 14-44
Summary
Unincorporated Bartow County exempts trap-neuter-vaccinate-return community cats from the secure-control law, the public nuisance rule, and numeric cat limits, so long as the cat is not diseased, aggressive or otherwise a genuine nuisance, under Bartow County Code § 14-44.
(a)Purpose. Research and experience have shown that achieving a "no-kill" status as a community requires a variety of strategies, and that community cats pose unique challenges. Community cat populations can be reduced by an effective TNR program, calling for cats to be trapped, sterilized, vaccinated and returned to the original outside home. ... (b)The county seeks to cooperate with non-profit organizations and community cat caregivers to facility community cat programs and TNR programs. To that end, the following listed sections of chapter 14 contain provisions that cannot logically apply to community cats or community cat caregivers:(1)Section 14-14 regarding control of animals shall not apply to community cats.(2)Community cats that have been though a TNR program shall not be considered public nuisance animals under section 14-16 simply by virtue of being a community cat.(3)Maximum cat number restrictions of section 14-17 shall not apply to community cats with no known owner.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 14-44(a) explains the county's purpose: achieving "no-kill" status requires reducing feral cat populations through TNR, meaning cats are humanely trapped, sterilized, vaccinated for rabies, ear-tipped, and returned to their original outdoor location. Sec. 14-44(b) then lists which Chapter 14 sections cannot logically apply to community cats or their caregivers: the Sec. 14-14 secure-control requirement does not apply to community cats; a cat that has gone through TNR is not automatically a public nuisance animal under Sec. 14-16; the numeric cat limits of Sec. 14-17 do not apply to community cats with no known owner, though a resident cannot claim a "community cat colony" on their own property to evade the limit on cats they actually own; the impoundment provisions of Sec.
14-41(c), (d) and (f) do not apply to cats or caregivers in a TNR or shelter-neuter-vaccinate-return program; and community cats are not subject to impoundment under Sec. 14-82 solely for being community cats. Sec. 14-44(b)(6) is explicit that none of this bars impounding or declaring a community cat a nuisance if it becomes diseased, attacks a person or pet, or otherwise creates a genuine neighborhood nuisance.
Violations & Fines
A compliant TNR community cat faces no separate penalty under Sec. 14-44. A resident who falsely claims "community cat" status to exceed the Sec. 14-17 cat limit, or whose cat becomes diseased, aggressive or a genuine nuisance under Sec. 14-16, remains subject to the standard Sec. 14-123 fines of $150.00 to $450.00 per violation and normal impoundment by Bartow County Animal Control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do community cats count toward my household's cat limit in Bartow County?
Can a community cat still be impounded?
What counts as a TNR program under county law?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bartow County
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