Charleston County, SC Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- State vaccination law
- Cats must carry current rabies vaccination, § 47-5-60
- ID tag
- Metal rabies tag must stay on collar at all times
- Community cat program
- Sterilized, microchipped, vaccinated, ear-tipped cats may roam
- Nuisance trigger
- 3+ trap incidents deems a free-roaming cat a nuisance
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor under § 47-5-200, magistrate's-court fine/jail
Summary
Every cat owner in Charleston County must keep their cat currently vaccinated against rabies under S.C. Code § 47-5-60, with a veterinarian-issued metal tag worn on the collar at all times. The county separately allows free-roaming "community cats" to remain outdoors under County Code § 3-16 if they are spayed or neutered, microchipped, vaccinated and ear-tipped, and are not creating a nuisance.
A pet owner must have his pet inoculated against rabies at a frequency to provide continuous protection of the pet from rabies using a vaccine approved by the department and licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture. The rabies inoculation for pets must be administered by a licensed veterinarian or someone under a licensed veterinarian's direct supervision... Evidence of rabies inoculation is a certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian... With the issuance of the certificate, the licensed veterinarian shall furnish a serially numbered metal license tag bearing the same number and year as the certificate with the name and telephone number of the veterinarian, veterinary hospital, or practice. The metal license tag at all times must be attached to a collar or harness worn by the pet for which the certificate and tag have been issued.
Full Breakdown
C. " The certificate itself must be retained by the veterinarian for at least three years and a copy given to the owner. "Department" means the South Carolina Department of Public Health, formerly DHEC (§ 47-5-20(2)). Section 47-5-210 confirms this state floor does not preempt Charleston County from adding its own cat rules, and the county has: County Code § 3-16 lets "free-roaming cats, also called community cats," remain in the county "as long as" each cat "must be spayed or neutered," "must be microchipped," "must be vaccinated for rabies, feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia," and "must be ear tipped," and only so long as the cat is not a nuisance; a cat trapped three or more times is deemed a nuisance and taken to the shelter for euthanasia or relocation at the shelter's discretion.
County Code § 3-17 separately requires any cat over three months old to wear a durable ID tag with the owner's address and phone number, unless it is being shown, groomed, boarded, or under a veterinarian's order to go without a collar for health reasons.
Violations & Fines
Failing to vaccinate a cat, or violating any provision of Title 47 Chapter 5, is a misdemeanor under § 47-5-200, punishable up to the maximum fine and jail term a magistrate's court can impose. Under county code, a cat trapped three or more times as a nuisance free-roamer is impounded and may be euthanized or relocated at the animal shelter operation's discretion, and an unvaccinated cat picked up by animal control can be held and later disposed of if unclaimed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Charleston County require cats to be licensed like dogs?
Can I let my cat roam outside in unincorporated Charleston County?
What happens to my cat if animal control catches it without vaccination?
Who enforces the rabies vaccination requirement for cats?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Charleston County
Compare Charleston County to another location·View the South Carolina animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.