Charleston, WV Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum age covered
- 6 months old
- Proof required
- Kept on person or premises
- Fine range
- $10.00 to $25.00
- Cat license/tag required
- No: dogs only
Summary
Every cat six months or older in Charleston must be currently vaccinated against rabies, though owners only need to keep proof on hand rather than a visible tag.
No person shall own any dog, cat or ferret, six months of age or older, within the city limits if such animal is not currently vaccinated against rabies. ... Owners of cats and ferrets may retain proof of current rabies vaccination on their person or premises. (b) Violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than $10.00, nor more than $25.00, plus applicable court costs.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 56).
Full Breakdown
City code makes rabies vaccination mandatory for cats the same as dogs and ferrets once they hit six months old. The city does not run a cat license or tag program the way it does for dogs: cat owners just have to be able to produce current proof of vaccination on their person or at the premises if a humane officer or police officer asks. There's no city-wide leash, at-large, or feral-colony ordinance for cats; the at-large impoundment rules in Chapter 10 apply specifically to dogs and to loose livestock/poultry, not roaming cats.
Violations & Fines
Fine of not less than $10.00 nor more than $25.00 plus court costs; the municipal judge has no authority to suspend any part of the fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my cat need a visible rabies tag in Charleston?
Is there a cat licensing requirement in Charleston?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Charleston
Compare Charleston to another location·View the West Virginia animal ordinances overview
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