Brevard County, FL Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Registration deadline
- 28 days after establishing residency
- Community cat exemption
- sterilized, vaccinated, ear-tipped colony cats
- At-large fine
- $55 to $415 per offense
- Community cat violation fine
- $100 to $500 plus court
- Governing chapter
- Chapter 14, Article II, Div. 2
Summary
Brevard County requires every cat to carry a rabies vaccination and county registration tag, but sterilized, vaccinated, ear-tipped community cats are exempt from licensing and at-large rules under the county's community cat initiative.
All cats that are part of community cat management programs must be sterilized, vaccinated against the threat of rabies, and ear-tipped (preferable on the left ear) for easy identification; if these requirements are met, the community cat is exempted from licensing, stray, at-large and other provisions of this article that apply to owned animals.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 135).
Full Breakdown
Under Brevard County Code, every cat four months or older must be vaccinated against rabies and wear a county registration tag obtained within 28 days of establishing residency, renewed annually (§ 14-52). Cats may not be at large (§ 14-56). But under the county's community cat initiative (§ 14-72), a colony cat that is sterilized, rabies-vaccinated, and ear-tipped, preferably on the left ear, is exempted from licensing, stray, and at-large enforcement, provided caregivers feed the colony daily in sanitary containers and remove nighttime food within 30 minutes. Failing to meet those caregiver conditions triggers fines.
Violations & Fines
Failure to register or vaccinate a cat: $120 first offense, rising to $415. Animal at large: $55 to $415. Community cat noncompliance: $100 to $500, then mandatory court appearance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Brevard County require cat licenses?
Are feral or community cats exempt from licensing?
Can my cat roam free in unincorporated Brevard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brevard County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Brevard County to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
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