El Dorado County, CA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Cattery threshold
- 5+ cats, 4 months or older
- License required from
- Animal Control Officer (§6.25.020)
- Nighttime confinement
- enclosed 9:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
- Litter limit
- 3 litters of kittens sold per year
- License term
- expires end of calendar year
- At-large ban
- applies to cats under §6.12.070
Summary
El Dorado County requires a license for any noncommercial cattery keeping five or more cats over four months old, under Code Sections 6.25.010 and 6.25.020. Licensed catteries need a special use permit, rabies proof for every cat, and must confine all cats indoors between 9:00 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., limiting kitten sales to three litters a year.
Noncommercial kennels and catteries shall denote kennels and catteries as defined in Section 6.04.020 wherein dogs or cats are kept and maintained for the hobby of the householder. ... Noncommercial kennels and catteries shall be licensed by the Animal Control Officer. ... All noncommercial kennels and catteries shall be subject to the following regulations: A.All dogs or cats kept on the property shall be confined in a manner approved by the Animal Control Officer.B.Proof of rabies vaccination shall be available for inspection for all dogs or cats over the age of four months.C.All noncommercial kennels and catteries shall require a special use permit for such purpose.D.The number of puppies or kittens sold per year shall not exceed three litters, and the numbers sold shall be reported to the Animal Control Officer upon renewal of the permit.F.All dogs or cats shall be kept in an enclosed and approved structure between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:30 a.m.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 13 Update 4).
Full Breakdown
020. 010 if the cats are shown at four licensed events a year or kept as working animals; anything selling cats commercially instead falls under the separate commercial cattery definition. 020: cats must be confined in a manner the Animal Control Officer approves, rabies vaccination proof must be available on demand for every cat over four months, a special use permit is required in addition to the license, no more than three litters of kittens may be sold per year with the count reported at renewal, and no sales signage may be posted on the property.
m. A cattery license expires at the end of the calendar year issued and is not transferable. 070 bars any animal, which the code defines to include cats, from running at large on public streets or unenclosed private property.
Violations & Fines
The Director of Animal Control can revoke a cattery license for failing any Section 6.25.020 requirement, by mailed or personal notice under Section 6.25.060; revocation takes effect on delivery or 48 hours after mailing. An owner may appeal a revocation under Section 6.25.070. Keeping five or more cats without the required license and special use permit is itself an unlicensed-cattery violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to keep cats in El Dorado County?
What rules apply once a cattery is licensed?
Can my cattery license be taken away?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in El Dorado County
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