Costa Mesa, CA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Cats are regulated much more lightly than dogs in unincorporated Orange County. There is no leash or restraint law for cats — the six-foot leash rule in OCCO 4-1-45 applies to dogs, not cats — so cats are not required to be confined or leashed when outdoors. Cat licensing is also optional: OCCO 4-1-85 provides that obtaining a cat license is at the option of the owner, unlike dogs, which must be licensed. That said, cats are not entirely unregulated. Under OCCO 4-1-49, no person owning or having care, custody, or control of any animal may permit it to trespass or be upon the private property of another person without that person's consent, which applies to roaming cats. And the pet-limit rule applies equally to cats: under OCCO 4-1-76, keeping four or more cats over four months of age requires an annual Animal Permit from OC Animal Care. Rabies vaccination requirements in the County's Title 4 are framed around dogs (OCCO 4-1-60), but responsible owners are encouraged to vaccinate cats as well, since Orange County is a declared rabies area. Owners of free-roaming cats should be mindful of the trespass rule and of the permit threshold if they care for multiple animals.