Santa Cruz County, CA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- SCCC § 6.10.040
- Colony definition
- Two or more feral cats (§ 6.10.020)
- Registration
- Caregiver must register with Director
- Required actions
- Trap, spay/neuter, disease-test, ear-tip, vaccinate
- First-offense penalty
- Order to comply, no fine (§ 6.10.070(B))
Summary
Feeding a feral cat colony in unincorporated Santa Cruz County is illegal unless the caretaker registers with Animal Services and meets six ongoing duties under SCCC § 6.10.040, including trapping, spay/neuter, disease testing, ear-tipping, and rabies vaccination of every cat in the colony.
It is unlawful for any person within the unincorporated area of the County to intentionally provide food, water, or other forms of sustenance to a feral cat colony unless the person also performs the following acts and furnishes the Director with a signed statement verifying such performance: (A) The person shall register with the Director as caring for feral cats; ... (C) The person shall regularly and frequently humanely trap those cats over the age of eight weeks and have them spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian; ... (E) The person shall ensure that all trapped cats have their ears tipped by a licensed veterinarian at the same time they receive spay/neuter surgery.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 5004302; v11 updated 2026-05-19; through 05-19-2026).
Full Breakdown
020 as two or more undomesticated Felis domesticus) unless the caretaker performs and certifies, in a signed statement to the Director, a specific set of duties. The caretaker must register with the Director as a feral cat caregiver; regularly supply water, shelter, and sufficient wholesome food every day including weekends and holidays; regularly and frequently trap colony cats over eight weeks old for spay or neuter by a licensed veterinarian; test trapped cats for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus and either humanely euthanize or isolate indoors any that test positive; have every trapped cat's ear tipped by a veterinarian at the time of spay/neuter surgery, the standard visual marker that a colony cat has been sterilized; ensure trapped cats are vaccinated for rabies and any other state-required immunization; and provide veterinary care to any sick or injured cat in the colony.
040 specifically targets the outdoor colony-feeding scenario rather than pet ownership. 010, explains the purpose: reducing homeless and stray cat populations, cutting the need for shelter euthanasia, and protecting public health and welfare.
Violations & Fines
Violations of Chapter 6.10 are infractions under SCCC § 6.24.080(A), but § 6.10.070(B) softens the penalty specifically for § 6.10.040: a person cited for a first violation of the feral-cat-care requirements is not fined, but may instead be ordered to comply with the section's registration and care duties. Later violations revert to the standard infraction fine schedule of up to $100, $200, then $500.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I legally feed a stray cat colony in unincorporated Santa Cruz County?
What is a feral cat colony under county law?
What happens the first time I'm cited for feeding a colony without registering?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Cruz County
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Cruz County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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