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DeKalb County, GA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
§ 5-25(d), Community Cat Program
Scope
Unincorporated DeKalb County only
TNR requirement
Vaccinate, sterilize, ear-tip before release
Licensing
Exempt from registration and licensing

Summary

Unincorporated DeKalb County exempts vaccinated, sterilized, ear-tipped community cats from licensing and stray rules, letting caretakers return TNR cats to where they were trapped instead of facing abandonment or registration citations.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of DeKalb County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Unowned, free-roaming cats shall be vaccinated, sterilized and ear tipped as part of the community cat program. Cats brought into the community cat program are exempt from registration, licensing, and stray animal provisions of this chapter, shall not be deemed abandoned when returned to the location where captured, and as necessary and appropriate, may be exempt from other provisions of this Code applicable to owned animals.

View official code

Full Breakdown

DeKalb County Code § 5-25(d) requires unowned, free-roaming cats enrolled in the community cat program to be vaccinated, sterilized and ear-tipped before release. Once processed, these cats are exempt from the county's registration, licensing and stray-animal provisions, are not treated as abandoned when returned to their capture site, and may be excused from other rules that apply to owned animals. The program is defined in § 5-1 as capture, veterinary evaluation, spay/neuter, rabies vaccination and ear-tip marking, then return to the capture site. Applies only in unincorporated DeKalb County.

Violations & Fines

Compliant TNR cats face no fine since they're exempt; owners of non-program cats risk citation under the county's general penalty: up to a $1,000 fine or 120 days jail (§ 1-10).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do community cats need a county license in DeKalb?
No. Cats enrolled in the TNR community cat program are exempt from registration, licensing and stray-animal provisions under § 5-25(d) once vaccinated, sterilized and ear-tipped.
Can I return a trapped cat to where I found it?
Yes, § 5-25(d) states community cats are not considered abandoned when returned to the location where they were captured.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in DeKalb County

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All DeKalb County rules

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