Fairfield, CA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Cat licensing status
- Optional (Sec. 3.26)
- License window if chosen
- July 1 - August 31 annually
- Leash/at-large rule for cats
- None in Chapter 3
- Bite quarantine duty
- Applies to cats (Sec. 3.16)
Summary
Cat licensing is optional in Fairfield, unlike the mandatory dog license, under Municipal Code Section 3.26. Owners who choose to license a cat over four months old follow the same July 1 to August 31 process and fees as dog licensing, set by the Solano County Board of Supervisors.
Every person owning or having control, custody or possession of any cat within the city may procure a license for each such cat, four months of age, between July 1 and August 31 of each year. The procedures applicable to the licensing of cats shall be the same as those pertaining to the licensing of dogs under this chapter. The fee shall be as established by resolution of the county board of supervisors.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4962673; v0 updated 2026-02-17).
Full Breakdown
26 states that a person owning or controlling a cat within the city may, but is not required to, procure a license for the cat once it reaches four months of age, applying between July 1 and August 31 each year. The section directs that licensing procedures for cats mirror the dog licensing rules found earlier in Article II of Chapter 3, and that the fee is set by resolution of the Solano County Board of Supervisors rather than fixed in the municipal code itself.
60's noise and odor nuisance rule expressly lists cats alongside dogs and other animals or fowl as capable of being declared a public nuisance. 9, which restrict animals running loose in parks, schools, commercial districts, and public streets, are written to apply to dogs, not cats. The chapter also has no separate provision addressing feral cat colonies or trap-neuter-return programs. 17, which apply to 'any dog or other animal' without limitation to dogs.
Violations & Fines
There is no citation for failing to license a cat since licensing is optional. A cat involved in a bite incident that isn't made available for the required health officer inspection under Section 3.16, or whose bite isn't reported under Section 3.17, exposes the owner to enforcement under those sections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to license my cat in Fairfield?
Is there a leash law for cats in Fairfield?
What happens if my cat bites someone in Fairfield?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fairfield
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Cat Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Solano County handle cat rules.