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Horry County, SC Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

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

Key Facts

License
None required for cats
ID required
Collar tag, microchip, or similar
Citation
Horry County Code § 4-14
Community cat
Caretaker is not the owner
Rabies
Owned cats must be vaccinated (§ 4-51)

Summary

Horry County requires no cat license but does require identification by collar tag, microchip, or other means. People who feed or shelter community (free-roaming) cats are not treated as the owner, so TNR caretakers are exempt from owner duties.

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

A person providing food, water, shelter, or other care for a community cat shall not be considered the owner, keeper, or custodian of the cat(s) for any purposes in this chapter.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 88).

Full Breakdown

Under Horry County Code § 4-8, no license is required for cats, but owners must provide identification through a collar tag, microchip, or other viable means. Section 4-14 defines a "community cat" as a free-roaming cat without visible or microchip ID, often ear-tipped to show it is sterilized and rabies-vaccinated. Critically, § 4-14(b) provides that a person feeding, watering, or sheltering a community cat is not the owner, keeper, or custodian for any purpose in the chapter, shielding trap-neuter-return (TNR) caretakers from owner obligations and running-at-large rules. Owned cats remain subject to the public-nuisance and rabies-vaccination requirements.

Violations & Fines

Owned cats creating a nuisance fall under § 4-3 and § 4-10. Rabies-vaccination failures are penalized under § 4-54; community-cat caretakers are exempt from owner duties.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to license my cat in Horry County?
No license is required, but § 4-8 requires you to identify your cat with a collar tag, microchip, or other viable means. Owned cats must also be rabies-vaccinated.
Can I feed stray cats without becoming their owner?
Yes. Section 4-14(b) states that feeding, watering, or sheltering a community cat does not make you its owner, keeper, or custodian for any purpose under the chapter.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Horry County

Dog Leash LawsSome RestrictionsChickens & LivestockSome RestrictionsBeekeepingSome RestrictionsBreed RestrictionsSome RestrictionsPet LimitsSome RestrictionsPet Store RulesHeavy RestrictionsMicrochippingSome RestrictionsBird ProtectionHeavy RestrictionsWildlife FeedingHeavy RestrictionsExotic PetsHeavy RestrictionsVeterinary Clinic ZoningSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Preferential Parking DistrictsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsHome Business: Cottage Food OperationsHeavy RestrictionsHome Business: Zoning & Home Occupation PermitsSome RestrictionsBusiness Licensing & Operations: Massage EstablishmentsSome RestrictionsEnvironmental Rules: Boat Dock PermitsSome Restrictions

All Horry County rules

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