Henderson, NV Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- At-large exemption
- Feral and community cats exempt from leash law
- Colony buffer zone
- Prohibited within half-mile of wildlife preserves
- License deadline
- Required by age three months
- TNVR registration
- Required with animal protection services
- Ordinance
- Adopted by Ord. No. 4115, Oct. 2025
Summary
Henderson permits community-cat colonies and trap-neuter-vaccinate-return work under Chapter 7.15, exempts feral and community cats from the citywide leash law, and still requires every other cat to carry a city pet license by three months old.
Except as provided in section 7.15.060.B, community cat colonies may be permitted, and community cat colony caregivers may maintain and care for community cats and perform the duties as described in section 7.15.030. Individuals, community cat caregivers, rescue organizations, and animal protection services shall be permitted to carry out TNVR and TNVR programs. A cat released in accordance with chapter 7.15 shall not be considered to be abandoned. Community cat colonies shall be prohibited within one-half mile of or in any conservation area, state or national forest, wetlands, bird viewing preserve or any other lands managed for wildlife.
(Ord. No. 4115, § 2, 10-21-2025)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 59 Update 3).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 7.15 of the Henderson Municipal Code lets community-cat caregivers and registered TNVR organizations trap, sterilize, vaccinate, ear-tip and return colony cats without the cats counting as abandoned, and colonies may be maintained anywhere except within a half-mile of a conservation area, forest, wetland or wildlife preserve. Section 7.08.020 exempts feral and community cats from the citywide animal-at-large leash requirement. Every other cat over three months old must still be licensed under Section 7.04.010, with the tag worn on the collar, and unlicensed at-large cats can be impounded under Chapter 7.30. TNVR groups must register with animal protection services and obtain a handler permit; individual caregivers do not.
Violations & Fines
Operating an unregistered TNVR program, colonizing cats near a conservation area, or letting a licensable cat run at large without a tag can bring impoundment, citation and fees under Chapter 7.04 and 7.30.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license for my cat in Henderson?
Can I feed and care for a feral cat colony in Henderson?
Is a community cat considered at large in Henderson?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Henderson
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Cat Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Clark County handle cat rules.