Homestead, FL Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Division 3 of Chapter 4 governs cats. Sec. 4-107(a) requires every owner who harbors a cat over four months old to have it vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian of the owner's choice, with proof consisting of an official county certificate completed in triplicate showing the vaccination date, tag number if issued, and the cat's breed, age, color and sex; one copy goes to the owner, one is filed by the vaccinating veterinarian with the animal control division, and one is retained by the veterinarian.

Subsection (b) allows a temporary waiver when a licensed veterinarian certifies that vaccination would endanger the cat's health due to age, infirmity or debility, provided that certificate reaches the enforcing agency within five days and is treated as valid for no more than twelve months. Subsection (c) requires a modified live virus rabies vaccine, since low egg passage vaccine is prohibited for cats. Sec. 4-108 obligates the vaccinating veterinarian to file certificates with animal control at least every two weeks and makes willful failure to do so unlawful.

Sec. 4-109 then authorizes a voluntary county cat registration program: a registration tag is issued for the life of the cat once rabies inoculation is proven, the fee may be reduced with proof of spaying or neutering, but the section is explicit that no cat owner is required to purchase a tag. Sec. 4-110 requires anyone in the business of selling or giving away cats to report sales weekly to animal control, and Sec. 4-111 exempts cats present in the city for less than thirty days from both the vaccination and licensing provisions.