Butte County, CA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Section 4-20 requires the owner of any domestic cat over four months of age to keep the animal current on a rabies vaccine approved by the California Department of Public Health, with a duration of immunity of thirty-six months. 1 requires the veterinarian administering the vaccine to issue a rabies vaccination certificate in the form required by the state Health and Safety Code, giving code enforcement a paper trail to confirm compliance. 2 layers a welfare-based nuisance program on top of the vaccination mandate: at least two complainants from separate households must file a written complaint alleging unsafe, unsanitary or inhumane cat-keeping conditions, such as offensive odors, vermin, or a 'cat-in-distress' state marked by lethargy, abnormal respiration, weight loss, diarrhea or discharge from the eyes, nose or mouth.

An animal control officer, sometimes joined by a licensed veterinarian, then requests a voluntary home visit to check rabies certificates and the cats' condition. If the owner refuses access, the complainants must submit a sworn affidavit and the department can seek an administrative warrant from the Superior Court to conduct the check anyway. Either path gives the owner ten calendar days from the visit to correct any problems found before the county escalates to enforcement under the Butte County Code or state Penal Code Section 597, the cruelty-to-animals statute.