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Hawaii County, HI Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

No cat license: Hawai'i County issues none
Stray definition: HCC § 4-1-1 includes loose cats
Seizure authority: HCC § 4-2-3, animal control agency
Feral feeding fine: $50 first, $500 repeat, § 4-3-7
Feeding ban scope: County property only, not private land

Summary

Hawai'i County issues no cat license: a loose cat is legally a 'stray' under HCC § 4-1-1, and the animal control and protection agency can seize and impound it under § 4-2-3. Feeding a stray or feral cat on County-owned or County-leased property is a separate offense under § 4-3-7, fined up to $500 for repeat violations.

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

(a) A person may not feed or attempt to feed a stray or feral animal on property owned, leased, rented, managed, or operated by the County. (b) Any person convicted of a violation of this section is subject to a fine not more than $50 for the first violation and not more than $500 for any subsequent violation. (c) For the purposes of this section: "Feed" means to deliberately introduce any food material, substance, or attractant directly to or in the vicinity of an animal. "Feral" means undomesticated or living in a wild and unconfined state.

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Full Breakdown

' That definition folds cats into the same at-large enforcement the animal control and protection agency uses for dogs: § 4-2-3 authorizes the agency to 'seize and impound any dog, cat, or other domesticated animal, when such dog, cat, or other domesticated animal is a stray,' and to dispose of it under HRS chapter 143. § 4-3-7, added by Ordinance 25-63 in 2025, prohibits feeding or attempting to feed 'a stray or feral animal' on any property 'owned, leased, rented, managed, or operated by the County,' which reaches feral cat colonies that gather at County parks, beach parks, and transfer stations.

The section defines 'feral' as 'undomesticated or living in a wild and unconfined state' and 'feed' as deliberately introducing food or an attractant to or near the animal. Subsection (d) preserves the County's own trapping and removal authority, so a resident cannot invoke the feeding ban to stop County-contracted trap-neuter-release work. The feeding prohibition applies only to County property; feeding a colony on private land is not restricted by this section.

Violations & Fines

Feeding a stray or feral cat on County property carries a fine of not more than $50 for a first offense and not more than $500 for any later violation under § 4-3-7(b). A cat seized as a stray under § 4-2-3 is held and disposed of following HRS chapter 143 procedures; there is no separate County redemption fee schedule for cats the way there is for licensed dogs under § 4-4-21.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Hawai'i County require a cat license?

No. The County licenses dogs biennially under HCC § 4-4-1, but there is no equivalent cat license. A loose cat is instead treated as a 'stray' under § 4-1-1, which lets the animal control and protection agency seize and impound it under § 4-2-3, the same way it handles a stray dog.

Can I get in trouble for feeding a feral cat colony?

Only if the feeding happens on property the County owns, leases, or operates, such as a beach park or transfer station. HCC § 4-3-7 fines that $50 for a first violation and up to $500 after that. Feeding the same colony on private land is not restricted by this section.

Who impounds stray cats on the Big Island?

The County's animal control and protection agency, under HCC § 4-2-3, which is authorized to seize and impound any stray cat, dog, or domesticated animal and dispose of it under HRS chapter 143 procedures. The agency runs the County pound established under § 4-2-1, and owners are billed for feeding and veterinary costs incurred while an animal is held.

Sources & Official References

[1]Hawai'i County Code, Chapter 4 (Animals)

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