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Lexington, KY Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

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

Key Facts

License age
Required at 6 months; rabies proof at 4 months
Fee
$8 altered, $40 unaltered, renewed yearly
Replacement tag
$1 for lost, unexpired license
Penalty
Up to $200 fine, per-day offense
Funding
$25 of unaltered fee funds spay/neuter grants (§ 4-21.1)

Summary

Lexington-Fayette County Code § 4-12.3 requires every dog or cat six months or older to carry an annual county license, with rabies vaccination required starting at four months. Licenses cost $8 for an altered pet and $40 for an unaltered one, renew yearly, and an unlicensed animal can draw a fine of up to $200 per day of noncompliance.

Any owner of dogs or cats within the urban county shall apply to the designated license facility for the appropriate license... Licenses shall be required for each dog or cat six (6) months of age or older and rabies vaccination shall be required for each dog or cat four (4) months of age or older... The fee for each dog and cat license shall be eight dollars ($8.00) for an altered dog or cat and forty dollars ($40.00) for an unaltered dog or cat... Any person owning an unlicensed dog or cat shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200.00). Each day's continuance of any such violation shall be a separate offense.

Source: LFUCG Animal Care & ControlView official code

Full Breakdown

3, any owner of a dog or cat within the Urban County Government must apply to the designated license facility, attach the resulting tag to the animal's collar or harness at all times, and renew it every year by the last day of the month it was originally issued. 010 are exempt from licensing altogether. The fee structure rewards sterilization: $8 for an altered dog or cat versus $40 for an unaltered one, with proof of alteration or a veterinarian's statement that surgery would harm the animal required to get the lower rate; a replacement tag for a lost, unexpired license costs $1, and a rabies vaccination voucher costs $5.

1, while the license facility retains $6 per altered-animal license and $10 per unaltered-animal license, with the balance paid to the division of revenue by the fifteenth of each month. An owner without a valid license risks a fine of up to $200, with each day of continued noncompliance charged as a separate offense.

Violations & Fines

Owning an unlicensed dog or cat six months or older is punishable by a fine of up to $200, with each day the animal remains unlicensed counted as a separate offense. If the animal isn't wearing its tag when checked, the owner can avoid a citation by producing proof of current licensing and rabies vaccination, or by buying a $5 vaccination voucher on the spot.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what age does my pet need a Lexington license?
Dogs and cats need a county license once they turn six months old, and rabies vaccination is required starting at four months. Licenses must be renewed every year by the last day of the month the original license was issued, per § 4-12.3.
How much does a Lexington pet license cost?
It's $8 for a spayed or neutered dog or cat and $40 for one that isn't altered: you need proof of alteration, or a vet's statement that surgery would be harmful, to qualify for the lower fee. A replacement tag for a lost license costs $1.
What if my dog gets loose without its tag on?
You can still avoid a fine by showing proof of current licensing and rabies vaccination, or by purchasing a $5 rabies vaccination voucher. Without proof, an unlicensed animal six months or older exposes the owner to a fine of up to $200 per day of noncompliance.

Sources & Official References

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All Lexington rules

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