Long Beach, CA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- License age trigger
- Cats over 4 months old
- Compliance options
- Tag or implanted microchip
- Unaltered-cat license
- Requires vet unsuitability certificate
- Late penalty grace period
- 60 days from renewal date
- First-offense penalty
- Infraction; repeat is a misdemeanor
Summary
LBMC § 6.08.010(B) requires every cat over four months old to wear a City-issued license tag or carry an identifiable microchip at all times. Section 6.08.090 blocks licensing an unaltered cat unless a veterinarian certifies it unsuited for spay/neuter, tying licensing directly to the City's mandatory-alteration rule.
B. Cat license. No person responsible for any cat shall have such cat, male or female, over the age of four (4) months, within the City without at all times having upon such cat either a tag as provided in Subsection B.1. below, or a microchip as provided in Subsection B.2. below. 1. Tag. The tag shall be securely fastened to a collar or harness as provided in this Chapter. [...] 2. Microchip. In place of the tag and collar described in Subsection B.1. above, a person responsible for a cat may instead ensure that the cat bears an identifiable microchip. [...] The person responsible for such cat shall obtain an annual license at such times and in the manner as specified in Section 6.08.030. [...] No license shall be issued for an unaltered cat pursuant to this Chapter, unless the cat is certified by a licensed veterinarian as not being suitable for spaying or neutering due to health reasons pursuant to Section 6.16.085.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 52 Update 1 | City Charter: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 6.08, Dog and Cat Licensing, requires under § 6.08.010.B that no person responsible for a cat over four months old, male or female, may go without either a tag securely fastened to a collar or harness, or an identifiable microchip implanted by a veterinarian, registered veterinary technician, or other qualified staff. A tagged cat's license is obtained from the Director and issued for up to twelve months; a microchipped cat's owner must instead obtain an annual license under the process in § 6.08.030. Section 6.08.090 layers the City's spay/neuter mandate onto licensing directly: no license will be issued for an unaltered cat unless a licensed veterinarian certifies it is not suitable for spaying or neutering for health reasons under § 6.16.085.
Owners moving into Long Beach from an annexed area with a valid County cat license get a grace period under § 6.08.020 until that license expires. Section 6.08.070 makes it unlawful to counterfeit or imitate any license tag, and § 6.08.080 requires producing the license or tag on demand to the Director, an Animal Care Services Bureau officer or inspector, or a police officer. Late renewal after the required date triggers a Council-set penalty under § 6.08.040, though no penalty applies if the tag is secured within sixty days of the renewal date or of becoming responsible for the cat.
Violations & Fines
Violating any Chapter 6.08 licensing provision, including the cat-tag/microchip requirement, is a criminal infraction for a first offense and a misdemeanor for any repeat offense within twelve months under § 6.08.015, with penalties set in Chapter 1.32. The Bureau may additionally assess administrative fines under Chapter 6.16, and refusing to show a license or tag on an officer's demand is a separate violation under § 6.08.080.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do cats need to be licensed in Long Beach?
Can I license an unaltered cat in Long Beach?
What happens if I renew my cat's license late?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Long Beach
California rules heatmap·Compare Long Beach to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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