Los Angeles, CA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Maximum cats per premises
- 5 (over 4 months old)
- 4+ cats: indoor requirement
- All cats must be kept solely indoors
- 4+ cats: spay/neuter required
- Yes, unless medically exempt
- 4+ cats: microchip required
- Yes, for all cats
- 4+ cats: registration required
- Yes, with Department of Animal Services
- Unaltered cats in public
- Must be supervised; cannot be in public places unsupervised
Summary
Los Angeles caps cats at 5 per premises and imposes strict additional requirements, indoor confinement, spay/neuter, microchip, and Department registration, on anyone keeping 4 or 5 cats; unaltered cats are also barred from unsupervised presence in public places.
(b) Cats. No person shall keep or maintain more than five (5) cats over four (4) months of age at any premises, including any Dwelling Unit as defined in Section 12.03, or at any lot, building, structure, enclosure or premises that does not constitute a Dwelling Unit. Any person who keeps or maintains more than three (3) cats at any such location shall comply with the following requirements:
1. Notwithstanding Section 53.15.2(b)(1), all cats shall be kept solely indoors;
2. All cats shall be spayed or neutered, unless exempt under Section 53.15.2(b)(2)E.;
3. All cats shall be implanted with an animal identification device, such as a microchip, identifying the owner of the cat;
4. The location where the cats are kept or maintained shall be registered with the Department of Animal Services using a Department approved form that specifies the name of the cat owner, the address of the location, the number of cats at the location, and any other information the Department deems necessary.
(c) Exceptions. The restrictions in this section shall not apply to any premises operating as a Pet Shop, Dog Kennel, or Cat Kennel pursuant to a valid permit issued by the Department.
Full Breakdown
LAMC § 53.06.1(b) limits cat ownership to 5 per premises (over 4 months old). Anyone keeping more than 3 cats must keep all cats indoors at all times, have all cats spayed or neutered (subject to medical exemptions), microchip all cats, and register the address with the Department of Animal Services. LAMC § 53.15.2(b)(1) separately prohibits allowing an unaltered cat to be in any public place, including streets, sidewalks, shopping malls, and flea markets, without supervision. These rules apply on top of the citywide spay/neuter and microchip mandates for unaltered animals.
Violations & Fines
Violating the cat limits or the indoor/spay/neuter/microchip requirements for 4+ cat owners is a misdemeanor. Failure to register with the Department when keeping 4+ cats is also a violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep 5 cats in my LA home?
Can my outdoor unaltered cat roam the neighborhood?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Los Angeles
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Cat Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle cat rules.