Miami Beach, FL Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Adopted by Ordinance No. 2026-4807 and effective March 28, 2026, Sec. 10-22 defines a community cat as an unowned, free-roaming cat that is fed, managed or monitored under a recognized TNVR program, and a caretaker or volunteer as anyone lawfully engaged in that work, independently, with a nonprofit, or under city or county protocols. The section bans four categories of interference. Feeding interference covers giving food to community cats, or placing food or attractants, in a way that disrupts or hinders an active or scheduled trapping effort.

Tampering interference bans removing, damaging, moving, disabling or disturbing a humane trap that is set or staged for TNVR work, relocating, transporting, abandoning or releasing a community cat in a way that frustrates its participation in a TNVR program, or interfering with the transport of a participating cat. Harassment interference makes it unlawful to threaten, intimidate or harass, or to hinder, impede or obstruct, a caretaker or volunteer performing TNVR duties. Indirect interference extends liability to anyone who authorizes, instructs or encourages another person to commit any of the above conduct.

The ordinance does not create a cat licensing requirement or an at-large exception; instead it shields the city's managed community cat colonies, run through the SoBe Cats registered feeder program, from disruption. Violations are punished under the general animal-control fine schedule in Sec. 10-2, not a standalone penalty in Sec. 10-22 itself.