Miami, FL Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Authority
- Miami-Dade Code Ch. 5
- Rabies tag
- Required at 4 months
- License
- Annual or 3-year
- TNR
- Registered colonies only
- Impound fee
- $50+ reclaim
Summary
Miami-Dade County Code Chapter 5 controls all cats inside Miami city limits, requiring rabies vaccination, county license tag, and prohibiting cats from running at large. Trap-Neuter-Return colonies must be registered with Animal Services to receive enforcement protection.
Cat License: You can buy a license for your cat at the Pet Adoption and Protection Center or at any of the 311 Service Centers. ... Dog License (Tag): You can buy or renew a dog license at your local veterinarian's office, the Pet Adoption and Protection Center or any one of the 311 Service Centers. Dog Licenses are required for all dogs over four months of age. ... Leash Law: When a dog goes off private property, it must be leashed at all times. Dogs are not permitted to roam free off private property. Loud Pets: Any animal which causes frequent, habitual or long continued noise which is plainly audible at a distance of 100 feet at any time of the day. Pets in Parked Cars: Leaving a pet in a car is considered animal cruelty.
Full Breakdown
Miami-Dade Animal Services administers Chapter 5 countywide because the City of Miami has no separate animal-control code. Owners must vaccinate every cat over four months for rabies and obtain an annual or three-year county license tag. Cats may not run at large; off-property cats can be impounded as strays unless ear-tipped and registered to a permitted community-cat caregiver. Caregivers in the county TNR program receive ID cards and may continue feeding registered colonies. Reclaim fees apply for impounded cats lacking license or microchip. Outdoor cats must wear current rabies and license tags or be microchipped.
Violations & Fines
First offense for unlicensed or at-large cats brings a written warning and impound; subsequent offenses bring civil fines up to $500 per animal, mandatory spay/neuter, and possible county Code Enforcement liens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my indoor cat skip the rabies tag?
Are feral cat colonies legal in Miami?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Miami
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Miami to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
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Cat Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Miami-Dade County handle cat rules.