Monroe County, NY Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Monroe County Sanitary Code § 569-75
- Who must comply
- Owners of cats 4+ months old
- Proof required
- Veterinarian-signed vaccination certificate
- Key exemptions
- Shelters, hospitals, short-term nonresident cats
Summary
Monroe County requires every cat four months or older to be vaccinated against rabies, with a licensed veterinarian's certificate as proof, under the county's Feline Rabies Control law.
The owner of every cat four months or older shall have the cat vaccinated against rabies. Evidence of vaccination shall consist of a certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian with the original certificate given to the owner and a copy retained by the person administering the vaccine.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4802746; v60 updated 2026-02-10; through 02-10-2026).
Full Breakdown
Article XI of the Sanitary Code, § 569-75, requires the owner of every cat four months or older to have it vaccinated against rabies, with evidence consisting of a certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian describing the cat's breed, age and owner. Exemptions apply to nonresident cats in the county under 15 days, shelter cats, and cats confined at hospitals or research institutions.
Violations & Fines
Unvaccinated cats found to have bitten a person or another animal, or impounded and redeemed by an owner, trigger a notice of violation and penalty under § 569-76; during a rabies outbreak, any unvaccinated cat can be cited at any time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Monroe County require cat licenses?
Are shelter or feral cats exempt from vaccination?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Monroe County
New York rules heatmap·Compare Monroe County to another location·View the New York animal ordinances overview
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