Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup
Key FactsOrdinance TextFull BreakdownViolationsFAQSourcesMore in Murfreesboro

Murfreesboro, TN Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Vaccination age
By 3 months old
Annual fee
$2.00 per cat
Due date
May 1 each year
Paid to
Rutherford County Trustee
Tag required
On collar at all times

Summary

Murfreesboro requires every cat over three months old to be rabies-vaccinated, and owners must pay a $2 annual fee to the Rutherford County Trustee by May 1 for a tag.

(A)Any person who owns, keeps or harbors a dog or cat within the City shall have such dog or cat properly inoculated or immunized against rabies... provided that, dogs and cats need not be inoculated before reaching the age of three months. (B)All persons owning, keeping or harboring... any dog or cat over three months of age, shall pay on or before May 1st of each year... to the County Trustee or authorized agent, a fee of $2.00 for each and every dog or cat so owned, kept or harbored.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 18 Update 1).

Full Breakdown

Under City Code § 5-25, any person who owns, keeps, or harbors a cat in Murfreesboro must have it inoculated against rabies, with the first shot repeated a year later and re-vaccination required at least every three years. Cats must be vaccinated by three months of age. Owners then pay the County Trustee (or authorized agent) $2 per cat every year by May 1, and the veterinarian issuing the shot must supply a matching tag under § 5-26 that stays fastened to the cat's collar for inspection. There is no separate feral-colony or at-large ordinance for cats in the city code.

Violations & Fines

Owning, keeping, or harboring an unvaccinated or unregistered cat is a violation of § 5-25 and is punishable under the general penalty provision, City Code § 1-8.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Murfreesboro require a cat license?
Not a separate license, but every cat over three months old must be rabies-vaccinated and registered for a $2 annual fee with a tag, per City Code § 5-25.
Is there a rule for feral cat colonies in Murfreesboro?
No: the city code has no feral-colony or trap-neuter-release provision; only the rabies-vaccination and fee requirement applies to owned cats.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Murfreesboro

Parking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsDog Leash LawsSome RestrictionsChickens & LivestockSignificant RestrictionsBird ProtectionHeavy RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingLight RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant Restrictions

All Murfreesboro rules

Compare Murfreesboro to another location·View the Tennessee animal ordinances overview

Get notified when Cat Rules in Murfreesboro, TN changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.