Nassau County, FL Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Sec. 6-42(a) requires anyone owning, keeping or harboring a dog, cat or ferret four months of age or older to secure a county license, issued either by a veterinarian or by the county Animal Control facility, and the license doubles as proof of a current rabies vaccination administered by a veterinarian. Sec. 6-42(e) gives owners thirty days after acquiring a cat that age or older to apply, and Sec. 6-42(i) gives the same thirty days to anyone relocating into the county with an already-owned cat.

Licenses run for one year, tied to the rabies vaccination cycle, and under Sec. 6-42(f) cat owners must be able to provide proof of licensing on request even though, unlike dogs, cats are not required to wear the tag at all times; owners can instead choose a breakaway collar or another county-approved identification. Sec. 00 of each unaltered-cat fee going to the Spay Nassau Program. 00. License fees are waived for seeing-eye and certified assistance dogs and for law-enforcement dogs, but no comparable waiver is listed for cats.

Sec. 6-45(c) separately requires that a female cat in heat be confined in a building or secure enclosure so she cannot contact another animal except for planned breeding.