Peoria, AZ Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- At-large exemption
- Cats excluded from citywide leash/enclosure ban (Sec. 16-41(a))
- Feral cats count as cats
- Definition includes feral/non-pet cats (Sec. 16-1)
- Stray hold period
- Minimum 72 hours at pound (Sec. 16-31(b))
- Bite quarantine
- At least 7 days at pound or vet hospital (Sec. 16-11(a))
- No cat license requirement
- Sec. 16-32 licensing applies only to dogs
Summary
Peoria treats cats differently from dogs: City Code Sec. 16-41(a) exempts cats outright from the citywide animals-at-large ban that covers every other animal, bird and rodent. A cat, including a feral cat under the Sec. 16-1 definition, may roam without a leash or enclosure, though it remains subject to Chapter 16's general nuisance and sanitation rules.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to cause, allow, suffer or permit any animal, bird or rodent to be at large at any place in the City at any time, excluding cats. (b) The owner of every animal, bird or rodent or person having control over an animal, bird or rodent shall at all times control such animal, bird or rodent in such a manner that it is not at large at any place in the City.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-9: Supplement contains: LLocal legislation current through Ord. 2026-15, passed 6-16-26).
Full Breakdown
Section 16-41(a) singles cats out by name: it is unlawful for any animal, bird or rodent to be at large at any place in the City at any time, excluding cats. No other Peoria animal ordinance requires a cat to be confined, licensed, or kept on a leash, in contrast to Chapter 16's six-foot leash mandate for dogs. The definition section, Sec. 16-1, defines 'Cat' broadly enough to reach colony animals: it excludes exotic cats like lions and tigers but does include feral and non-pet examples of otherwise domestic cats, meaning a feral colony cat is legally a 'cat' for every other Chapter 16 purpose.
That matters because the general keeping restrictions in Sec. 16-8 and Sec. 16-9(b) still apply to cats: it is unlawful to keep any animal in a way that disturbs the peace or produces offensive odors, and the premises where cats are kept must stay sanitary and open to inspection by the enforcement agent. A cat that is picked up as a stray is not exempt from impoundment: Sec. 16-31(b) holds any impounded cat at the pound for a minimum of seventy-two hours before it can be claimed, and Sec.
16-31(c) requires a cat released for purchase after that hold to be spayed or neutered, or the buyer must post a sterilization deposit. A cat that bites a person is quarantined for at least seven days at an authorized pound or, at the owner's expense, a veterinary hospital under Sec. 16-11(a).
Violations & Fines
There is no citation for an unleashed or roaming cat under Sec. 16-41, since the section exempts cats by name. A cat kept in violation of the nuisance or sanitation rules in Sec. 16-8 or Sec. 16-9(b), however, is enforced the same as any other Chapter 16 offense: a class one misdemeanor or a civil penalty up to $2,500 under Sec. 16-35(a), and the enforcement agent may inspect the premises where the cat is kept.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my cat roam free in Peoria?
Does Peoria require cat licenses?
What happens if my cat is picked up as a stray?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Peoria
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