Portsmouth, VA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Unlike dogs, cats are not subject to Portsmouth's licensing and tag-purchase system in Chapter 4, Article III, which by its own terms (§ 4-61) applies only to dogs four months or older. Cats are instead governed by the citywide vaccination mandate in Article IV. Section 4-96(a) makes it unlawful to own, keep, harbor, or control any cat four months old or older unless it has been vaccinated against rabies within the preceding 12 months (one-year vaccine) or 36 months (three-year vaccine); anyone bringing a cat into the city from elsewhere has 30 days to comply if the cat will stay more than 30 days.

The vaccination must be certified by a licensed veterinarian, and under § 4-96(b) the resulting rabies tag must be firmly attached to the cat's collar and worn at all times the cat is off its owner's property or not under a responsible person's immediate control. Owners must produce the vaccination certificate on request from an animal control officer, humane investigator, police officer, or health department official under § 4-96(c). Section 4-97 backs this with impoundment: any cat over four months found in the city without proof of vaccination is impounded for at least five days, during which the owner may reclaim it by proving ownership and paying the daily boarding rate set in Appendix A plus any assessed fines.

If unclaimed after five days, the cat becomes property of the Portsmouth Humane Society, which may offer it for adoption or humanely dispose of it. Separately, § 4-10(a) caps any accessory structure built to house cats or dogs on residentially zoned land at one-half percent of the lot area and requires it to sit at least 15 feet from a property line in the rear yard only.