Rancho Cordova, CA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- License required
- cats over 4 months old
- License term
- annual, non-pro-rated fee
- Sterilized discount
- half the intact-cat fee
- Tag transfer fee
- $10.00 to new owner
- Feral/farm cat colonies
- exempt if trap-sterilize program active
Summary
Rancho Cordova requires every cat over four months old to carry a city license and tag from animal services, with fees set by council resolution. Unowned cats and documented farm or feral cat colonies under an active trap-sterilize program are exempt from licensing entirely.
All persons owning or having custody of a dog or cat over the age of four months shall obtain a license and tag for each dog and cat from the animal services manager. Each applicant for such a license shall pay an annual fee as specified by the city council... ... Every owner of an unlicensed or untagged dog or cat shall be deemed to be in violation of this title... ... The licensing regulations in this title are not applicable to the following: ... 4. Unowned cats; 5. Farm cats, as defined in RCMC § 8.01.017, and any person or organization that is providing care for feral or farm cats and is making a reasonable effort to trap and sterilize the animals.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4660102; v2 updated 2026-03-02; through 03-02-2026).
Full Breakdown
010, any person owning or having custody of a cat over four months must obtain an annual license and tag from the animal services manager; an unlicensed or untagged cat puts the owner in violation of Title 8. 030 sets the mechanics: the license fee is charged in full, not pro-rated, and becomes due annually on the prior license's expiration date. An unaltered cat requires either an unaltered license, a reduced-fee unaltered license, or an exemption; once a veterinarian certifies sterilization, the fee drops to half the intact rate.
Every cat must wear its tag on a collar or harness at all times except when being shown. 00. 017 along with any person or organization providing care for feral or farm cats while making a reasonable effort to trap and sterilize them. A farm cat is one residing on agriculturally zoned land for rodent control whose ownership cannot be established. 060 that carries into the following year's bill if unpaid.
Violations & Fines
A violation of the licensing chapter may be charged criminally as a misdemeanor or, in the alternative, enforced through administrative monetary penalties under RCMC § 8.06.060, collected per the procedures in § 8.06.065. Animal services keeps a percentage of penalty fees and unaltered-license revenue to fund low-income pet sterilization programs. Owners who let their license lapse face a delinquency penalty added to the fee, and an unpaid penalty rolls onto the next year's bill.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Rancho Cordova require unowned or feral cats to be licensed?
What happens if my cat's license lapses?
Can I get a cheaper license for an unaltered cat?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rancho Cordova
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