Santa Fe, NM Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 5-5.6 SFCC 1987
- License required at
- 3 months of age or older
- License terms
- 1, 2, or 3 years
- 1st citation fine
- $100 (36-month lookback)
- 4th citation fine
- $500 (36-month lookback)
- Nonresident exemption
- Under 30 consecutive days in city
Summary
Santa Fe requires every cat three months or older to be licensed, with a current rabies certificate presented at purchase and a valid tag affixed at all times. The at-large restraint rule in Section 5-5.4 applies to cats along with dogs, and an unaltered cat needs its own annual permit under the city's separate spay/neuter ordinance.
Any person owning, possessing, or harboring any dog or cat three (3) months of age or over shall obtain a license for such animal. Licenses valid for one (1) year, two (2) years, or three (3) years may be obtained from an organization designated by the administrator. A current rabies vaccination certificate shall be presented at the time of the license purchase. In the event a tag is lost, replacement tags shall be purchased.
Full Breakdown
6 SFCC 1987, "Licenses for dogs and cats," requires that any person owning, possessing, or harboring a dog or cat three months of age or over obtain a license for the animal, available in one-, two- or three-year terms from an organization designated by the animal services administrator, with a current rabies vaccination certificate required at the time of purchase. The license tag must stay affixed to the cat at all times unless the animal is in an approved kennel, veterinary hospital, grooming parlor, show or training session, in which case the handler must carry the tag and display it on an officer's request.
Cats belonging to nonresidents who don't keep the animal in the city for 30 consecutive days are exempt from licensing, and service animals never owe a license fee. 4 unless it is within an official city dog park's boundaries, a carve-out written for dogs, not cats. 15, separate from the basic license.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a current cat or dog license draws escalating civil citations under Table 5-12.1 SFCC 1987: $100 for a first citation in a 36-month period, $200 for a second, $300 for a third, and $500 for a fourth. Animal services officers may also decline to release an impounded, unlicensed cat until the license fee, along with any vaccination costs and fines, is paid in full.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do indoor-only cats need a Santa Fe license?
How much does an unlicensed cat citation cost the first time?
Does my cat need to be spayed or neutered to get a license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Fe
Compare Santa Fe to another location·View the New Mexico animal ordinances overview
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