Union City, CA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Definition
- Cats are "animals" under § 8.04.020
- Leash law
- Applies to dogs only
- Licensing
- No cat license required
- Impoundment
- General impound authority still applies
- Property damage
- Owners liable for nuisance/damage
Summary
Union City's leash mandate in Chapter 8.12 names only dogs; cats are simply "animals" under Section 8.04.020, so there's no cat license or leash rule, though strays can still be impounded citywide.
"Animal" means any mammal, including but not limited to, horse, cow, goat, sheep, dog and cat. ... It shall be the duty of the City Manager to take up, impound and safely keep any of the animals enumerated in this chapter and found running at large, staked, tied or being herded or pastured in any street, lane, alley, court, square, park or other place belonging to or under the control of the City, or upon any private property, contrary to the provisions of this title.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4940544; v16 updated 2026-06-23).
Full Breakdown
Title 8 defines "Animal" broadly to include cats, but the at-large/leash requirement in Section 8.12.010 is written for dogs only. Section 8.16.010 nonetheless directs the City Manager to impound animals found running at large on City or private property in violation of the title, and that general impoundment authority reaches cats through the Section 8.04.020 definition. Chapter 8.08's licensing requirement applies only to dogs, so Union City has no separate cat license.
Violations & Fines
There's no cat-specific leash citation, but a stray cat can be impounded under Section 8.16.010's general animal impoundment authority, and owners remain liable for property damage under Section 8.28.030.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do cats need to be licensed in Union City?
Can a stray cat be picked up by the City?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Union City
California rules heatmap·Compare Union City to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Cat Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle cat rules.