Virginia Beach, VA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- License age threshold
- 4 months or older
- License tax (spayed/neutered cat)
- $5–$15, one to three years
- At-large penalty
- Class 4 misdemeanor
- Confinement rule
- Cat must stay on owner's premises
- Leash law
- Applies to dogs only, not cats
Summary
Virginia Beach requires every cat four months or older to carry a city license tag and bars cats from running loose off the owner's property: a violation is a class 4 misdemeanor.
Any person owning, keeping or harboring any dog or cat within the city that is found running at large shall be guilty of a class 4 misdemeanor... It shall be the responsibility of any person owning, keeping or harboring any dog or cat within the city to keep such dog or cat confined to the premises of such person, unless in the custody of a responsible person.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 170 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 5-300 requires every dog or cat four months or older to carry a Virginia Beach license, issued by the city treasurer or an appointed veterinarian-agent under § 5-301. The tax is $5 for a one-year tag on a spayed or neutered cat (up to $15 for three years) and $10–$30 for an unaltered cat. Separately, § 5-530 makes it unlawful for an owner to let a dog or cat run at large: a cat must be kept confined to the owner's premises unless in the custody of a responsible person, and violating this is a class 4 misdemeanor. Unlike dogs, cats are not subject to the city's public leash requirement in § 5-531, which names dogs only.
Violations & Fines
Running at large or owning an unlicensed cat four months or older is a class 4 misdemeanor. Impounded cats draw a $50 first-day fee plus $15/day after, and unclaimed cats may be disposed of after 5 to 10 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do cats need a license in Virginia Beach?
Can I let my cat roam outside freely?
Is there a leash law for cats like there is for dogs?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Virginia Beach
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