COMMUNITY CATS

Las Vegas Municipal Code tit. 7, ch. 7.22

in effect

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.22.010 Purpose.

7.22.010 - Purpose. The purpose of this Chapter is to establish a mechanism by which community cat colonies may function within the City in conjunction with Section 7.20.035 and with other provisions of this Title that might otherwise govern or apply. The Animal Regulation Officer may elect to: (A) Use this Chapter independently; (B) Have this Chapter be the basis for entering into an interlocal contract or cooperative agreement with another jurisdiction regarding community cat colonies, following which: (1) The application of this Chapter will be superseded by the contract or agreement; and (2) The subject matter of this Chapter will be governed by that contract or agreement; or (C) Use this Chapter in connection and concurrently with such a contract or agreement, with the means of doing so set forth in the contract or agreement. (Ord. No. 6490, § 9, 12-16-15)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.22.020 Registration—Conditions.

7.22.020 - Registration—Conditions. Community cat caregivers shall be entitled to maintain and care for community cats by providing food, water, shelter, medical care and other forms of sustenance. In connection with the implementation of this Chapter, community cat caregivers, rescue organizations, animal shelters, the Animal Protection Services Center, and others are authorized to carry out TNR programs. (Ord. No. 6816, § 51, 8-17-22; Ord. No. 6490, § 10, 12-16-15)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.22.030 Responsibilities.

7.22.030 - Responsibilities. (A) It shall be the responsibility of a community cat caregiver to: (1) Take all appropriate and available steps to trap each community cat in the colony in order to have the cat sterilized, vaccinated for rabies, and ear tipped, and to monitor for new community cats that join the colony; and (2) Seek medical attention for any sick or injured community cat within the colony. (B) A community cat caregiver who provides food, water and shelter to community cats as allowed by this Chapter shall not be considered to be violating the following provisions of this Title, unless the person's actions are determined to be more like the actions of an actual owner or person in custody and control of the cats than a community cat caregiver: (1) Any limitations in Chapter 7.08 on the number of cats cared for; and (2) The prohibitions of Chapter 7.36. (Ord. No. 6490, §§ 11, 12, 12-16-15)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.22.040 Disposition of community cats.

7.22.040 - Disposition of community cats. (A) If a community cat with a tipped ear is trapped and turned into the Animal Protection Services Center or any other animal shelter, employees or volunteers may immediately return the cat to the location where it was trapped if they determine that the cat is healthy and has been successfully living outdoors. With respect to any such cat, the Animal Protection Services Center or other animal shelter is exempt from the mandatory hold period in LVMC 7.20.080 and may hold any such cat for the time limit established in the current shelter policy. (B) If a community cat that has a microchip or identification tag is trapped and turned into the Animal Protection Services Center or any other animal shelter, the cat must be held in accordance with LVMC 7.20.080. After the mandatory hold period, such cat may be: (1) Returned to its owner, if known; (2) Processed for adoption through the regular adoption process; or (3) Returned to the location where it was trapped if it is healthy, is deemed to have been successfully living outdoors, and has been sterilized, vaccinated for rabies, and ear tipped. (C) If a community cat that does not have a tipped ear or microchip or identification tag is trapped and turned into the Animal Protection Services Center or any other shelter, the Animal Protection Services Center or other animal shelter is exempt from the mandatory hold period in LVMC 7.20.080. If such cat is healthy, the cat may be: (1) Processed for adoption through the regular adoption process; or (2) Returned to the location where it was trapped if it is deemed to have been successfully living outdoors and has been sterilized, vaccinated for rabies, and ear tipped. (D) Except in the case of extreme injury, illness or suffering, no community cat that is has been trapped and turned in to the Animal Protection Services Center or other animal shelter may be euthanized until the minimum impound period has expired. (Ord. No. 6816, § 52, 8-17-22; Ord. No. 6490, §§ 11, 12, 12-16-15)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.22.050 Compliance.

7.22.050 - Compliance. (A) The Animal Regulation Officer or an Animal Protection Services Officer shall have the right to trap in a humane manner any community cat that is deemed to be a threat to public health or safety. If a licensed veterinarian decides that the cat is too ill or injured or that it has an illness that presents an imminent danger to the public health or safety or to itself, or if the cat has bitten a human being, the cat may be humanely euthanized. After any applicable mandatory quarantine period, a community cat that has been found to be healthy and does not pose any other issue of public health or safety exist, the cat may be returned to the location where it was trapped if it has been sterilized and vaccinated, as deemed necessary. (B) The Animal Regulation Officer shall have the authority to declare that a particular community cat colony or community cat is in a location that is hazardous to the health and safety of the public or that the colony or cat is a nuisance. A community cat that has been impounded from a colony that has been declared a hazard or nuisance pursuant to this Section shall not be released to the location of the colony unless the hazard or nuisance is remedied and the release has been approved by the Animal Regulation Officer. The disposition provisions of LVMC 7.22.040 shall apply to any cat impounded pursuant to this Section. (Ord. No. 6816, § 53, 8-17-22; Ord. No. 6490, §§ 11, 12, 12-16-15)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.22.060 Release of community cats.

7.22.060 - Release of community cats. The release of a community cat in accordance with this Chapter shall not be deemed a violation of LVMC 7.32.010. (Ord. No. 6490, §§ 11, 12, 12-16-15)

Source: City of Las Vegas, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/nv/las_vegas/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT7AN_CH7.22COCAFetched: 10/28/2026