(1) All cats over six months of age are required to be licensed by their owner. A license is valid for one year from the date of purchase, except that the County may establish a license for microchipped and spayed or neutered cats that is valid for the life of the cat. A late penalty may be added if the owner fails to renew an expired license within 30 days of license expiration. There shall be a fee for replacement of any lost license tag. License fees may be paid to the Humane Society, a contractor, a “private” licensing outlet, or other outlet as designated by the Director. A service charge in addition to the regularly set fees may be collected and retained by all “private” licensing outlets designated by the Director for each cat license issued. Upon payment of the license fee, the licensing outlet shall give the owner of such cat a license and metallic tag for each cat licensed.

(2) All license fees and service charges collected under the provisions of this section are set forth in Chapter 5.100 CCC.

(3) It shall be the duty of every owner to attach the valid metallic license tag to the collar worn by his/her cat when the cat is off the owner’s property. A cat with permanent, readily scannable microchip identification shall not be required to wear a collar with the metallic license tag attached. Except that neither the County nor the animal shelter shall be liable for the failure of a scanner to detect the presence of a microchip.

(4) Upon the sale or other transfer of ownership of any cat, the cat shall be relicensed by the new owner.

(5) All license fees, late penalties, and service charges collected under the provisions of this section, other than civil penalties and criminal fines, are set forth in Chapter 5.100 CCC. The Animal Control Authority may, at its discretion, temporarily reduce license or other fees at special events or clinics held to encourage compliance with this chapter.

(6) Exceptions. Licenses are not required in the following circumstances: