COMMUNITY CAT | TNR (TRAP-NEUTER-RETURN) PROGRAM

See Form below to Register for the TNR (trap-neuter-return) Program
For questions, please call Animal Services Unit at 714-754-5128 | 714-754-5311
(Please allow three business days for your registration to be reviewed)

The Costa Mesa City Council voted to approve an ordinance to allow for a community cat | Trap-Neuter-Return Program in the City of Costa Mesa at the May 5, 2026, Council meeting. This ordinance legalizes TNR through the use of community cat colony registration by a provider or organization in the City of Costa Mesa.

Prior to engaging in any TNR activities, a person or sponsor organization must first register with and receive a letter of authorization from the Chief of Police.

It shall be lawful for a person or sponsor organization upon registration and authorization to humanely trap, transport, sterilize, vaccinate, ear-tip, and return a healthy community cat or feral cat to the location where it was originally trapped, provided sterilization, vaccination and/or ear-tipping is done pursuant all applicable laws.

•  TNR (trap-neuter-return) Infographic
•  Community Cat - TNR (trap-neuter-return) Ordinance No. 2026-06
•  City Council Agenda Report 05-05-2026

TNR Program Requirements
Participants must register below to receive authorization to participate in program.

The City of Costa Mesa is authorized to issue, deny, and/or place reasonable conditions on letters of authorization subject to the notification procedures section 3-148.

Authorized letters are valid for one (1) calendar year from the date of approval. A request for renewal of authorization must be submitted at least 30-days prior to the expiration thereof.

All cats returned under the TNR program must first:

• Be scanned for microchip and contact made with the registered owner prior to any treatment.
• Be surgically sterilized.
• Receive all core vaccines.
• Receive permanent identification through ear-tipping.
• Exception: Cats that are seriously ill, injured, or determined by a veterinarian to be suitable for adoption shall not be returned. 

TNR providers are required to submit TNR logs documenting location cats are trapped, date trapped, clinic or veterinarian used, sterilization and vaccination information, ear-tipping confirmation, and release location.