Services We Provide
Licensing for Pets
All dogs in the County of Los Angeles must be licensed. In unincorporated areas and the majority of incorporated cities served by the Department, cats must also be licensed, with some exceptions. See complete list of fees here. Dog and cat licenses are an important means of identification and can help cats and dogs older than four months of age must be vaccinated against rabies. Pets must be re-vaccinated each year, or every three years with an approved three-year vaccine. Failure to vaccinate or license a dog or cat may result in fines or penalties. The County of Los Angeles also requires all dogs and cats to be spayed or neutered as well as micro chipped. Reduced license fees are provided for spayed and neutered pets.
Purchasing Licenses
The easiest way to get your pet licensed or keep your license current is by paying online via the department website. Animal licenses may also be purchased by completing a license application form and mailing it with payment, proof of rabies vaccination, and proof of sterilization to the address on the application. Please note animal licenses can be purchased at your local animal care center as well. Reduced license fees are available for senior citizens (age 60 or older) and disabled military veterans. Seniors must submit proof of age, such as a copy of their driver’s license, passport, or other official government-issued identification. Disabled military veterans must submit either a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs disability award letter or a Veterans Health Administration healthcare enrollee card that states the bearer has a service-connected disability. All such methods of proof may be uploaded online at the time you register your pet or renew your existing license.
Now pet owners have the option of purchasing a three-year license. The fee for the three-year license is just three times the amount of the yearly fee.
Please see link above to see the yearly license fee table for unincorporated areas along with contracted service cities.
Pet License Application Form (PDF)
Pay by Phone at: (877) U-PAY-PET or (877) 872-9738*
*Will require your mailed renewal notice to complete
Failure to renew a pet license can result in a late penalty equal to the cost of the license. Additionally, owners of unlicensed pets brought into compliance by the Department’s Field Licensing Enforcement program will be assessed an additional field licensing enforcement fee of $40.
Replacement Licenses
If a pet’s license becomes lost, a replacement license may be purchased by submitting a check for $5 to the Department’s Licensing Division. Please provide your pet's license number on the check. If you do not know your pet's license number, then please contact please contact the Enforcement Services Bureau’s Licensing Division at: (562) 345-0400.
The mailing address for the Department's Licensing Division is:
Department’s Licensing Division
5898 Cherry Ave.
Long Beach, CA 90805
This office is not open for walk-in service.
Field Licensing Enforcement
Field licensing enforcement refers to animal control officers who are assigned to work in the community to bring expired pet licenses into compliance, update expired licensing information, and license unregistered pets. Officers usually work Wednesday through Saturday. Officers assigned to field licensing enforcement duties have records of animals whose licenses have expired. The officers attempt to make personal contact with each pet owner with expired pet licenses and bring those owners into compliance with licensing laws. During these enforcement actions, officers are able to determine whether the owners have moved or the pets are deceased or otherwise no longer with the owner. Sometimes new pets have been brought into the home and the officers will bring their licensing status into compliance as well. Once a license is issued in the field, the resident will receive a renewal notice the following year mailed to the address on file.
Owners of unlicensed pets brought into compliance through the Department’s field licensing enforcement program will be assessed an additional field enforcement fee of $40 to offset the costs of this program. Field licensing enforcement is critical to keep records updated and accurate for the residents within our service areas.
Should you have a question regarding our field licensing enforcement operations, please contact at:
Wednesday-Saturday, 7:00 am – 5:30 pm
Designer Tags
Designer tags contain the pet owner’s personal contact information on the reverse side of the official license. Designer tag sales are processed by the Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation and proceeds are donated to enhance animal care at our animal care centers.
Pet owners may purchase a designer tag by completing the form provided below and submitting it with the license application, or mailing it separately, to the address on the form. There is an additional $15 charge for this personalization service processed by the Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation.
Designer Tag Purchase Form (PDF)