Dog Licenses

Sacramento City Code tit. 9, ch. 9.44, art. V

in effect

Sacramento City Code § 9.44.490 License-Required.

9.44.490 License-Required. A. It is unlawful for any person to own, harbor or keep within the limits of the city a dog, over the age of four months, without first obtaining from the city a license authorizing the keeping of such dog within the city. B. It is unlawful for any person to breed an unaltered dog within the limits of the city while the dog is unlicensed. C. It is unlawful for any person to own, harbor or keep within the city any dog over the age of four months that has not been sterilized, unless such person holds an unaltered license, unaltered license with reduced fee, or is otherwise exempted as set forth in subsection F or G of this section. D. A valid license issued pursuant to this section to one owner may be transferred to a new owner for a transfer fee in the amount established by resolution of the city council. E. Whenever a license tag is lost, stolen or damaged, the owner shall apply for and obtain a replacement license from animal care services upon payment of the replacement fee. F. Any owner of an unaltered dog that meets all of the following criteria for each unaltered dog shall annually pay a reduced unaltered license fee upon written proof on an annual basis that the owner meets the following criteria: 1. Registers each dog with the American Kennel Club, United Kennel Club, American Dog Breeders Association, or other valid registry approved by the animal care services division; 2. Be a registered participant in at least one event sanctioned by a national registry and approved by the animal care services division within the previous twelve (12) month period from the date of issuance of the license or a showing that the dog has achieved a title at any time from a purebred dog registry. If an owner can not show proof that the animal has been shown in the previous twelve (12) month period, the department shall have the discretion to determine whether this subsection has been met; and 3. Does not breed the dog during the time the animal holds a reduced unaltered license. It is unlawful for the owner or any person to breed the dog during the time the animal holds a reduced unaltered license. This does not preclude the owner from obtaining an unaltered license at the full rate for the year the owner intends to breed the animal. G. The following are exempt as specified: 1. No fee shall be charged for dogs specified in Section 9.44.510 of this chapter. 2. Dogs that are certified in writing by a licensed veterinarian as not being suitable subjects for sterilizing due to health or age reasons will be assessed the altered license fee. A veterinarian shall specify in writing how long the animal is not a suitable subject for sterilization. If the animal at a later date is determined by the veterinarian to be suitable for sterilization then the appropriate fee will be assessed. (Ord. 2007-018 § 2; prior code § 6.03.030)

Sacramento City Code § 9.44.500 Fees-Waiver.

9.44.500 Fees-Waiver. A. Fees and License Periods. 1. A license fee in the amount established by resolution of the city council shall be collected by the animal care services manager, other authorized city department, by veterinarians, other persons authorized by the animal care services manager, or other persons authorized by the city manager, from the owner of each dog, male or female, over the age of four months, located within the city. 2. The license period is a maximum one year or three years commencing on the first day of the month the dog receives a rabies vaccination and expiring the last day of the month immediately preceding the month during which the vaccination will become invalid. 3. License fees shall become due and payable on the date of expiration. 4. Upon presentation of proper proof of spaying or neutering certified in writing by a licensed veterinarian, the license fee for such a spayed or neutered dog shall not exceed one-half of the basic fee. 5. A delinquency fee set by resolution of the city council shall be payable in addition to the license fee whenever a license is not renewed on or before the first business day after expiration. 6. Any person who acquires ownership, custody or control of any dog not currently licensed pursuant to provisions of this chapter shall be immediately liable for the payment of the license fee and shall be liable for a delinquency fee as set by the city council if the license is not obtained within thirty (30) days. 7. No license shall be issued for a current license period until such time as there is paid an amount equal to all delinquencies and fees outstanding for the prior license period in addition to the fee for the current period. B. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A of this section, the animal care services manager is hereby authorized to waive delinquency fees for up to one month per year, in order to encourage citizens with unlicensed dogs to obtain licenses. The animal care services manager shall cause this licensing amnesty program to be publicized throughout the city. (Ord. 2007-018 § 3; Ord. 2000-017 § 4(a)(23); prior code § 6.03.031)

Sacramento City Code § 9.44.510 Fee exemptions-Guide dogs and law enforcement dogs.

9.44.510 Fee exemptions-Guide dogs and law enforcement dogs. A fee shall not be collected or received for any dog license issued for a guide dog, signal dog, or service dog owned by a totally or partially blind person, or deaf person, or person whose hearing is impaired, or physically handicapped person, or for a dog used in active duty status with a governmental law enforcement agency. (Ord. 2007-018 § 4; prior code § 6.03.032)

Sacramento City Code § 9.44.520 Vaccination certificate required prior to issuance.

9.44.520 Vaccination certificate required prior to issuance. A dog license shall not be issued for any dog unless and until the owner of the dog presents to the animal care services manager or other authorized city department a valid certificate of vaccination obtained pursuant to Section 9.44.620 of this title, or unless he or she is exempted therefrom as provided herein. (Ord. 2007-018 § 5; prior code § 6.03.033)

Sacramento City Code § 9.44.530 Application-Issuance-Identification tag to be issued.

9.44.530 Application-Issuance-Identification tag to be issued. The person owning or having control of the dog shall furnish to the animal care services manager or other authorized city department a description of the dog sufficient for identification, which description shall be entered in a record kept by the animal care services manager for that purpose. A metallic or plastic identification tag having a number corresponding with the registration upon the dog shall be issued to the owner of the dog. Upon such registration, a license to keep a dog shall be issued to the applicant. (Ord. 2007-018 § 6; prior code § 6.03.034)

Sacramento City Code § 9.44.540 Identification tag-To be attached to collar.

9.44.540 Identification tag-To be attached to collar. Every dog shall be provided by the owner with a suitable collar or other device to which the dog license tag shall be attached. (Prior code § 6.03.035)

Sacramento City Code § 9.44.550 Identification tag-Not transferable.

9.44.550 Identification tag-Not transferable. It is unlawful for any person to use any identification tag for any other dog than for the one for which it was originally issued. The owner of a licensed dog shall preserve the license upon the premises wherein the registered dog is kept and shall, upon demand of the animal care services manager, or any health officer, or a police officer of the city, show to such animal care officer, health officer, or police officer the license to keep such dog. (Ord. 2007-018 § 7; prior code § 6.03.036)

Source: City of Sacramento, Sacramento City Code (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/sacramentoca/latest/sacramento_ca/0-0-0-21226Fetched: 10/24/2026