DOG AND CAT LICENSE TAXES

Richmond, Va., City Code ch. 26, art. XIII

in effect

Richmond, Va., City Code § 26-817 Levy.

Sec. 26-817. - Levy. (a) There is levied and imposed for each calendar year a tax of $10.00 for each license issued for each dog or cat four months old or older, except dogs and cats kept in a kennel. There is levied for each calendar year a tax of $25.00 on each license issued for each kennel consisting of not more than 20 dogs or cats, and a tax of $40.00 on each license issued for each kennel consisting of more than 20 dogs or cats and not more than 50 dogs or cats. (b) No license tax shall be levied on any dog that is trained and serves as a guide dog for a blind person, that is trained and serves as a hearing dog for a deaf or hearing-impaired person, or that is trained and serves as a service dog for a mobility-impaired or otherwise disabled person. As used in this subsection, the term "hearing dog," "mobility-impaired person," "otherwise disabled person" and "service dog" shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in Code of Virginia, § 51.5-40.1. (c) No license shall be issued for a kennel consisting of more than 50 dogs or cats. (Code 1993, § 27-281; Code 2004, § 98-561; Code 2015, § 26-817; Code 2020, § 26-817; Ord. No. 2014-164-154, § 1(98-561), 9-8-2014)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 26-818 Liability; due date; payment.

Sec. 26-818. - Liability; due date; payment. The license tax as prescribed in Section 26-817 shall be due not later than 30 days after a dog or cat has reached the age of four months, or not later than 30 days after an owner acquires a dog or cat four months of age or older and each year thereafter. Any kennel license tax shall be due on January 1 and not later than January 31 of each year. (Code 1993, § 27-282; Code 2004, § 98-562; Code 2015, § 26-818; Code 2020, § 26-818)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 26-819 Composition of license; tags.

Sec. 26-819. - Composition of license; tags. A dog or cat license shall consist of a license receipt and a metal tag. The tag shall be stamped or otherwise permanently marked to show in all capital letters, "RICHMOND, VIRGINIA" and shall bear a serial number. The tag for dogs or cats kept in a kennel shall show the maximum number of dogs and cats authorized to be kept in the kennel under the license, and there shall be issued therewith a metal identification plate for each dog and cat authorized to be kept in the kennel under the license, numbered to correspond with the serial number of the tag. (Code 1993, § 27-283; Code 2004, § 98-563; Code 2015, § 26-819; Code 2020, § 26-819; Ord. No. 2020-012, § 1(26-819), 1-27-2020)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 26-820 Licenses required annually; vaccination.

Sec. 26-820. - Licenses required annually; vaccination. Dog and cat licenses shall be issued to and obtained annually by persons liable for the license tax levied by this article and shall be effective for one year from the date issued. Any person liable for the license tax levied by this article may obtain a dog or cat license by making oral or written application therefor to the Collector or agent, accompanied by payment of the license tax and a certificate that the dog or cat for which the license is to be issued has been vaccinated or treated for rabies. For a spayed or neutered dog or cat, the purchaser of such license shall certify in writing to the Collector or agent the name and address of the veterinarian performing the operation and the date of the operation. (Code 1993, § 27-284; Code 2004, § 98-564; Code 2015, § 26-820; Code 2020, § 26-820; Ord. No. 2020-012, § 1(26-820), 1-27-2020)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 26-821 Duplicate tags.

Sec. 26-821. - Duplicate tags. If a dog or cat license shall become lost, destroyed or stolen, the owner or custodian shall at once apply to the Collector or agent who issued the license for a duplicate license tag, presenting the original license receipt. Upon affidavit of the owner or custodian before the Collector or agent that the original license tag has been lost, destroyed or stolen, the Collector or agent shall issue a duplicate license tag which the owner or custodian shall immediately affix to the collar of the dog or cat. The Collector or agent shall endorse the number of the duplicate and the date issued on the face of the original license receipt. The fee for a duplicate tag for any dog or cat shall be $1.00. (Code 1993, § 27-285; Code 2004, § 98-565; Code 2015, § 26-821; Code 2020, § 26-821)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 26-822 Disposition and use of revenue.

Sec. 26-822. - Disposition and use of revenue. (a) The Director of Finance shall keep all money collected for dog and cat license taxes in a separate account from all other funds collected. The City shall use the funds for the following purposes: (1) The salary and expenses of the animal control supervisor and necessary staff. (2) The care and maintenance of a public animal shelter. (3) The maintenance of a rabies control program. (4) Efforts to promote sterilization of dogs and cats. (5) Payments as a bounty to any person neutering or spaying a dog up to the amount of one year of the license tax as provided by ordinance. (6) Payments for compensation as provided in Code of Virginia, § 3.2-6553. (b) The City Council may supplement the animal control fund with other funds as it considers appropriate, but it shall do so to the extent necessary to provide for Subsections (a)(1) and (2) of this section. (Code 1993, § 27-286; Code 2004, § 98-566; Code 2015, § 26-822; Code 2020, § 26-822)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 26-823 False statements to secure license; penalty for failure to obtain license.

Sec. 26-823. - False statements to secure license; penalty for failure to obtain license. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to make a false statement in order to secure a dog or cat or kennel license to which such person is not entitled. Upon conviction thereof, such person shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor. (b) It shall be unlawful for any person liable for the license tax levied by this article to fail, refuse or neglect to pay the license tax annually, or to fail, refuse or neglect to pay the license tax when otherwise required by Section 26-818. If an officer determines that a license has not been obtained, the officer shall, then and there, issue and serve a summons upon such owner to appear in court for violation of the license law. Such owner may, in lieu of appearing in court on their turn date of such summons, within five working days of the date of receipt of such summons, pay a fine of $15.00 if such summons is for a first offense; and a fine of $25.00 if it is for a second offense or subsequent offense. Upon conviction of violating this subsection, such person shall be fined not less than $15.00 for the first offense and $25.00 for any subsequent offense and such person shall be required by the court or judge trying the case to obtain the proper license forthwith. (c) Failure to obtain a license is a Class 4 misdemeanor. (d) Payment of the license tax subsequent to the issuance of a summons or warrant to appear before a court or judge for violation of this section shall not relieve such person from the penalty required to be imposed by this section. (Code 1993, § 27-287; Code 2004, § 98-567; Code 2015, § 26-823; Code 2020, § 26-823; Ord. No. 2020-012, § 1(26-823), 1-27-2020)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 26-824 Payment of license tax subsequent to summons.

Sec. 26-824. - Payment of license tax subsequent to summons. Payment of the license tax imposed under this article subsequent to a summons to appear before a court for failure to pay the license tax within the time required shall not relieve such owner from the penalties provided in Section 4-97. (Code 1993, § 27-288; Code 2004, § 98-568; Code 2015, § 26-824; Code 2020, § 26-824)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 26-825 Violations.

Sec. 26-825. - Violations. Any person violating this article shall be subject to the penalties specified in Section 4-97. (Code 1993, § 27-289; Code 2004, § 98-569; Code 2015, § 26-825; Code 2020, § 26-825)

Source: City of Richmond, Virginia, Code (2026 recodification) and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/va/richmond/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICICO_CH26TA_ARTXIIIDOCALITAFetched: 11/8/2026