DOG AND CAT LICENSING

Denver Revised Municipal Code ch. 8, art. II, div. 3

in effect

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 8-46 License required.

Sec. 8-46. - License required. It shall be unlawful for any person who owns any dog or domestic cat over the age of six (6) months in the city to fail to have such dog or cat licensed. Dogs or cats over the age of six (6) months purchased, obtained, or otherwise acquired shall be licensed within thirty (30) days after such acquisition or, if under, within thirty (30) days after reaching six (6) months of age. Individual licenses shall not be required for dogs or cats being held for redemption or adoption by the Denver Animal Shelter, an approved shelter owned and operated by a tax-exempt humane organization or a licensed pet shop. (Ord. No. 672-18, § 1, 7-16-18; Ord. No. 539-23, § 7, 6-5-23)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 8-47 Application.

Sec. 8-47. - Application. Application for licenses under this article shall be made on forms provided by the executive director. (Ord. No. 672-18, § 1, 7-16-18)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 8-48 License; issuance.

Sec. 8-48. - License; issuance. (a) Licenses may be applied for in person, by mail, or online by the owner of a dog or cat or an owner's representative. Upon filing of the completed application, either online, in person, or by mail, and payment of the license fee, the executive director or person lawfully designated and authorized to issue licenses on the executive director's behalf shall issue to the applicant a one-year license for the current year, a three-year license for the current and two (2) subsequent years, or a permanent license for the lifetime of the dog or cat. Licensed veterinarians may be designated to issue licenses upon receipt of a properly completed application and fee, or they may submit applications for licenses on behalf of their clients, and as provided by the board. The executive director may nominally compensate veterinarians for processing licenses. (b) The license tag shall be attached to each licensed dog at all times when it is off the property of the owner or keeper by means of a collar or harness, and it shall be unlawful to place this tag on any animal other than the dog for which the license was issued. (c) The license tag shall be attached to each licensed cat at all times when it is off the property of the owner or keeper by means of a collar or harness unless the cat bears a visible tattoo or identifiable microchip, and it shall be unlawful to place this tag on any animal other than the cat for which the license was issued. (Ord. No. 672-18, § 1, 7-16-18)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 8-49 Rabies vaccination certification.

Sec. 8-49. - Rabies vaccination certification. The owner shall certify on the license application that the dog or cat has been vaccinated for rabies as required in division 2 of this article II or shall agree to provide within thirty (30) days following issuance of the license proof of vaccination or a written statement from a licensed veterinarian that vaccination for rabies would be detrimental to the health of the specific dog or cat. (Ord. No. 672-18, § 1, 7-16-18)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 8-50 License fees; exemptions.

Sec. 8-50. - License fees; exemptions. (a) A license fee for dogs and cats shall be assessed annually, triennially, or once at the time of application for a permanent license to the owner of the animal. The executive director shall assess additional fees for the same day issuance of a license, and replacement of a lost, misplaced, or destroyed license. (b) The following categories of animals shall be exempt from the licensing fee: (1) One (1) sterilized dog or one (1) sterilized cat owned by any person sixty-five (65) years of age or older; (2) Service animals, as defined by state law; (3) Police service dogs; and (4) Emergency response animals. (Ord. No. 672-18, § 1, 7-16-18)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 8-53 Transferability.

Sec. 8-53. - Transferability. Licenses and tags or other symbols of license identification under this article are not transferable. (Ord. No. 672-18, § 1, 7-16-18)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 8-54 Records.

Sec. 8-54. - Records. The executive director shall keep all records of the issuance of licenses under this article. (Ord. No. 672-18, § 1, 7-16-18)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 8-55 Spaying and neutering.

Sec. 8-55. - Spaying and neutering. (a) It shall be unlawful to own or keep in the city any dog or cat over the age of six (6) months that has not been spayed or neutered except as provided in section 8-56. (b) It is the purpose of this section to promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the residents of the city by reducing the number of stray dogs and cats. The council finds that each year tens of thousands of dogs and cats are euthanized in the city because they are not wanted. It is the purpose of this section to eliminate the excessive number of unwanted animals and thereby stop the needless killing of these animals by restricting the breeding practices of pet owners and breeders through legislation that is both reasonable and enforceable. (Ord. No. 672-18, § 1, 7-16-18)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 8-56 Intact permit requirements.

Sec. 8-56. - Intact permit requirements. The prohibition contained in section 8-55 shall not apply: (a) If a licensed veterinarian states in writing that an animal is unfit to undergo the required surgical procedure because of an extreme health condition of the animal. Such extreme health condition shall include, but not be limited to: severe cardiovascular compromise, bleeding disorder, respiratory disease, and hepatic disease. The old age of an animal shall not, of itself, constitute an extreme health condition for purposes of this section. (b) If the owner of the animal annually obtains a permit from Denver Animal Protection to possess an animal that is not spayed or neutered. The permit shall be issued or renewed only if the department determines that the following conditions have been met: (1) The animal is kept current on the rabies vaccination; (2) The animal is not housed with another intact animal of the same species and opposite sex in the same household; (3) The owner has not had more than two (2) violations of the provisions of Chapter 8 of the Code in the preceding twenty-four (24) months; (4) The owner pays a permit fee established by the board. The permit fee is intended to cover a portion of the cost which the city currently incurs for each unwanted animal impounded and euthanized; and (5) The executive director determines that approval of the permit is in the interests of the animal as well as the health and welfare of the public. (c) If an animal is temporarily in the city to participate in a show or event sponsored by a sanctioned animal organization; or (d) If an animal is owned or kept in the city for fewer than thirty (30) days in a one-year period. (Ord. No. 672-18, § 1, 7-16-18)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 8-57 Dismissal upon compliance.

Sec. 8-57. - Dismissal upon compliance. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 1-13(a), a criminal citation for violation of this division shall be dismissed if there is proof of compliance with the terms of this division within thirty (30) days of the date of the summons or impoundment. (Ord. No. 672-18, § 1, 7-16-18)

Source: City and County of Denver, Revised Municipal Code and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/co/denver/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIREMUCO_CH8AN_ARTIIDOCA_DIV3DOCALIFetched: 10/27/2026