Glossary

Dog license

A local government registration of a dog, often required by law, usually needing proof of rabies vaccination and giving a tag that helps return a lost dog.

Also called: dog licence, dog licensing, license tag, dog tag, pet license, licensing fee

A dog license is a registration with your city, county or other local authority, and it is required in most places in the United States and many other countries. You usually apply with proof of a current rabies vaccination and pay a fee, which is often lower for a dog that is spayed or neutered, and you renew it on a schedule. In return you receive a tag for the collar.

Licensing fees pay for animal control and shelters. The tag also helps return a lost dog, since the number links to your contact details, and an unlicensed dog found loose may lead to a fine.

A license is separate from other kinds of records. A kennel registry records a dog's breeding, a microchip holds a permanent ID number, and a license is a legal permit that is renewed. Rules differ by place, so ask your local animal control office what applies.

Last reviewed November 8, 2026

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Related terms

Microchip and registry A rice-sized implant that holds an ID number, which links to your contact details only if you register it; it is not a GPS tracker. Leash law A local or state rule that requires a dog to be on a leash or under control in public, with set exceptions such as designated off-leash areas. Animal shelter A facility that houses stray, lost and surrendered dogs and cats, run by a city, county or non-profit, which returns pets to owners or places them in new homes. Kennel registry An organisation that keeps records of dogs and their parentage, issues registration papers and pedigrees, and often runs shows and sports.