NYC is a pretty dog friendly place. In fact, it routinely ranks high on the lists of the most dog friendly cities in the US. With that said, NYC has rules, laws, and regulations pertaining to responsible dog ownership that everyone who shares their life with a dog in NYC should know about and abide by.

Do I Need a Dog License in NYC?

New York State Law requires every individual owning or harboring a dog that is over 4 months old to obtain a license for that dog. A dog residing for more than 30 days should be licensed in the town, village, city, or county where the dog is living.

There are some exemptions:

• Puppies under 4 months of age are exempt so long as the pups are not running-at-large. If the puppy will be off the owners personal property and in public places it will need a license.

• Dogs that are with non-residents visiting NYC for less than 30 days are not required to have a NYC license provided the dog is licensed according to their residing states laws. 

• Per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service dogs are not required to have a license to enter any public space. A service dog is a dog that’s trained to perform tasks that are beneficial to individuals with disabilities.

How to License Your Dog in NYC?

Individual municipalities throughout New York State issue dog licenses and work together to enforce licensing laws across the state. If you live in New York City you will obtain your dog’s license from the NYC Department of Health. 

To apply for your dogs license you will need:

• To get and complete an application form.
• Provide proof of rabies vaccination in the form of an official, up to date rabies vaccination certificate from your veterinarian. This must include a signature from the veterinarian as well as their license number and the lot and serial number of the rabies vaccine.
• If your dog is spayed or neutered you will want a certificate stating that from your vet in order to get the discounted dog license fee. 
• Payment for the license.

You can get the form on-line at https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/services/dog-licenses.page, where you can complete the application process, or print the forms and mail in your application. If you’d prefer to call to request the application be mailed to you, the number is 313 or 212-NEW-YORK 212 639 9675.

NYC Dog License Fees

• The annual fee for dogs of any age that are Spayed or Neutered is $8.50. You can pay for as many as 5 years at one time.
• The annual fee for dogs that are over 4 months old and are non-spayed or non-neutered is $34.00. You can pay for as many as 5 years at one time.
• The annual fee for puppies that are under 4 months old that are non-spayed or non-neutered is $8.50. You can only pay for a one year license. The next year you will need to renew. The renewal fee will be based on whether or not your dog is intact.
• Late fees for expired licenses are $2.00 for every year the license was not renewed.
• If you lose the tag and request a replacement tag, the fee is $1.00.

NYC Dog License Renewal

Once you have licensed your dog, you should automatically receive renewal notices. Even so, as with all important documents such as licenses and registrations, you should consider having a way to remind yourself its time to renew so as to avoid your dog’s license lapsing. Unless you have a young puppy who is non-spayed or non-neutered, or a dog whose status may change, it may be worth paying for several (maximum of 5) years. Keep in mind that license fees are non-refundable.

Why Do I Need to Register and License My Dog in NYC?

It’s the Law!

Per New York State law, every dog owner in New York must license his/her dog with relevant authorities. The New York City Health Code stipulates that all dogs must be licensed and have a license attached to the dog’s collar or harness when out in public. The license must be renewed each year. If for any reason you get caught with an unlicensed dog, you’ll could be hit with a hefty fine, which is costlier than the license fee or worse.

What Are the Benefits to Licensing Dogs in NYC?

There are several benefits to having your dog registered and licensed in NYC other than simply staying on the right side of the law.

A licensed dog and owner stand a better chance of being reunited should they become separated and the dog gets lost. The license tag number is registered with the owners details making it easier for authorities to reunite lost dogs to their registered owners.

On the contrary, an unregistered and unlicensed dog is less likely to have its owner located within the limited amount of time a shelter may be able to hold the dog. To this point, be sure to update your dogs license contact information if you move or change your number. 

Having our city dogs registered provides a canine population count that confirms how popular dogs are to our New York City human dwellers. This information can aid in getting better resources for our furry friends.

A dog license provides reassurance to a rescuer that handling your dog is safe. Your four-legged friend cannot be licensed if he’s not appropriately vaccinated. A rescuer will be more likely to handle your missing dog with care if he/she is sure that your dog is healthy and without rabies.

License fees go towards supporting and funding local animal shelters in NYC. The fees also help in lowering the costs of spaying and neutering programs across the city.

What Happens if you Don’t License Your Dog in NYC?

All dogs in New York City must have licenses, and the licenses must be attached to their collar while in public. Dog owners can purchase a license that is valid for one year or up to five years.

Dog owners can be fined for violating these requirements.

In NYC , having an unlicensed dog can result in a fine, potentially escalating with repeat offenses, and in some cases, even imprisonment. For instance, the initial penalty can result in a fine of at least $25.00. If you have violated the law previously your fine will be $50.00. If you have two or more violations within the previous 5 years, you could face a fine of at least $100.00 or imprisonment for up to 15 days or both.

Of even greater consequence than fines, any dog control officer or peace officer can seize a dog that is not licensed, even if it is on the owners premises. An unlicensed dog may be subject to immediate impoundment or even destruction. 

Dog licenses are required by law in NYC for dogs 4 months or older, and the license must be attached to the dog when in public. Typically the license tag is attached to the collar. For some small dog owners the preference is to attach the large tag to the dogs harness or leash. Having the tag attached to the dog should you become separated could help you to reunite with your pet more quickly and avoid permanently loosing them in the shelter system. The wisest option is to have your dog registered and wearing a collar or harness with the appropriate license tags.