Your Guide to Getting a Pet License in Anaheim, CA

There's more to owning a pet than playing Frisbee in the park and watching Netflix together. You'll need to make sure they're up-to-date on vaccines, take plenty of selfies together, puppy proof your home, and more. If you live in Anaheim, CA, a is something else you need to add to the to-do list.

What is a pet license, though? Does it cost a lot of money, and how often do you have to renew it? You could try to figure out all this on your own, or you could turn to DoNotPay for help and let us do it for you.

What is a Pet License?

This is the question you may be asking yourself if you've only recently moved to Anaheim from a place that doesn't require pet licenses. You may also be asking yourself if your dog needs to go get a photo ID along with the pet license.

The good news is that you don't need a photo ID, although you probably already have plenty of pictures to provide if you did. The better news is that getting a pet license doesn't have to be too complicated.

A pet license is just a way for the city of Anaheim to keep track of the dogs and cats that have owners and aren't strays. It's also a way to know how many animals have been spayed/neutered and vaccinated. A third benefit is that it keeps the animal shelters less full, as any animals that come in with a pet license have a much higher chance of coming home.

Pet licenses are common in many places, not only in California but in Washington state and parts of Texas as well.

Am I Required to Get a Pet License in Anaheim?

According to the Anaheim Municipal Code 8.08.020, you must obtain a pet license for your dog that is four months of age or older, within 30 days of having custody or control of it. This could apply not only to the owner but to anyone who is watching the dog while the owner is away. Once you get the metal tag that is essentially proof of the license, you must put it on your dog's collar.

There are a few dogs that do not require a licensing fee, including the following:

Service dogs for an individual who is blind
A dog honorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States
Dogs used in crime detection or apprehension by a law enforcement agency
A dog that is housed in a licensed pet shop before coming home

It's also important to note that these pet licensing laws do not apply to cats. While some places do enforce a pet license for all cats, Anaheim, CA does not. It is optional, however, if you choose to do so.

How Can I Register My Pet in Anaheim?

Registering your pet in requires a few steps, and there are a couple of ways you can do so.

Online

OC Pet Info allows you to register your pet online, and you can also transfer ownership if something comes up and you have to re-home your dog. You will need your pet's documents available, and the online portal may not work in all browsers.

Mail

Mailing in your application is another option. It will require printing it, filling it out, trying to remember how to address an envelope, and then tracking down your stamps.

Mail your completed application to this address:

OC Animal Care, Licensing Department

1630 Victory Road

Tustin, CA 92782

Email

If mailing it the old-fashioned way isn't for you, then you can always send a copy of your application to ACSLicensing@occr.ocgov.com.

How Much Does It Cost to License a Pet in Anaheim?

There are several factors that help determine how much you'll pay, but whether or not your dog is spayed/neutered is the biggest. This is part of the city's efforts to control the animal population.

License Type	Fee
Spayed/Neutered Dog	$36
Unaltered Dog	$159
Puppy under 6 months old	$36
Spayed/Neutered Dog for Owner Aged 60+	$18
Late Fee	$48
Tag Replacement Fee	$9

If your license is overdue and you fail to get it renewed, your account will be sent to collections and you will be responsible for a $58 fee. If you continue to have your pet without a valid license after your account is in collections, you may be cited for non-compliance and face a $112 fee.

Reasons to Register Your Pet in Anaheim?

Filling out yet another application, paying for it, and checking the mail every day for a dog tag may seem frustrating, but there are a few reasons you should do so:

It's required by law, so it's not really optional.
Finding your lost dog is less stressful because if it becomes lost, you won't have to call the local shelters. They'll be calling you.
Animals can only be kept at the shelter for so long, but if your dog ends up there, a pet license means they'll keep him/her around longer.
The fee for your pet license doesn't go to some fat cat. (Well, actually, it does. License fees help keep the shelters running so that more animals can find good homes. This means your hard-earned money really could help feed a fat cat, and that's a good thing.)

Documents Needed to Register Your Pet in Anaheim

There are a few things you'll need to register your pet in Anaheim:

Rabies vaccination certificate
Proof of age if you have a puppy or are a senior citizen
Proof of sterility if you are applying for the discount

It's important to note that the requirements for Anaheim aren't the same as in neighboring cities. If you live outside the borders of Anaheim, you'll want to check our information for the rest of Orange County.

How Long Does a Pet License Last in Anaheim?

Your pet license will last up to 12 months from the date it's first issued. The only exception to this is if the rabies vaccine runs out before then, and then the license will run out on that date.

This can be a bit frustrating to keep track of, but once you renew it for the first time, your rabies vaccine and your pet license should be synced up.

Is There an Easier Way to Get a Pet License in Anaheim?

If you're like most people, then your life is crazy busy. You've got to get to work, pay the bills, find time for a haircut, walk the dog, fix supper, tuck the kids into bed, and any number of other tasks that keep you running from the second you get out of bed. Finding the time to register or renew your pet license probably isn't that high on your to-do list. Remembering to renew it a year from now is even less likely.

So how do you avoid that late fee or fine? Let DoNotPay handle it for you.

How to Save Time Registering Your Pet in Anaheim, Orange County using DoNotPay:

If you want to save time registering your pet in Anaheim using DoNotPay and don't know where to start, simply follow these 6 easy steps:

Go to the Pet Licenses product on DoNotPay.
Enter the county or city you are looking to register your pet in.
Tell us more about your pet, including the breed, gender, whether they are spayed/neutered, approximate age, and more.
Upload evidence documents that prove that your pet has been spayed/neutered (if applicable) and a copy of the rabies vaccination certificate.
Enter your contact information, including email, address, and phone number.
Complete your application by paying the license processing fee, so we can file the application on your behalf.

Why Use DoNotPay to Register Your Pet in Anaheim

There are three reasons to use DoNotPay to register your pet in Anaheim:

Fast --You sign up and forget about it. Whether it's one year or ten, we'll handle it from here.
Easy --Our application is straightforward, with no weird jargon that will have you scratching your head.
Successful --Did they get the email? Will your application be approved or is it lost in some slush pile? With DoNotPay, you don't have to worry about questions like these.

DoNotPay Works Across the Country with the Click of a Button

Registering your pet in Anaheim is not the only thing DoNotPay can do. If you choose to move, we can also help register your pet wherever you end up:

What Else Can DoNotPay Do?

DoNotPay can't teach your dog to sing the blues, but we can do a lot of other things:

Sign up with DoNotPay to learn more about the incredible services we offer to make your life easier.