Aliso Viejo Municipal Code Art. II Licensing

A. Every person owning or having custody of any dog four months of age or older shall procure for the dog a city dog license. Such license shall be procured within 15 days after the dog turns four months of age or expiration of any previously obtained license. The following are exceptions to the requirement to procure a dog license:

1. A dog brought into the city for show or other purposes and which leaves the city within 30 days; and

2. A dog maintained in an approved research institution or licensed dog kennel, provided such dog is owned by the owner or operator of such approved research institution or dog kennel.

Guard (sentry) dogs are not exempt from the requirements of this section. Each such guard (sentry) dog must be individually licensed and each dog shall be wearing its city license tag securely fastened to a collar or harness whether or not the dog is kenneled in the city.

B. No dog shall be licensed without proof of approved rabies vaccine. No license may expire later than the expiration date of the approved rabies vaccine. An owner may purchase a license for six or 12 months, depending upon the date and kind of vaccine used, upon payment of the fee established by the city of Mission Viejo. [Ord. 2012-145 § 5; Ord. 2010-126 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2009-108 § 1 (4-1-22)].

Cross-reference: kennel, business license required, AVMC 6.04.460.

A. Each dog required to be licensed pursuant to this chapter shall at all times wear the current license tag assigned to that dog, except:

1. When the dog is physically confined within the premises of the owner or other person authorized to have custody;

2. When the dog is confined in a vehicle or cage;

3. When the dog is participating in any dog exhibition, field trial or competition; or

4. When the dog is confined in a licensed dog kennel or veterinary hospital, in which case the license tag number shall be recorded and placed nearby so that it is readily identifiable with the dog to which it belongs; or if not licensed, that fact shall be clearly indicated on the facility’s records.

B. A license tag shall not be removed from any dog without the consent of the owner thereof. [Ord. 2010-126 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2009-108 § 1 (4-1-23)].

Dog licenses not procured or renewed within 15 days after expiration, or the date on which they become due pursuant to AVMC 6.04.100, shall be considered delinquent and a late fee as determined by the city of Mission Viejo shall be added to the cost of the new license. The director may waive the above late fee if he determines the applicant made a reasonable effort to comply with the above deadline. [Ord. 2012-145 § 6; Ord. 2010-126 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2009-108 § 1 (4-1-24)].

Upon the transfer of ownership of any licensed dog, the license may be transferred to the new owner; provided, that the director is notified within 15 days, in writing, of such transfer of ownership, and the name and address of the new owner is provided. [Ord. 2010-126 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2009-108 § 1 (4-1-25)].

No person shall make use of or have in his possession or under his control a stolen, counterfeit or forged dog license receipt, dog license tag, rabies vaccination certificate, antirabies-inoculation-deferment form, or other form issued in accordance with this title. [Ord. 2010-126 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2009-108 § 1 (4-1-26)].

Every person shall, upon demand by the director or animal services officer, exhibit any current rabies vaccination certificate or dog license tag issued to the person pursuant to this chapter. [Ord. 2010-126 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2009-108 § 1 (4-1-27)].

The owner of any cat may, upon submission of proof of approved rabies vaccine, certified to by a licensed veterinarian, and upon payment of the fee established by the city of Mission Viejo, be issued a license certificate and tag. No person shall remove a registration tag from a cat without the consent of the owner thereof. Licensing shall be valid for the period of the approved rabies vaccine. The obtaining of such a license shall be optional on the part of the owner. [Ord. 2012-145 § 7; Ord. 2010-126 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2009-108 § 1 (4-1-28)].

Every person owning or having custody of four or more licensed dogs or four or more licensed cats, over the age of four months, for any purpose other than a commercial purpose shall procure an additional animal license pursuant to Article X of this chapter. [Ord. 2012-145 § 8; Ord. 2010-126 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2009-108 § 1 (4-1-29)].