Chico Municipal Code Art. II Licenses

It shall be unlawful for any person to own or keep any dog in the city over the age of four (4) months for a period longer than thirty (30) days after it has attained the age of four (4) months, and in the case of a dog that is brought into the city that is over four (4) months of age for a period longer than thirty (30) days after it is brought into the city, without having obtained a license therefor, as provided in this chapter, except that in the case where a dog brought into the city bears an unexpired license issued by Butte County or any incorporated city in Butte County, licensing shall not be required by the city until the expiration of the existing license. Any dog over the age of four (4) months unlicensed and unvaccinated as provided in this chapter, or found running at large, whether licensed or not, shall be impounded by the city animal shelter, subject to sale, retention, disposition or release as provided in this title.

(Prior code § 3.27 (Ord. 641 §3, Ord. 783 §1, Ord. 993 §1, Ord. 1113 §1, Ord. 1261 §1, Ord. 2099 §1))

Dog licenses may be issued for one, two or three year periods at the option of the dog owner. The term of the license shall be from the date of issuance of the license until the expiration of the term selected, provided, however, that no dog license shall have an expiration date which is later than the expiration date of the required rabies vaccine. Notwithstanding the above, the initial license obtained for a dog may also be issued for a period of six months.

Fees for licenses required by this chapter shall be fixed and determined by council resolution.

(Prior code § 3.28 (Ord. 641 §3, Ord. 1261 §2, Ord. 2099 §2))

In addition to any other license fee or charge required herein, a late penalty which shall be determined by city council resolution shall be assessed under any of the following conditions:

A. When a dog license is not renewed within 15 days following its expiration date;

B. When a dog license is not obtained within thirty days after a dog over the age of four months is transferred, sold or brought into the city; or

C. When a dog license is not obtained within thirty days of a dog reaching the age of four months. Fees for the penalty required by this chapter shall be fixed and determined by council resolution.

(Ord. 2099 §3)

Application for dog licenses shall be made at either the office of the city administrative services director or such other office or location as shall be designated by the city manager. A license and accompanying license tag suitable for attachment to a dog collar or harness shall be issued and delivered to an applicant upon receipt of payment of the required fee.

(Prior code § 3.29 (Ord. 641 §3, Ord. 783 §1, Ord. 2099 §4), Ord. 2113 §1, Ord. 2439 §66)

Where ownership of a duly licensed dog is transferred, the transferring owner shall cause such license to be transferred to the new owner by making application therefor in the same manner as required by Section 7.08.040 when applying for a new license, and paying the transfer fee fixed by resolution of the city council.

A transferring owner who fails to comply with this section shall be presumed to still be the owner of such dog and subject to all the provisions of this title applicable to owners of dogs.

(Prior code § 3.29-1 (Ord. 853 §1))

A. The dog license issued pursuant to this chapter shall be in a form prescribed by the city manager or a designee and shall set forth the following information:

1. The owner’s name, address, and phone number and the address where the dog will reside if different from that of the owner;

2. A description of the dog being licensed, including name, sex, breed and color;

3. The rabies vaccination information, including the administering clinic, date of immunization, the type of rabies vaccine administered, the name of the manufacturer, the lot number of the vaccine used and the age of the dog at vaccination;

• 4. The date the license is issued and the expiration date of the license;
• 5. The number of the license; and
• 6. A statement showing the amount of the fee and that the same has been paid.

B. The license tag shall also be in a form prescribed by the city manager or a designee and shall have inscribed thereon, “City of Chico,” and the license number.

(Prior code §3.30 (Ord. 641 §3, Ord. 2099 §5), Ord. 2268, Ord. 2478)

It shall be unlawful for any person required to have a license pursuant to this chapter to fail, refuse, or neglect to exhibit the same, upon request, to the animal control supervisor or other authorized person.

(Prior code § 3.31 (Ord. 641 §3, Ord. 1371 §6))

The owner of a licensed dog shall cause the license tag issued for such dog to be affixed by a permanent metal fastening to the collar or harness on the dog in such a way that the tag may be easily seen by the animal control supervisor or other authorized person. It shall be the duty of the owner of a licensed dog to cause the dog collar or harness on which the license tag is attached to be worn by such dog at all times except when on the owner's premises. Any dog not wearing a license tag as provided in this section shall be impounded in the city animal shelter subject to retention, sale or disposition as provided in this title.

(Prior code § 3.32 (Ord. 641 §3, Ord. 1371 §7))

It shall be unlawful for any person either to imitate or counterfeit the license tags provided for in this chapter or knowingly to use any imitation or counterfeit of such tags.

(Prior code § 3.33 (Ord. 641 §3))

In the event that a current license tag is lost, the owner shall, within 30 days, apply for the issuance of a replacement tag and shall pay a replacement fee as prescribed by city council resolution.

(Prior code § 3.34 (Ord. 641 §3, Ord. 783 §1, Ord. 2099 §6), Ord. 2113 §1, Ord. 2439 §67)