Laguna Woods Municipal Code Ch. 5.04 Registration

Footnotes:

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State Law reference— Dog licenses, Food and Agricultural Code § 30501.

Editor's note— Ord. No. 25-02, § 3(Exh. A) 4-16-2025, repealed the former Ch. 5.04., §§ 5.04.010—5.04.100, and enacted a new Ch. 5.04, §§ 5.04.010—5.04.070 as set out herein. The former Ch. 5.04 pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Ord. No. 00-07, § 2(6.06.060), adopted Oct. 18, 2000.

(a) No person shall own, harbor, or keep any dog four months of age or older without obtaining and holding in full force and effect a registration for such dog from the City and such other City registrations, permits, or licenses as may be required.

(b) This section is not intended to be exclusive and compliance with its provisions shall not excuse noncompliance with any federal, state, or other local laws.

(Ord. No. 25-02, § 3(Exh. A), 4-16-2025)

Application for registration must be made within 15 days after obtaining a dog over four months of age or within 15 days of establishing residence within Laguna Woods.

(Ord. No. 25-02, § 3(Exh. A), 4-16-2025)

(a) A fee shall be paid for each registration required by this chapter, in an amount established by resolution of the City Council.

(b) The period of time for which registration shall be issued may vary from 12 months to 36 months, subject to the rabies vaccination for the dog being valid for the entire period of time. Registration may be issued for new residents, newly acquired dogs, or dogs at four months of age for periods of time less than 12 months if the dog's rabies certificate expires sooner than the minimum registration period. Proof of new residency, purchase date of dog, or dog's age must be presented for prorating of the fee.

(c) No registration fee shall be required for the following:

(1) Assistance dogs as defined in California Food and Agricultural Code Section 30850.

(2) Dogs honorably discharged from the armed forces of the United States.

(3) Dogs in the care, custody and control of persons who are traveling through Laguna Woods or temporarily staying in Laguna Woods, for a period not exceeding 15 days or with proof of current registration from primary place of residence, or brought into Laguna Woods for the exclusive purpose of being entered in a dog show or exhibition, provided such dogs are so entered and not kept elsewhere.

(4) Dogs used in crime detection or apprehension by public officers.

(5) Dogs housed in a duly licensed pet show prior to sale.

(6) Dogs while kept or maintained exclusively within a commercial kennel or by a recognized animal rescue organization.

(d) Registration fees are not refundable or transferable.

(Ord. No. 25-02, § 3(Exh. A), 4-16-2025)

Registration applications shall be reviewed for conformance with this chapter and acted upon administratively by the Animal Services Manager. In applying for registration, the owner of a dog shall furnish to the City a sworn statement, upon a form provided by the City, setting forth the following information:

(1) Contact information for the owner of the dog;

(2) Descriptive information for the purpose of identifying the dog;

(3) Proof of rabies vaccination of the dog signed by a veterinarian licensed to practice in the state of California or otherwise lawfully able to practice in the state of California (e.g., under the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act); and

(4) Any additional information which the Animal Services Manager may require.

(Ord. No. 25-02, § 3(Exh. A), 4-16-2025)

(a) Upon collection of the registration fee and submittal of the registration application, the Animal Services Manager shall issue a registration tag to the owner of the dog.

(b) In case any registration tag is lost or destroyed, replacement may be obtained upon showing such proof as may be required, and upon payment of a replacement fee in an amount established by resolution of the City Council.

(c) Registrations are not transferable.

(Ord. No. 25-02, § 3(Exh. A), 4-16-2025)

(a) No person who owns, harbors, or keeps any dog shall fail or refuse to exhibit the registration tag required by this chapter upon demand of any person charged with the enforcement of this chapter.

(b) No unauthorized person shall remove from any dog any collar, harness, or other device to which is attached a current registration tag or remove such registration tag from any dog.

(c) No person shall attach any current registration tag to any dog, which registration tag was not issued for said dog, or to counterfeit or imitate a registration tag, or to attach a counterfeit or imitation registration tag to any dog.

(Ord. No. 25-02, § 3(Exh. A), 4-16-2025)

Registrations shall become delinquent 60 days following the date on which they are due, and all delinquent registrations shall be subject to the payment of a late fee, in an amount established by resolution of the City Council, in addition to the registration fee.

(Ord. No. 25-02, § 3(Exh. A), 4-16-2025)

The Animal Services Manager may suspend or revoke any registration that is found to have been obtained on that basis of incomplete, untrue, inaccurate, or otherwise misrepresented information.

(Ord. No. 25-02, § 3(Exh. A), 4-16-2025)

Cats over four months of age may be registered in the same manner in which dogs are registered, and for the same fee.

(Ord. No. 25-02, § 3(Exh. A), 4-16-2025)