Los Angeles County Municipal Code Part 1 Licensing

The Director will issue numbered dog and cat license tags marked with the "County of Los Angeles."

(Ord. 2016-0040 § 75, 2016: Ord. 2000-0075 § 23, 2000: Ord. 93-0002 § 2 (part), 1993: Ord. 85-0204 § 8, 1985: Ord. 9943 § 3, 1970: Ord. 9454 § 1 (part), 1967: Ord. 7829 § 3, 1960: Ord. 4729 Art. 4 § 401, 1946.)

Except as provided in Sections 10.20.040 and 10.20.050, an animal owner or custodian residing in the Department's jurisdiction must obtain an individual license for each dog and cat older than four months on or before the latest of the following dates:

30 days after first acquiring the dog or cat; or

30 days after bringing the dog or cat into the Department's jurisdiction.

The owner or custodian must pay the fee for the licenses, and any applicable delinquency charges and field enforcement fees.

(Ord. 2022-0020 § 6, 2022; Ord. 2016-0040 § 78, 2016; Ord. 2009-0043 § 9, 2009; Ord. 93-0002 § 2 (part), 1993; Ord. 90- 0137 § 11, 1990.)

A senior citizen or disabled veteran, as defined in this Division 1, will be charged a reduced dog or cat license fee if written proof is provided that the dog or cat has been sterilized or is exempt under Section 10.20.350, et seq.

(Ord. 2016-0040 § 79, 2016: Ord. 93-0002 § 2 (part), 1993: Ord. 90-0137 § 12, 1990: Ord. 87-0036 § 8, 1987.)

A.

Dogs. It is unlawful to keep more than four dogs at any residence without an animal facility license. Each dog must be licensed. For purposes of this section, a service dog licensed under Section 10.20.090 and serving a person who is disabled within the meaning of Government Code section 12926 subsection (i) or (j) is not counted toward the number of dogs kept or maintained.

B.

Cats. It is unlawful to keep more than five cats at any residence without an animal facility license. Each cat must be licensed and kept primarily indoors.

C.

A Community Standards District may set a higher limit on the number of dogs and cats allowed at a residence without an animal facility license.

(Ord. 2017-0043 § 2, 2017: Ord. 2016-0040 § 80, 2016: Ord. 2009-0043 § 10, 2009.)

An individual license must be obtained for each dog or cat when the dog or cat is kept as a pet at an animal facility and is not kept exclusively in a kennel run or cage.

(Ord. 2016-0040 § 81, 2016: Ord. 2009-0043 § 11, 2009; Ord. 2000-0075 § 25, 2000: Ord. 93-0002 § 2 (part), 1993: Ord. 9454 § 1 (part), 1967: Ord. 4729 Art. 4 § 420, 1946.)

A person who is a hobby breeder, as defined in Section 10.08.155, must pay the fee for and obtain a hobby breeding license under Section 10.90.010. Each license authorizes the birth of no more than one litter per household in any 12-month period. Breeding more than one litter per year will result in penalties.

(Ord. 2020-0062 § 1, 2020; Ord. 2016-0040 § 82, 2016: Ord. 2009-0043 § 12, 2009; Ord. 2004-0036 § 7, 2004: Ord. 93-0002 § 2 (part), 1993: Ord. 90-0137 § 13, 1990: Ord. 88-0155 § 6, 1988: Ord. 87-0036 § 9, 1987: Ord. 85-0204 § 25, 1985.)

A.

A Los Angeles County license is not required for:

Any dog or cat that is currently licensed in another jurisdiction;

A dog or cat owned by or in the charge of any person who is not a resident of the County, and is in the County for less than 30 days.

B.

But every guard or attack dog found within the unincorporated territory of the County, regardless of where the owner may reside, must have a Los Angeles County dog license; and the license tag must be securely affixed to the dog's collar while it is being used as a guard or attack dog within the unincorporated territory of the County of Los Angeles.

(Ord. 2016-0040 § 83, 2016: Ord. 93-0002 § 2 (part), 1993: Ord. 11135 § 1, 1975; Ord. 9454 § 1 (part), 1967: Ord. 8043 § 4 (part), 1961: Ord. 4729 Art. 4 § 407, 1946.)

The Director may accept payment for the license fee for a dog or cat that has not been vaccinated against rabies. The Director will not issue the license tag and/or license until proof of current rabies vaccination is received.

(Ord. 2022-0020 § 7, 2022; Ord. 2016-0040 § 84, 2016; Ord. 93-0002 § 2 (part), 1993; Ord. 9943 § 6, 1970; Ord. 9454 § 1 (part), 1967; Ord. 8043 § 5, 1961; Ord. 4729 Art. 4 § 408, 1946.)

A dog or cat must be vaccinated against rabies before a license is issued unless one of the following exemptions applies:

A.

Cat. A license may be issued for an unvaccinated cat if the owner or custodian submits to the Director a written confirmation from a licensed veterinarian stating that a rabies vaccination would endanger the animal's life because of disease or other disability. The cat must be vaccinated within ten days after the disability ends.

B.

Dog. A license may be issued for an unvaccinated dog if the owner or custodian obtains the exemption permitted under Health and Safety Code section 121690 from the local public health officer. The dog must be vaccinated within ten days after the disability ends.

(Ord. 2016-0040 § 85, 2016: Ord. 93-0002 § 2 (part), 1993: Ord. 9454 § 1 (part), 1967: Ord. 8043 § 8, 1961: Ord. 4729 Art. 4 § 413, 1946.)

A license for a dog that has been honorably discharged from the armed forces of the United States is valid for the dog's lifetime, so long as the owner or custodian of the dog keeps its vaccination against rabies current.

(Ord. 2016-0040 § 86, 2016: Ord. 93-0002 § 2 (part), 1993: Ord. 88-0155 § 2, 1988: Ord. 11177 § 1, 1975: Ord. 9454 § 1 (part), 1967: Ord. 4729 Art. 4 § 404, 1946.)

A person owning or having custody of a service animal, may obtain a service animal license and tag. The Director may issue a license and tag after receiving proof that the animal has been successfully trained as a service animal. The license and tag will be valid while the animal is acting as a service animal and is owned and kept by the same person. The tag must be returned to the Department by the owner or custodian of the animal upon transfer of ownership or possession of the animal, or upon the retirement or death of the animal.

(Ord. 2022-0020 § 8, 2022; Ord. 2016-0040 § 87, 2016; Ord. 2004-0049 §§ 2, 3, 2004.)

The license fee for an individual dog or cat must be paid on or before the date that it is due. A delinquency charge will be applied when the license is not paid within 30 days.

(Ord. 2022-0020 § 9, 2022; Ord. 2017-0043 § 3, 2017; Ord. 2016-0040 § 89, 2016; Ord. 2009-0043 § 13, 2009; Ord. 90-0137 § 15, 1990; Ord. 88-0155 § 7, 1988; Ord. 83-0182 § 5, 1983; Ord. 82-0163 § 3, 1982; Ord. 11945 § 2, 1979; Ord. 9943 § 4, 1970; Ord. 9454 § 1 (part), 1967; Ord. 4729 Art. 4 § 405, 1946.)

The Director will keep a record of the name and address of the animal owner or custodian and the date each license and tag is issued.

(Ord. 2016-0040 § 91, 2016: Ord. 93-0002 § 2 (part), 1993: Ord. 9943 § 5, 1970: Ord. 9454 § 1 (part), 1967: Ord. 8043 § 4 (part), 1961: Ord. 4729 Art. 4 § 406, 1946.)

The following information must appear on the license receipt: the age of the animal, the date of the last rabies vaccination, and if the license was issued without proof of vaccination, the reason for the exemption.

(Ord. 2016-0040 § 93, 2016: Ord. 93-0002 § 2 (part), 1993: Ord. 85-0204 § 11, 1985: Ord. 9943 § 9, 1970: Ord. 9454 § 1 (part), 1967: Ord. 4729 Art. 4 § 414, 1946.)

A new owner of a dog or cat that is currently licensed may transfer the existing license to his name upon payment of a transfer fee, but a license for a service animal is not transferable.

(Ord. 2016-0040 § 94, 2016: Ord. 2000-0075 § 26, 2000: Ord. 93-0002 § 2 (part), 1993: Ord. 83-0182 § 7, 1983: Ord. 9943 § 11, 1970: Ord. 9454 § 1 (part), 1967: Ord. 4729 Art. 4 § 419, 1946.)

An animal owner may purchase a replacement license tag if the animal's tag is lost or destroyed.

(Ord. 2016-0040 § 95, 2016: Ord. 93-0002 § 2 (part), 1993: Ord. 83-0182 § 8, 1983: Ord. 9943 § 10, 1970: Ord. 9454 § 1 (part), 1967: Ord. 6189 § 1, 1953: Ord. 4729 Art. 4 § 416, 1946.)

A license tag for an individual animal must be securely attached to a collar, harness, or other device that must be worn at all times by the animal except while the animal is indoors or in an enclosed yard or pen. The license tag attached to an animal must be the tag issued by the Department for that animal. Alternatively, a cat may wear any form of identification approved by the Department.

(Ord. 2016-0040 § 96, 2016: Ord. 2000-0075 § 27, 2000: Ord. 93-0002 § 2 (part), 1993: Ord. 9454 § 1 (part), 1967: Ord. 4729 Art. 4 § 415, 1946.)

A dog or cat four months or older must be implanted with an identifying microchip. The owner or custodian is required to provide the microchip number to the Department and to notify the Department and the applicable national microchip registry of a change of ownership of the dog or cat, or the owner's change of address or telephone number.

(Ord. 2015-0048 § 10, 2015: Ord. 2006-0029 § 4, 2006.)

A person may not harbor or keep an unlicensed dog, cat, or service animal in the Department's jurisdiction.

(Ord. 2017-0043 § 4, 2017; Ord. 2016-0040 § 97, 2016: Ord. 2000-0075 § 28, 2000: Ord. 93-0002 § 2 (part), 1993: Ord. 9454 § 1 (part), 1967: Ord. 4729 Art. 4 § 402, 1946.)

It is unlawful for an unauthorized person to remove the license tag or other identification from an animal.

(Ord. 2016-0040 § 99, 2016: Ord. 2000-0075 § 29, 2000: Ord. 93-0002 § 2 (part), 1993: Ord. 9454 § 1 (part), 1967: Ord. 4729 Art. 4 § 417, 1946.)