National City Municipal Code Ch. 8.12 Dog Licenses

A. Except as provided in subsection B of this section, it is unlawful to own, handle, possess or maintain a dog over the age of four months within the city limits unless the dog is licensed in accordance with this chapter.

B. Any person owning, handling, possessing or maintaining a dog over the age of four months shall be exempted from licensing for a period not to exceed thirty continuous days from the dog's first arrival in the city, provided satisfactory proof by way of written declaration under penalty of perjury establishing the date of entry is presented to the animal control officer by the owner or person responsible for the dog.

C. A dog, validly licensed in another jurisdiction, that remains within the corporate limits of the city for more than thirty days shall be licensed in accordance with this section. To encourage registration, at the option of the owner a license shall be issued for the duration of any unexpired portion of the previous license upon payment of the transfer fee specified in the National City fee schedule, or a new or original license be issued upon payment of the standard license fee. This option shall be available only during the first thirty days following the arrival of the dog in the city.

(Ord. 2245 § 4 (part), 2004; Ord. 2196 § 2 (part); Ord. 2171 § 4 (part), 2000: Ord. 828 § 9, 1951)

Dog licenses shall be valid for twelve months, twenty-four months, or thirty-six months from the date of issuance, depending upon the age of the dog and the amount of the license fee paid, provided however that the license period shall not extend beyond the remaining period of validity for the current rabies vaccination.

(Ord. 2196 § 2 (part); Ord. 2171 § 4 (part), 2000: Ord. 2018 § 4, 1991: Ord. 1285 (part), 1971: Ord. 828 § 10, 1951)

A. A numbered receipt bearing a brief description of a licensed dog and a correspondingly numbered metal license tag bearing the expiration date shall be issued with each license granted. The numbered metal license tag shall be firmly attached by the licensee to the collar or harness and shall be worn by the dog for which issued at all times, except when the dog is securely confined on or within the property or vehicle of the owner.

B. It is unlawful to attach, or permit to be attached, a license tag to the collar or harness of, or otherwise cause or allow such tag to be worn or carried by, any dog other than the dog for which such a tag was issued.

(Ord. 2245 § 4 (part), 2004; Ord. 2171 § 4 (part), 2000: Ord. 828 § 11, 1951)

A. All dogs over the age of four months must be vaccinated as a prerequisite to the issuance of a license.

B. Each license applicant shall provide the information required on the license application form approved by the city manager, and shall furnish proof that the dog has been vaccinated for rabies with vaccine approved for use in California by a licensed veterinarian, unless the owner or person in possession of the dog submits a certificate from a licensed veterinarian issued within the preceding fifteen days stating that the rabies vaccination would be likely to seriously injure the dog. Any dog so exempted from rabies vaccination shall be kept restricted to the enclosed yard of its owner, except when confined within a motor vehicle. Certificates of exemption shall be renewed every sixty days if required by a licensed veterinarian.

(Ord. 2196 § 2 (part); Ord. 2171 § 4 (part), 2000: Ord. 830 § 1, 1951: Ord. 828 § 12, 1951)

Licenses shall be issued by the city finance director after payment of all fees required by law, except that a license shall be issued without payment of fee for any assistance dog or other dog exempted by state law from payment of license fees. The finance director may also negotiate and contract with licensed veterinarians within the city to issue licenses and collect and remit fees. A dog that has been microchipped for identification and meets all other requirements for licensing shall be issued a one-time free license for one year, which free license shall be in addition to any other city animal control licensing incentives that may be applicable.

(Ord. 2258 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 2171 § 4 (part), 2000: Ord. 980 § 2, 1960: Ord. 828 § 13, 1951)

Whenever a license tag has been lost or destroyed, a new receipt and tag expiring on the same date as the original may be issued for the same dog on the payment of the replacement fee established in the National City fee schedule.

(Ord. 2171 § 4 (part), 2000: Ord. 2018 § 5, 1991: Ord. 828 § 14, 1951)

Whenever the ownership of a dog has changed, the new owner may secure a transfer of license to him or her by endorsement on the records of the city and after presentation to the city finance director of the original receipt, endorsed by the original licensee as a transferor and the payment of the transfer fee established in the National City fee schedule.

(Ord. 2171 § 4 (part), 2000: Ord. 2018 § 6, 1991: Ord. 828 § 15, 1951)

Assistance dogs shall be issued a license without payment of fee upon presentation of satisfactory proof of qualifying use or training status. The license fee for all other dogs shall be as established in the National City fee schedule; provided, however, that there shall be added a penalty established in the National City fee schedule if application is made subsequent to the date on which the animal is required to be licensed.

(Ord. 2258 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 2171 § 4 (part), 2000: Ord. 2018 § 7, 1991: Ord. 1629 § 1, 1978; Ord. 1141 § 2, 1966: Ord. 884 § 1, 1955: Ord. 830 § 2, 1951: Ord. 828 § 16, 1951)