Article 2 — License Tags

Every person who owns, harbors, or keeps any dog over the age of four months for 30 days or longer shall obtain a current license and license tag issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. The license tag obtained shall be attached to a substantial collar or harness which shall be worn by the dog at all times, except as provided in Section 5-4.903 of Article 9 of this chapter. Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an infraction. An Animal Control Officer may issue an administrative citation assessing a civil penalty to any person in accordance with, and the person shall be subject to the administrative enforcement provisions set forth in, Chapter 1-6 of the Municipal Code. Any dog found without a current license tag may be impounded by the Director or any peace officer.

(§ 2, Ord. 422, eff. April 23, 1971, as amended by § 1, Ord. 477, eff. January 1, 1974, and § 4, Ord. 933, eff. September 23, 2022)

The license and license tag required by the provisions of this chapter may be obtained by displaying an acceptable rabies vaccination certificate, furnishing the information required by the provisions of this section, and paying the proper fee to Ventura County Animal Services. Such information shall include the name, sex, breed, age, and color of the dog for which the application is made, the microchip number, whether the dog has been sterilized, and the address and, when available, the telephone number of the person owning, harboring, or keeping such dog. The official receiving such information shall record it on the receipt to be given for the payment of the license fee. If the dog is unaltered, written documentation in accordance with Section 5-4.802 must be provided by the owner. A rabies vaccination certificate, to be acceptable, shall show that the vaccination has at least one year to run before its expiration date. The expiration date of the rabies vaccination shall be recorded on the receipt and shall not extend past the vaccination expiration date. No license shall be issued to any person under the age of 18 years.

(§ 2, Ord. 422, eff. April 23, 1971, as amended by § 1, Ord. 477, eff. January 1, 1974, § 2, Ord. 883, eff. March 15, 2018, and § 4, Ord. 933, eff. September 23, 2022)

The license period for any license issued pursuant to this article shall be the period of time specified on the license application pursuant to which such license is issued. The license period specified on any given license application shall be whatever period the Director may select for that particular license application; provided, however, that such period shall not extend beyond the expiration date of the applicable rabies vaccination. A license shall expire, and such license and corresponding license tag shall cease to be "current," upon the expiration of the applicable license period.

(§ 2, Ord. 422, eff. April 23, 1971, as amended by § 4, Ord. 933, eff. September 23, 2022)

The fee for the license required by this article shall be as prescribed by resolution of the City Council or Ventura County Board of Supervisors. The fee prescribed for a dog which has been

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City of Ojai, CA

SANITATION AND HEALTH

§ 5-4.204

§ 5-4.207

spayed or neutered, as verified by a veterinarian's certificate, shall be not more than 50% of the fee for a dog of the same sex which has not been spayed or neutered. In addition, if a letter from a licensed veterinarian certifies that arrangements have been made to spay or neuter the dog within 60 days from the date that the dog reaches the age of four months, and the dog is spayed or neutered within that 60 day period, the owner shall qualify for the lower license fee for a dog that has been spayed or neutered.

(§ 2, Ord. 422, eff. April 23, 1971, as amended by § 1, Ord. 443, eff. December 9, 1971, fees operative January 1, 1972, § 1, Ord. 477, eff. January 1, 1974, and § 4, Ord. 933, eff. September 23, 2022)

A dog license shall be issued free of charge in the following instances:

• (a) When the license is for a dog which will be used as a guide dog for a blind person. An affidavit attesting to the fact that the dog will be used as a guide dog shall be given to the official issuing the license;

• (b) When the license is for a dog which has been honorably discharged from the armed services of the United States. Such discharge shall be established by showing the official issuing the license the discharge papers issued for such dog; or

• (c) When the license is for a dog belonging to and actively used by or retired from service from a governmental agency for law enforcement, search and rescue or fire detection purposes.

• (§ 4, Ord. 933, eff. September 23, 2022)

The information and fee required by this article are due on the thirtieth (30th) day after the day on which:

• (a) The previous license, if any, expires;

• (b) The dog is acquired by the person owning, harboring or keeping it;

• (c) The dog is brought into the City of Ojai; or

• (d) The dog attains the age of four months; whichever shall last occur.

Any person purchasing a license after the due date shall pay, in addition to the license fee, a late license penalty in an amount equal to 100% of the license fee which would be applicable if the license period were one year, regardless of the actual license period for which such license is issued. Such penalty shall be in addition to any other penalty or sanction which may be imposed pursuant to this Code for failure to have a valid license.

(§ 2, Ord. 422, eff. April 23, 1971, as amended by § 1, Ord. 477, eff. January 1, 1974, and § 4, Ord. 933, eff. September 23, 2022)

Upon the receipt of the required information, accompanied by the payment of the proper fee and the display of an acceptable rabies vaccination certificate, the dog shall be licensed, a written receipt shall be issued to the applicant, and a license tag shall be provided to the applicant. Each

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City of Ojai, CA § 5-4.207

OJAI CODE

§ 5-4.211

tag shall be serially numbered and stamped with the words "Ventura County." Ventura County Animal Services shall maintain a record of the licenses so issued, which record shall be kept on file in the office of the Ventura County Animal Services, until the expiration of the license period for which such licenses are issued.

(§ 2, Ord. 422, eff. April 23, 1971, as amended by § 1, Ord. 477, eff. January 1, 1974, and § 4, Ord. 933, eff. September 23, 2022)

If a license tag issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter is lost, a duplicate tag may be obtained from Ventura County Animal Services upon paying a fee in the amount prescribed by resolution of the City Council or Ventura County Board of Supervisors.

(§ 2, Ord. 422, eff. April 23, 1971, as amended by § 1, Ord. 477, eff. January 1, 1974, and § 4, Ord. 933, eff. September 23, 2022)

In the event there is a change in the ownership of a dog licensed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter during the license year, the new owner may have the current license transferred to his or her name upon the payment of a transfer fee in the amount prescribed by resolution of the City Council or Ventura County Board of Supervisors.

(§ 2, Ord. 422, eff. April 23, 1971, as amended by § 1, Ord. 477, eff. January 1, 1974, and § 4, Ord. 933, eff. September 23, 2022)

Ventura County Animal Services may appoint animal license inspectors for the purpose of inspecting animals required to be licensed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter to ascertain if such animals are properly licensed, issuing the licenses required hereunder, and collecting the required license fees. Inspectors shall be compensated at the rate established by resolution of the Board of Supervisors for each license issued. Each inspector shall promptly account to Ventura County Animal Services for all funds collected pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and shall pay over such funds.

(§ 2, Ord. 422, eff. April 23, 1971, as amended by § 4, Ord. 933, eff. September 23, 2022)

Every person who counterfeits a dog license tag, or who attaches a license tag issued under the provisions of this chapter to any dog other than the dog for which such tag was issued, or who obtains a dog license tag or dog kennel license and, in doing so, states as true any material matter which he or she knows to be false shall be guilty of an infraction. An Animal Control Officer, as defined in Section 5-4.902, may issue an administrative citation assessing a civil penalty to that person in accordance with, and the person shall be subject to the administrative enforcement provisions set forth in, Chapter 1-6 of the Municipal Code.

(§ 2, Ord. 422, eff. April 23, 1971, as amended by § 4, Ord. 933, eff. September 23, 2022)

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City of Ojai, CA

SANITATION AND HEALTH

§ 5-4.301

§ 5-4.304