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Earlier editions: 2026-09

Title 4 — HEALTH SANITATION AND ANIMAL REGULATIONS›Division 1 — ANIMAL CONTROL, WELFARE AND LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

Orange County Municipal Code Art. 4 Dog Licensing

Orange County Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Orange County

Cite as: Orange County Municipal Code Article 4 · Text as of 2026-10-04

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Section 1 of Ord. No. 2836, adopted May 6, 1975, repealed former Art. 4, §§ 4-1-66—4-1-72, relating to keeping and restraint of dogs, and derived from Code 1961, §§ 41.041—41.047. Section 5 of said ordinance enacted a new Art. 4, §§ 4-1-70—4-1-75, as herein set out.

Sec. 4-1-70. - Dog license required.

Every person owning or having custody of any dog four (4) months of age or older shall procure for said dog an Orange County dog license. Such license shall be procured within fifteen (15) days after the date on which it becomes due. The following are exceptions to the requirement to license:

(a) A dog brought into Orange County for show or other purposes and which leaves within thirty (30) days; and

(b) A dog maintained in an approved research institution or licensed kennel, provided said dog is owned by the owner or operator of said research institution or kennel.

Guard (sentry) dogs are not excepted. Each such guard (sentry) dog must be individually licensed and each dog shall be wearing its Orange County license tag securely fastened to a collar or harness whether or not the dog is kenneled in Orange County.

No dog shall be licensed without proof of approved rabies vaccination. No license may expire later than the expiration date of the rabies vaccination. An owner may purchase a license for six (6) or twelve (12) months, depending upon the date and kind of vaccine used, upon payment of the fee established by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.

(Ord. No. 2836, § 5, 5-6-75; Ord. No. 2908, § 1, 5-4-76)

Exceptions & meaning →

Sec. 4-1-71. - Wearing of dog license tag required.

Each dog required to be licensed shall wear at all times the current license tag assigned to that dog; except:

(a) When the dog is physically confined within the premises of the owner or other person authorized to have custody;

(b) When the dog is confined in a vehicle or cage;

(c) When the dog is participating in any dog exhibition, field trial or competition; or

(d) When the dog is confined in a licensed kennel or veterinary hospital, in which case the license tag number shall be recorded and placed nearby so that it is readily identifiable with the dog to which it belongs; or if not licensed, that fact shall be clearly indicated on the facility's records.

A license tag shall not be removed from any dog without the consent of the owner thereof.

(Ord. No. 2836, § 5, 5-6-75; Ord. No. 2908, § 1, 5-4-76)

Exceptions & meaning →

Sec. 4-1-72. - Dog license renewal.

Licenses not purchased or renewed within fifteen (15) days after expiration, or the date on which they become due, shall be considered delinquent and a late fee as determined by resolution of the Board of Supervisors shall be added to the cost of the new license. The Director may waive the above late fee if he determines the applicant made a reasonable effort to comply with the above deadline.

(Ord. No. 2836, § 5, 5-6-75; Ord. No. 2908, § 1, 5-4-76)

Exceptions & meaning →

Sec. 4-1-73. - Dog license; transfer of ownership.

Upon the transfer of ownership of any licensed dog, the license may be transferred to the new owner provided that the Director is notified within fifteen (15) days, in writing, of such transfer of ownership, and the name and address of the new owner is provided.

(Ord. No. 2836, § 5, 5-6-75)

Exceptions & meaning →

Sec. 4-1-74. - False or stolen documents illegal.

No person shall make use of or have in his possession or under his control a stolen, counterfeit or forged dog license receipt, dog license tag, rabies vaccination certificate, antirabies-inoculation-deferment form, or other form issued in accordance with this division.

(Ord. No. 2836, § 5, 5-6-75)

Exceptions & meaning →

Sec. 4-1-75. - Display of certificates required upon demand.

Every person shall, upon demand by the Director, exhibit any current rabies vaccination certificate or dog license tag issued to said person pursuant to this division.

(Ord. No. 2836, § 5, 5-6-75)

Exceptions & meaning →

Sec. 4-1-76. - Animal permit required.

An animal permit must be obtained from the Director in order to keep or maintain at any residence or upon any other property four (4) or more dogs, required to be licensed under section 4-1-70 of this Article 4, or four (4) or more cats, over the age of four (4) months, unless a license or permit is required by and has been obtained under Title 5 of these codified ordinances authorizing the maintenance of such animals. Veterinary clinics and veterinary hospitals are excluded from the foregoing animal permit requirement. The Director shall issue a permit for the keeping of such animals upon receipt of the fee established by the Board of Supervisors and when, in the Director's opinion, such animals may be kept or maintained without endangering the safety and comfort of such animals and the inhabitants of the neighborhood, and the owner or custodian has complied with any other applicable laws, including zoning regulations. Each such animal shall be individually licensed. The permit shall specify the number and types of animals authorized to be kept thereunder and may contain any conditions regarding the keeping of animals thereunder deemed necessary by the Director. Animal permits shall be nontransferable and must be renewed annually. The Board of Supervisors may, by resolution, adopt regulations governing the keeping of animals under permit, including facility construction and maintenance standards. Failure to comply with such regulations or any conditions imposed by the Director shall constitute cause for denial or revocation of such permit.

The provisions of section 5-2-19 of these codified ordinances shall govern appeals from the denial or revocation of a permit under this section.

(Ord. No. 2908, § 3, 5-4-76; Ord. No. 12-030, 9-11-12)

Exceptions & meaning →

Secs. 4-1-77—4-1-84. - Reserved.

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