Palm Desert Municipal Code Ch. 6.12 Dog Licenses

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Editor's Note: Former Ch. 6.08, Dog Licenses, adopted by Ord. 874 § 1, 1998 was renumbered to be Ch. 6.12 by Ord. 1437, 12/11/2025.

No person within the city who owns, possesses, controls, harbors, or keeps any dog over four months of age shall fail, refuse, or neglect to procure a dog license tag for each dog from the city manager or his authorized agent. An unaltered dog license may be required pursuant to Section 6.12.170. License tags must be displayed upon the dog's collar pursuant to Section 30951(b) of the California Food and Agriculture Code. It shall be unlawful for any person to make use of a stolen, counterfeit, or unauthorized license, tag, certificate, or any other document or thing for the purpose of evading the provisions of this chapter. No license issued pursuant to this title shall be transferable.

(Ord. 874 § 1, 1998; Ord. 1437, 12/11/2025)

No fee or license is required for:

A. Guide dogs used by visibly impaired persons or guide dog organizations. An exempt tag will be issued upon request.

B. Dogs owned by nonresidents or travelers who stay in the city less than 30 days.

C. Service dogs, signal dogs, and active-duty police dogs, but these dogs must wear exempt tags.

(Ord. 874 § 1, 1998; Ord. 1437, 12/11/2025)

Dog licenses are valid for a period not exceeding three years.

(Ord. 874 § 1, 1998; Ord. 1437, 12/11/2025)

Dog license fees shall be as established by city council resolution. If no amount is established, the fee shall match the prevailing rate for unincorporated Riverside County.

(Ord. 874 § 1, 1998; Ord. 1437, 12/11/2025)

Applicants must provide the following information on official forms: the applicant's name and address and each dog's name, breed, color, age, and gender.

(Ord. 874 § 1, 1998; Ord. 1437, 12/11/2025)

It is unlawful for any person to own, harbor, or keep any dog that is three months of age or older within the city, for a period longer than 30 days without having vaccinated the dog against rabies. Every person within city limits who owns, harbors, or keeps any dog over three months of age for a period longer than 30 days shall have such dog vaccinated against rabies as provided herein by a veterinarian of their choice, and such vaccination shall be renewed in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations of the state of California. (See Cal. Food & Agric. Code § 121690 et seq., and 17CCR § 2606 et seq.

(Ord. 874 § 1, 1998; Ord. 1437, 12/11/2025)

Upon payment of the applicable fee, a metallic tag and license certificate with a corresponding number shall be furnished by the development services department.

(Ord. 874 § 1, 1998)

The development services department shall keep a record of the owner or person making payment of the license fee and to whom a certificate and tag has been issued, including the number and date of the certificate and the tag. The metal tag issued shall be securely fixed to a collar, harness, or other device to be worn at all times by the dog for whom the registration is issued.

(Ord. 874 § 1, 1998; Ord. 1437, 12/11/2025)

No person shall fail or refuse to show, upon demand of the animal control officer, a Riverside Department of Animal Control officer, a code compliance officer or any police officer, the license certificate and the tag for any duly registered dog kept or remaining within any home or upon any enclosed premises under his or her immediate control.

(Ord. 874 § 1, 1998; Ord. 1437, 12/11/2025)

No unauthorized person shall remove from any dog any collar, harness, or other device to which is attached a registration tag for the current license year, or remove the tag therefrom.

(Ord. 874 § 1, 1998; Ord. 1437, 12/11/2025)

If the dog license tag is lost or destroyed, the owner shall immediately procure a duplicate license tag from the development services department upon payment of a fee of one-half of the original fee.

(Ord. 874 § 1, 1998; Ord. 1437, 12/11/2025)

A. Kennels. Kennels or pet shops must obtain a current business license and a separate annual kennel license from the health officer. Kennel license fees shall be set by city council resolution, or else match unincorporated Riverside County rates.

B. Catteries. Catteries must obtain a current business license and separate annual cattery license from the health officer. Cattery license fees shall be set by city council resolution or else match unincorporated Riverside County rates.

(Ord. 874 § 1, 1998; Ord. 1437, 12/11/2025)

Licenses must be renewed within 30 days of expiration. Licenses may be backdated on request to the health officer if vaccination expires before the license is due, but no fee reduction applies.

(Ord. 874 § 1, 1998; Ord. 1437, 12/11/2025)

Where a person moves into the city from another community who owns a dog which is currently vaccinated against rabies and for which a dog license was issued by such other community, such license shall be deemed valid for a period of one year from the date such person moves into the city or the date of expiration of the license issued by such other community, whichever is earlier.

(Ord. 874 § 1, 1998; Ord. 1437, 12/11/2025)

Mandatory Spaying and Neutering.

A. Requirement. No person may own, keep, or harbor an unaltered dog or cat in violation of this section. An owner or custodian of an unaltered dog must have the dog spayed or neutered, or provide a certificate of sterility, or obtain an unaltered dog license in accordance with this chapter. An owner or custodian of an unaltered cat must have the animal spayed or neutered or provide a certificate of sterility.

B. Appointments are available to spay or neuter an unaltered dog or cat at the county's animal shelters. The demand for these appointments exceeds the number of slots available. In an effort to maximize the number of animals spayed or neutered, the department shall charge an appointment fee in an amount as set forth by the Riverside County Department of Animal Services that shall be applied toward the cost of spaying or neutering the animal, provided the owner, or custodian keeps the appointment or contacts the department 24 hours prior the appointment to reschedule.

C. Any dog or cat impounded at a county animal shelter is required to be spayed or neutered prior to release unless exempt in subsection D below.

D. Exemptions. This section shall not apply to any of the following:

1. A dog with a high likelihood of suffering serious bodily harm or death if spayed or neutered, due to age or infirmity. The owner or custodian shall obtain written confirmation of this fact from a California-licensed veterinarian. If the dog is able to be safely spayed or neutered at a later date, that date shall be stated in the written confirmation; should this date be later than 30 days, the owner or custodian shall apply for an unaltered dog license.

2. For dogs exempted under subsection D.1, a spay and neuter deposit fee in an amount as set forth by the Riverside County Department of Animal Services shall be paid before the dog is released from the county animal shelter.

3. A cat with a high likelihood of suffering serious bodily harm or death if spayed or neutered, due to age or infirmity. The owner or custodian shall obtain written confirmation of this fact from a California licensed veterinarian. If the cat is able to be safely spayed or neutered at a later date, that date shall be stated in the written confirmation.

4. Animals owned by recognized breeders with a valid city business license pursuant to Chapter 5.04.

5. Animals used for law enforcement or search and rescue by public agencies.

6. Animals exempted under Health & Safety Code Section 122331 for breed-specific programs.

(Ord. 1437, 12/11/2025)

A. Microchipping Required. All dogs and cats over the age of four months must be implanted with an identifying microchip from the Riverside County Department of Animal Services. The owner or custodian is required to provide the microchip number to the county of Riverside and shall notify the county of Riverside of any change of ownership of the dog or cat, or any change of address or telephone number. The owner or custodian must also notify the microchipping company of any changes in ownership of the dog or cat. Nothing in this section supersedes, eliminates, or alters any other licensing requirements of this chapter.

B. Exemptions. The mandatory microchipping requirements shall not apply to any of the following:

1. A dog or cat with a high likelihood of suffering serious bodily injury, if implanted with the microchip identification, due to the health conditions of the animal. The owner or custodian must obtain written confirmation of the fact from a California-licensed veterinarian. If the dog or cat is able to be safely implanted with an identifying microchip at a later date, that date must be stated in the written confirmation.

2. A dog or cat that would be impaired of its mobility if implanted with the microchip identification. The owner or custodian must obtain written confirmation of that fact from a California-licensed veterinarian. If the dog or cat is able to be safely implanted with an identifying microchip at a later date, that date must be stated in the written confirmation.

3. A dog or cat that is kenneled or trained within Palm Desert city limits but is owned by an individual who does not reside within city limits. The owner or custodian must keep and maintain the animal in accordance with the applicable laws and ordinances of the jurisdiction in which the owner or custodian of the animal permanently resides, including, but not limited to, the applicable licensing and rabies vaccination requirements of that jurisdiction.

C. Transfer of Dogs and Cats.

1. An owner or custodian who offers any dog, over the age of four months, for trade or adoption must provide the microchip identification number and the valid dog license number with the trade or adoption. The license and microchip numbers must appear on a document transferring the dog to the new owner. The owner or custodian shall also advise the county of Riverside of the name and address of the new owner or custodian in accordance with subdivision (A) of this section. An owner or custodian who offers any dog, over the age of four (4) months, for trade, or adoption and fails to provide the county of Riverside with the name and address of the new owner is in violation of this chapter shall be subject to the penalties set forth herein.

2. An owner or custodian who offers any cat, over the age of four (4) months, for trade, or adoption must provide the microchip identification number the trade or adoption. The microchip numbers must appear on a document transferring the cat to the new owner. The owner or custodian shall also advise the county of Riverside of the name and address of the new owner or custodian in accordance with subsection a of this section. An owner or custodian offers any cat, over the age of four months, for trade, or adoption and fails to provide the county of Riverside with the name and address of the new owner is in violation of this chapter and shall be subject to the penalties set forth herein.

3. When a puppy or kitten under the age of four months implanted with microchip identification is otherwise transferred to another person, the owner or custodian shall advise the county of Riverside of the name and address of the new owner or custodian, and the microchip number of the puppy or kitten within 10 days after the transfer. If it is discovered that an owner or custodian has failed to provide the county with the name and address of the new owner and the microchip number of the puppy or kitten, the owner or custodian shall be subject to the penalties set forth in this chapter.

D. Impounded Dogs and Cats. When an impounded dog or cat is without microchip identification, in addition to satisfying applicable requirements for the release of the animal, including, but not limited to, payment of impound fees, the owner or custodian shall also do one of the following:

1. Have the dog or cat implanted with a Riverside County Department of Animal Services microchip by a Riverside County Department of Animal Services registered veterinarian technician or veterinarian or designated personnel at the expense of the owner or custodian;

2. Have the dog or cat implanted with a Riverside County Department of Animal Services-approved microchip by a California-licensed veterinarian. The owner or custodian may arrange for another California licensed veterinarian to perform the implant and shall pay the Riverside County Department of Animal Services the cost to deliver the dog or cat to the chosen veterinarian. The cost to deliver the dog or cat shall be based on the Riverside County Department of Animal Services' hourly rate established by the Riverside County Auditor-Controller. The veterinarian shall complete and return to the Riverside County Department of Animal Services within 10 business days, a statement confirming that the microchip has been implanted, provide both the Riverside County Department of Animal Services and the development services department with the number and shall release the dog or cat to the owner or custodian only after the procedure is complete.

3. Alternatively, at the discretion of the animal control officer, the dog or cat may be released to the owner or custodian if he or she signs a statement under penalty of perjury, representing that the dog or cat will be implanted with a microchip and that he or she will submit a statement within 10 business days of the release, signed by a California licensed veterinarian, confirming that the dog or cat has been so implanted and provide the microchip number to the department or allow the department to scan the dog or cat for the microchip to verify.

E. Fees for Microchip Identification Device. The fee for an identifying microchip device shall be included in the cost of adoption when adopting a dog or cat from a Riverside County animal shelter. The fee for an identifying microchip device shall be the amount set forth by the Riverside County Department of Animal Services per animal for all other animals. If an animal has already been implanted with an identifying microchip device by some other facility, there will be no fee to have the identification number entered into the registry for Riverside County Department of Animal Services and the development services department as required by subsection A of this section.

F. Allocation of Fees and Fines Collected. All costs, fees, and fines collected under this section shall be paid to the Riverside County Department of Animal Services for the purpose of defraying the cost of the implementation and enforcement of this program and for low-cost microchipping programs administered by the department.

G. Fee Prior to Release. In the event any cat comes under subsection A.4.c of this section, a mandatory spay and neuter deposit fee in an amount as set forth by the shall be paid before the cat is released from the shelter.

H. Age Exemption. Females over the age of 10 and males over the age of 12 are exempt from the spay and neuter requirement due to the biological improbability of reproduction, however, owners will be required to purchase an unaltered license for any dog that is exempt under this subsection.

(Ord. 1437, 12/11/2025)

A. Late Fee. If an application for a license is made more than 30 days after the date a dog license is required under this chapter, the applicant shall pay, in addition to the applicable license fee, a late fee. The late fee shall be the amount fixed from time to time by resolution of the city council.

B. Right to Hearing. Applicants have the right to an administrative hearing before the code compliance & support services manager, or his or her designee concerning fee calculations, penalties, or fines.

C. Request for Hearing. Applicants may request a hearing in writing to the development services department within 10 days upon the notification of any fees, penalties or fines. Within 10 days of the filing of the request, the code compliance & support services manager, or his or her designee shall conduct an administrative hearing on the applicant's objections, and shall consider whether the total costs as charged have been fairly and accurately calculated. The animal control officer may, in the interest of justice, cancel, reduce or arrange payment installments of any fees, penalties, or fines owed by the applicant.

D. Appeal. The decision of the code compliance & support services manager, or his or her designee, may be appealed by filing a written notice of appeal with the development services department within five days after the decision. The appeal shall be heard by an independent hearing examiner who may affirm, amend, or reverse the decision and may take any other action deemed appropriate. The development services department shall give written notice of the time and the place of the hearing to appellant. In conducting the hearing, the independent hearing examiner shall not be limited by the technical rules of evidence.

(Ord. 1437, 12/11/2025)