Rancho Santa Margarita Municipal Code Art. III Dog Licensing

(a) Every person owning or having custody of any dog four months of age or older shall procure for the dog a City dog license from the animal services department. Such license shall be procured within 15 days after the date on which it becomes due. The following are exceptions to the requirement to license:

(1) A dog brought into the City for show or other purposes and which leaves the City within 30 days; and

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

Guard (sentry) dogs and dogs that are foster animals are not exempt from this Section. Each such dog must be individually licensed and must wear its City license tag securely fastened to a collar or harness whether or not the dog is kenneled in the City.

(b) No dog shall be licensed without proof of a current, approved rabies vaccination. No license term will expire later than the expiration date of the rabies vaccination. An owner may purchase a license for six or 12 months, depending upon the date and kind of vaccine used as per the City of Mission Viejo's policy, upon payment of the fee established by the City of Mission Viejo.

(Ord. No. 16-09, § 1, 1-11-2017)

(a) Each dog required to be licensed pursuant to this Article shall, at all times, wear the current license tag assigned to that dog, except:

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

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

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

(4) 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.

(b) A license tag shall not be removed from any dog without the consent of the owner or other person authorized to have custody thereof.

(Ord. No. 16-09, § 1, 1-11-2017)

Dog licenses not purchased or renewed within 15 days after expiration, or the date on which they become due pursuant to Section 5.12.300, shall be considered delinquent and a late fee as determined by the City of Mission Viejo shall be added to the cost of the new license. The Director may waive the above late fee if he or she determines the applicant made a reasonable effort to comply with the above deadline.

(Ord. No. 16-09, § 1, 1-11-2017)

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 15 days, in writing, of such transfer of ownership, and the name and address of the new owner is provided.

(Ord. No. 16-09, § 1, 1-11-2017)

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

(Ord. No. 16-09, § 1, 1-11-2017)

Every person shall, upon demand by the Director, produce for inspection any current rabies vaccination certificate or dog license tag issued pursuant to this Article.

(Ord. No. 16-09, § 1, 1-11-2017)

Every person owning or having custody of five or more dogs, over the age of four months, for the purpose as described in Section 5.12.1100, must obtain an additional animal license as required under Article XI of this Chapter

(Ord. No. 16-09, § 1, 1-11-2017)