Riverside Municipal Code Ch. 8.12 Dog Licenses

It is unlawful for any person to own or have custody, control or possession of any dog over the age of four months within the City unless there is attached to such dog a collar upon which there is a current, numbered license tag as provided for by this chapter.

(Ord. 4112 § 1 (part), 1974)

A. Any person owning or having custody or control of one or more dogs over the age of four months in the City shall pay for the license of each such dog an amount as may be established by resolution of the City Council.

B. Such license fee shall be paid in full prior to the issuance of the license certificate and tag. The fee shall become delinquent if not paid on or before the thirtieth day after the dog reaches the age of four months or after acquiring ownership, custody or control of the dog, or on or before the thirtieth day following expiration of the previously issued license for such dog. The resolution establishing fees for the dog licenses may also establish a late fee for delinquent payments.

(Ord. 6219 § 7, 1995: Ord. 6217 § 7, 1995: Ord. 5590 § 2, 1987; Ord. 4513 § 1, 1978; Ord. 4112 § 1 (part), 1974)

The owner of any dog, which owner moves into the City from another community, shall be issued a license for the remainder of that license's term upon presentation of a current rabies vaccination certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian and a dog license receipt from another community for said licenser and upon payment of a transfer fee as may be established by resolution of the City Council.

(Ord. 7362 §1, 2017; Ord. 5590 § 4, 1987; Ord. 4112 § 1 (part), 1974)

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8.12.020, the City Council may establish by resolution a reduced schedule of fees including any late fee for the issuance of a license for each dog over the age of four months owned by any person 60 years of age or older upon presentation at time of issuance of such dog license proof of the age of the person requesting the reduced rate.

(Ord. 5965 § 1, 1991; Ord. 5590 § 5, 1987; Ord. 4112 § 1 (part), 1974)

Upon payment of the required fee as to each such dog, a license shall be issued for one year from date of issuance for a dog under one year of age, and for one, two or three years from date of issuance for a dog over one year of age; provided that the date of expiration of the vaccination immunity is not earlier. At the request of the owner or custodian of such dog, the license may be backdated so that its expiration date occurs concurrent with or prior to the expiration date of the vaccination; provided, however, that where such backdating is performed, there shall be no reduction or discount of the applicable license fee. If a license is a renewed license, the date of issuance shall be the date following the expiration of such earlier license.

Each dog license shall state the name and residence of the person to whom the license is issued, the address of the premises at which the dog will be kept, the fee paid, the date when issued, the date of expiration, a description of the dog and the number of the tag which shall be issued to the license.

In the event the ownership of the dog is changed, the license may be transferred for said dog by the new owner upon application and payment of a fee as set by resolution of the City Council; provided, however, that no dog license required by this chapter shall be transferable to another dog.

No refunds shall be made on any dog license fee because of the death of the dog for whom the license was issued or the owner's leaving the City before expiration of the license period.

(Ord. 5590 § 6, 1987; Ord. 4112 § 1 (part), 1974)

No dog may be licensed and no license certificate may be issued, except upon presentation of a certificate of rabies vaccination issued by a veterinary surgeon evidencing that the period of time elapsing from the date of vaccination to the date of expiration of the license does not exceed the maximum duration of immunity accepted by the California Department of Health for that type of canine rabies vaccine with which the dog was vaccinated.

(Ord. 4112 § 1 (part), 1974)

Upon payment of the license fee, presentation of the veterinarian's rabies vaccination certificate, and presentation of a microchip number, the Animal Control Director or his/her designee shall issue to the owner a license certificate and one durable license tag for each dog so licensed and vaccinated. The tag shall have stamped thereon the number corresponding with the number of the license certificate. Every owner shall be required to provide each dog with a collar to which the license tag must be affixed and shall see that the collar and tag are constantly worn. If a dog tag is lost or destroyed, a duplicate shall be issued by the Animal Control Director or his/her designee upon presentation of a receipt showing the payment of the license fee for the current year and the payment of a fee for each such duplicate as may be established by resolution of the City Council. Dog tags shall not be transferable from one dog to another.

(Ord. 7362 §1, 2017; Ord. 5590 § 7, 1987; Ord. 4112 § 1 (part), 1974)

The Animal Control Director or his/her shall keep a register of all dog licenses issued under this chapter, showing the name of the licensee, the date of issuance, description of the dog and the number of the license issued.

(Ord. 7362 §1, 2017; Ord. 4112 § 1 (part), 1974)

Persons duly licensed for operation of a kennel or for sale of pets shall not be required to obtain licenses for dogs kept on the subject premises solely for the purpose of sale to the public, except as provided in Chapter 8.18.

(Ord. 4112 § 1 (part), 1974)

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to dogs owned by or in charge or care of nonresidents of the City traveling through the City or temporarily sojourning therein for a period not exceeding 30 days, nor to dogs temporarily brought into the City for participation in any dog show, nor to "seeing eye" dogs properly trained to assist blind persons when such dogs are actually being used by blind persons for the purpose of aiding them in going from place to place.

(Ord. 4112 § 1 (part), 1974)