Dog Licensing

We provide licensing for dogs residing within the city limits of Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, Escondido, Imperial Beach, Oceanside, Poway, San Diego, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach and Vista. For those residing within San Diego County, but outside of our jurisdiction, please contact County of San Diego Department of Animal Services.

View Jurisdictions by Zip Code.

For questions about licensing, feel free to email [email protected].

List of San Diego Shelters Licensing FAQs

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Why Get a License?

If your dog is ever missing, a license tag provides a quick and accurate way of notifying you if someone else finds your pet. It also provides proof that your dog has been vaccinated against rabies, as required by law.

Once your dog has been assigned a license, the number and the information about your dog is permanently filed in our records. Your dog keeps the same license tag number for life.

The owner of every dog over the age of four months is required by law to ensure that his or her pet is currently vaccinated against rabies. You must purchase a license:

• Within thirty (30) days after reaching the age of four (4) months, or
• Within thirty (30) days of acquiring the dog, or
• Within thirty (30) days after entering the jurisdiction.

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Important Licensing Information

• Failure to obtain a license, or to renew the license by the expiration date will result in a late fee.
• Rabies vaccination of dogs (a prerequisite for licensing) has been highly effective as an animal and public health measure, and is especially important in areas like ours where the potential threat of exposure to rabies from wildlife is a significant concern. The primary rabies vaccination is good for one year. The second vaccination is given one year later. Subsequent (or booster) vaccinations are valid for three years.
• A dog's license tag must be securely fastened to the dog's collar or harness and worn by the dog at all times. Dog licensing is the best way to ensure your pet is identifiable, if found, and is also a visible means of ensuring that the animal has been vaccinated against rabies.
• Dog license fees are not refundable.

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Licensing Fees

License fees are an investment in the health and safety of our pets. These small fees also assist San Diego Humane Society in providing care to stray and homeless animals and further our efforts to eliminate animal cruelty and neglect.

Oceanside

• 1 yr / 3 yrs License Term
• $50 / $150 Unaltered
• $15 / $40 Altered
• $20 Late Fee
• $5 Transfer/Replacement

Vista

• 1 yr / 3 yrs License Term
• $50 / $100 Unaltered
• $15 / $40 Altered
• $20 Late Fee
• $5 Transfer/Replacement

Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, Escondido, Imperial Beach, Poway, San Diego, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach

• 1 yr / 2 yrs / 3 yrs License Term
• $30 / $52 / $72 Unaltered
• $14 / $26 / $36 Altered
• $10 Late Fee
• $5 Transfer/Replacement

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Licensing Service Dogs

Service dogs must maintain a current rabies and license, but the owner is usually exempt from paying for the license. San Diego Humane Society offers licensing for residents in Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, Escondido, Imperial Beach, Oceanside, Poway, San Diego, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach and Vista.

For more information about service dogs, click here.

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How to Apply for a License

Visit us at out San Diego, Escondido or Oceanside campuses and complete a licensing application.

1. For the incorporated cities of Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, Escondido, Imperial Beach, Oceanside, Poway, San Diego, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach and Vista:
   Download this licensing application here.
2. Provide proof of current rabies vaccination. If your pet cannot get a rabies vaccination due to a medical condition, please complete this rabies exempt form with your veterinarian.
3. Provide proof of spay or neuter, if applicable.
4. Make check payable to San Diego Humane Society.
5. Questions? Email [email protected].

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Pet License Incentive Program

To offer pet owners peace of mind — and some benefits — as they invest in the health and safety of their pets, we provide the Pet License Incentive Program:

Fast Track

Found pets with current licenses can be quickly reunited with their owner or rushed to an appropriate veterinarian if severely injured.

Free Ride Home

The first time a licensed pet is picked up or brought to San Diego Humane Society, it will receive a free ride home or free pass to go home, reducing its stay or even skipping a trip to San Diego Humane Society altogether.

Vacation Pet Alert

Before you leave for vacation, call 619-243-3420 to register your pet for the Vacation Pet Alert service. Provide us with the contact information of who will be caring for your pet and who is allowed to act on your behalf while you're away. This will also put the Extended Stay service into effect.

Extended Stay

When found, your licensed pet will be cared for by San Diego Humane Society for up to seven days before being put up for adoption.

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Questions? Email Us.