Common Questions

Please choose the option that best describes the notice you received:

There may be several reasons why you received a bill when you have a current license. We're happy to help with your account information - please fill out this form to begin the process.

The metal license tag is permanently assigned to your dog, and you will not receive a new tag during the renewal process unless requested. If you have lost your tag or it has become unreadable, please pay the replacement tag fee when you mail your renewal, and a new tag will be mailed with your license registration. Otherwise, a receipt only will be mailed.

We will mail your tag and license receipt within 10 business days from the day we receive your completed license application and payment. Please allow an additional 3-5 business days to receive your tag or receipt in the mail. If we have not received correct payment or proper documentation you will be notified via mail and the processing of your license will be delayed.

You may obtain a replacement tag by sending a check or money order payable to "City of Costa Mesa" in the amount of $5.00 to the mailing address below. Please do not send cash. You may include either a copy of your prior license receipt or a note to designate the dog for which you are purchasing a replacement tag. If you need assistance, you may call customer service toll-free at 1-866-364-8611.

If you are renewing your dog’s license, please indicate that a replacement tag is needed on the renewal form and include the replacement tag fee.

Costa Mesa Pet Licensing
c/o PetData
PO Box 141929
Irving, TX 75014-1929

Only one license tag can be active at one time. Requests for multiple tags for the same animal cannot be fulfilled.

Licenses may not be transferred from one owner to another owner or from one pet to another pet. A new license must be purchased. Click here to view your licensing options.

Licenses are non-refundable. However, if you have made a duplicate payment for the same pet, we may add a year to the license term if the rabies vaccination will be current for the additional year. Proof of duplicate payment may be required.

Refunds are not available for unused time or if the animal is altered during the licensing period and you paid at the higher rate.

To request an additional license term due to a duplicate payment, please send your request in writing or via email to Customer Service.

Licenses are valid for 1 or 3 years from date of vaccination (or more recent anniversary of vaccination) until the next anniversary or expiration of the rabies vaccination. The license may not be valid beyond the expiration of the rabies vaccination.

The animal shelter for the City of Costa Mesa is located at the following address:

Priceless Pet Rescue
1536 Newport Blvd
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(909) 203-3695

To report stray animals or for questions unrelated to licensing, please call Animal Control at 707-441-4327.

If the pet that you have found is wearing a Costa Mesa license tag, please call our office at 1-866-364-8611. Please also visit the City’s website for more information.

If an Animal Services Officer finds your pet, and your pet is wearing a current license tag on its collar, Animal Services will contact you. If another citizen finds your pet with its license tag, they may call the phone number on the license tag and you will be put in touch with the person who found the pet.

If your pet has been lost, please visit the City’s website for steps to begin your search.

Licensing helps Animal Control identify family pets, should an animal become lost. The fees from licensing are used to care for animals and investigate complaints about stray animals, among other services. Other goals of animal licensing are to promote responsible pet ownership and to reduce the tragedies associated with lost pets and pet overpopulation.

Licensing Ordinance

All dogs 4 months of age and older must be licensed with Costa Mesa annually. All dogs within the City for over 30 days must also be licensed with Costa Mesa.

View the complete Costa Mesa ordinance

Due Date

Payment for your license is due within 30 days of the expiration of your current license.

A late fee is due 30 days after the license expiration date. The late fee is 50% of the applicable one-year license fee.

License Term

Licenses are valid for 1 or 3 years from date of vaccination (or more recent anniversary of vaccination) until the next anniversary or expiration of the rabies vaccination. The license may not be valid beyond the expiration of the rabies vaccination.

The City chose to privatize animal licensing beginning in 2024 to promote animal licensing, to increase the cost-effectiveness of the program, and to provide additional services to its citizens.

PetData, Inc., headquartered in Dallas, Texas, provides animal licensing services for municipalities and animal welfare agencies throughout the United States. The company, a member of the National Animal Control Association, has been in business since 1994. PetData’s goals are to increase animal licensing, to reduce animal euthanasia, to educate the community, and to help solve animal control problems.

We at PetData consider the privacy of our clients to be of paramount importance. PetData has never sold information or data to any third-party. PetData does not use any personally identifiable data collected for any purpose other than for those purposes as required by client contracts.

We do not respond to requests for information from non-client individuals or corporations, nor do we release information without the express written consent of our clients. PetData does not and will not share or sell client data with any other parties or make client data publicly available unless authorized by the client or required under a legal subpoena. All data belongs to our clients, and PetData serves only as a custodian for client-owned data.

Groups or individuals requesting data should contact their City or County directly as PetData will only release data to our contracted clients.