License in Person

Licensing Ordinance

All dogs over four months of age must be licensed with Lake County, excluding the incorporated cities of Lakeport and Clearlake. New residents or owners of new pets have a grace period of 30 days to license their pets. The grace period for new pets is extended to 60 days if the pet has a current or prior-year license from another municipality in California.

View the complete Lake County ordinance

Licensing Locations

You may license your pet in person at Lake County Animal Shelter on 4949 Helbrush Drive, Lakeport.

You may also purchase your pet's license at Clearlake Veterinary Clinic.

Please bring your pet's current rabies vaccination certificate and proof of spay/neuter (if applicable) with you.

Required Paperwork

A current rabies vaccination certificate is required if the rabies vaccination on file has expired. Please check your certificate for correct address and pet information.
Proof of spay/neuter, such as a signed statement from a veterinarian or an invoice for services is required if the pet has been altered since the last licensing period and you are applying for the lower spayed/neutered license fee.
Proof of age is required to receive the reduced-fee license for senior citizens age 60 and over with a spayed or neutered pet.
If licensing an unaltered exempt dog for the first time, please submit proof of the dog's registration with the AKC or UKC. Actively working cattle and hunting dogs will need to be licensed the first time with Animal Services, but may be renewed through the mail or online.

Your paperwork will not be returned to you, so please retain a copy of your documents for your records.

License Fees

Standard Licensing Fees Effective 7/1/25	1 Year
Unaltered Dog *	$100.00
Unaltered Exempt Dog *	$50.00
Spayed/Neutered Dog	$20.00
Senior (60+) Owner with Altered Dog	$13.00
Service Dog **	$0.00
Other Fees
Late Fee	$20.00
Replacement Tag	$5.00
Transfer	$5.00

*All dogs in Lake County are required to be spayed or neutered. However, registered purebreds and actively working cattle dogs or hunting dogs may apply for an exemption and reduced license fee. To license a purebred, a copy of the dog's registration with the AKC or UKC must be included with the initial license application. An exemption for a working cattle or hunting dog requires an inspection and approval from the Animal Services Department for the initial license.

**Please contact Animal Services for Service Dog licenses.

The cost for licensing unaltered or fertile pets is higher than for licensing spayed or neutered pets in order to promote sterilization and to reduce pet overpopulation and starvation.

Download License Application (PDF format)
*To use as an electronic fillable form, open in Adobe Reader.

Due Date

Payment for your license is due within 30 days of the date that your current license expires. If you are licensing for the first time, you must purchase a license within 30 days of obtaining a dog over the age of 4 months or within 30 days of establishing residence in Lake County. The grace period for new pets is extended to 60 days if the pet has a current or prior-year license from another municipality in California.

A late fee of $20 is charged if your license has not been purchased by the end of the grace period.