License in Person

Licensing Ordinance

All dogs, cats and ferrets 3 months of age and older must be vaccinated for rabies and licensed annually with the City of Albuquerque.

View the complete Albuquerque ordinance

Licensing Locations

Some veterinary clinics in the City of Albuquerque do accept payment for the city license at the time of rabies vaccination and will provide you with both a rabies tag and license tag. However, if you do not purchase the license when the pet is vaccinated, please purchase your pet's license through the mail or online.

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.
Your pet’s microchip number is required if it is not already on file. All dogs and cats in the City of Albuquerque are required to be microchipped.
Proof of spay/neuter, such as a signed statement from a veterinarian or an invoice for services, is required for all dogs and cats. Unaltered pets must have an intact animal permit from Albuquerque Animal Care Center before they can be licensed with the City.
Owners age 65 and over may receive a license at no charge, provided that the owner's age or date of birth is provided with the application.
Low income pet owners should go in person to the Albuquerque Animal Care Center to provide documentation. Low income owners will need to re-qualify each year.

License Fees

Licensing Fees	1 Year
Companion Animal (dog or cat)	$6.00
Senior (65+) Reduced Rate	$0.00
Low Income Pet Owner	$0.00
Other Fees
Replacement Tag	$4.00

Proof of age, such as a copy of a driver's license or other document listing date of birth, is required to receive the senior license rate.

Low income pet owners must qualify each year to receive a no-fee license for their pets. Please go in person to Animal Services to provide documentation.

Download License Application (PDF format)

Due Date

Payment for your license is due within 60 days of your pet’s vaccination date or prior license expiration date. A late fee of $15.00 is added if your license has not been purchased within this time.

If you are licensing for the first time, you must purchase a license within 30 days of obtaining a dog or cat over the age of 3 months or within 30 days of establishing residence in the City of Albuquerque.