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.

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 “Delaware Dog Licensing" 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 pet for which you are purchasing a replacement tag. If you need assistance, you may call customer service toll-free at 1-877-730-6347.

Delaware Dog 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 are non-transferrable.

A refund may be available for the following reasons:

1. If a duplicate payment was made for the same pet and the same license term. Be sure to include the pet’s current license tag number if it is available, and as much information as possible regarding your payments.
2. If a previously spayed or neutered pet was licensed at the unaltered rate. Be sure to include proof of alteration dated prior to the licensing date.
3. If the pet owner lived outside of the state at the time of licensing.

To request a refund, please send your request in writing or via email to Customer Service.

Licenses will be valid for 1, 2 or 3 years from the date of purchase. For a 1-year license, your pet’s rabies vaccination must be current at the time of purchase. For a 2-year license, there must be more than 1 year remaining on the rabies vaccination as of the purchase date. For a 3-year license, there must be more than 2 years remaining on the rabies vaccination as of the purchase date.

Pets with a State Certificate of Medical Exemption from Rabies Vaccination may purchase a 1-year license only.

Sheltering of animals for the State of Delaware is provided by the Brandywine Valley SPCA at local kennels in each county. The Brandywine Valley SPCA is also building a permanent shelter in the City of New Castle.

To report stray animals or for questions unrelated to licensing, please call Delaware Animal Services at 302-255-4646.

If an Animal Control 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 use the tag number to contact you by calling the phone number on the license tag or through our online tag search.

Sheltering of strays for the State of Delaware is provided by the Brandywine Valley SPCA, 302-516-0001.

If an Animal Control 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 use the tag number to contact you by calling the phone number on the license tag or through our online tag search.

If your pet has been lost, Animal Services recommends that you visit local shelters and/or their websites to look for your pet at least every other day. Sheltering of stray dogs for the State of Delaware is provided by the Brandywine Valley SPCA. You may view found pets at Delaware Animal Services or call 302-516-0001 to see if you pet was picked up.

Licensing helps Animal Services 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 age 6 months or older must be currently licensed with the State of Delaware. A valid rabies vaccination certificate or state authorized exemption certificate is required to obtain a dog license.

View the complete State of Delaware ordinance:

State of Delaware ordinance

Due Date

Payment for your license is due within 30 days of the license expiration date, or within 30 days of acquiring a dog over the age of 6 months in the State of Delaware.

A late fee will be added to each license purchased more than 30 days after the license expiration date, or more than 30 days after acquiring a dog over the age of 6 months in the State of Delaware.

License Term

Licenses will be valid for 1, 2 or 3 years from the date of purchase. For a 1-year license, your pet’s rabies vaccination must be current at the time of purchase. For a 2-year license, there must be more than 1 year remaining on the rabies vaccination as of the purchase date. For a 3-year license, there must be more than 2 years remaining on the rabies vaccination as of the purchase date.

Pets with a State Certificate of Medical Exemption from Rabies Vaccination may purchase a 1-year license only.

The State of Delaware chose to privatize animal licensing beginning in 2016 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.