License Online

Licensing Ordinance

Anyone owning a dog or cat four months of age or older in the City of Houston must have their pet vaccinated against rabies either annually or tri-annually. A city license must be purchased annually.

Read Animal Regulations in Houston

View the City of Houston ordinance

Instructions to License Online

Ready to purchase your license? If you would like to license online, a convenience fee of $1.95 will apply for each transaction. Any required documents, such as your pet's current rabies certificate, may be scanned and uploaded or submitted later by fax, mail or email. The license will be issued after all required documents are received.

Click here to begin

If you prefer to pay by another method, click here to view your other payment options.

Required Paperwork

1. A rabies vaccination certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian must be submitted if the rabies vaccination has expired. An invoice or statement of services is not sufficient as proof of rabies vaccination. Check your certificate for correct owner name, address, and pet information.
2. Please include a spay/neuter certificate if the pet has been altered since the last licensing period.
3. If you are applying for a senior license, proof of age is required.
4. If you are applying for a Certified Assistance Altered Pet License for the first time, please provide a copy of the certification papers for your pet.

Please send copies of your paperwork and retain the originals for your records. Copies will not be returned with your license receipt.

License Fees

Effective 4/1/2011

Licensing Fees	First Year		Renewal
Unaltered Pet	$60.00		$60.00
Altered Pet (Spayed/Neutered)	$20.00		$20.00
Senior Citizen (Age 60+ with altered pet - proof of age required)	$5.00		$2.00
Certified Assistance (Seeing/Hearing Altered Pet License)	no fee		$2.00
A $10 late fee is due if submitted 30 days or more after vaccination date or anniversary of vaccination date.

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 your pet’s rabies vaccination date or the expiration of your previous license. If you are licensing for the first time, you must purchase a license when the pet reaches 4 months of age or within 30 days of moving into the City or owning the pet.

A late fee of $10 is charged if your license has not been purchased within 30 days of the vaccination date, previous license expiration date, or if you have not completed a license in the past year.