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 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 in the mail. If we have not received correct payment or required documentation, you will be notified via mail and the processing of your license will be delayed.

If you have just purchased or renewed your license in the last 30 days, you may obtain a replacement tag for free. Call or email us to request the replacement tag. Please include the pet’s name and current license tag number in your request.

After 30 days, you may purchase a replacement tag for the license fee appropriate for your pet. Please mail your request and check or money order payable to "City of Philadelphia" to:

Philadelphia Animal Licensing
1735 Market St, Ste A435
Philadelphia, PA 19103

City of Philadelphia licenses or tags may not be transferred to a new owner or a different pet. A new license must be purchased.

A refund may be available if a duplicate payment was made for your license. To request a refund, please send your request in writing or via email to Customer Service. Be sure to include the pet’s current license tag number if it is available, and as much information as possible regarding your payments.

Philadelphia Animal Licensing
1735 Market St, Ste A435
Philadelphia, PA 19103

Animal Licenses will expire the last day of the month, one year from last renewal or initial issuance.

ACCT (Animal Care and Control Team)
Powered by the PSPCA
111 W. Hunting Park Ave.
Philadelphia, PA  19140

To report stray animals or for questions unrelated to licensing, please call (267) 385-3800.

If the pet is wearing a City of Philadelphia license tag, please enter the tag number in the tag search box on the left side of the page. If you need assistance, you may call our office at 215-683-LOST.

If you have found a pet without a license tag, you may fill out a found pet report at www.pspca.org/acct/services.

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 through our online search or by calling 215-683-LOST.

If your pet has been lost, Animal Services recommends that you visit the shelter to look for your pet. The shelter is located at 111 W. Hunting Park Ave. in Philadelphia. You may also fill out a lost dog report at www.pspca.org/acct/services.

The primary reason is to prevent the spreading of rabies. Rabies is a constant health threat, and rabies vaccinations are good for your pet’s health. Did you know that rabies is 100% fatal for humans if not treated properly? Animal licensing helps the City of Philadelphia monitor compliance with local and state rabies vaccination laws. 

Licensing also 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 4 months of age and older must be vaccinated for rabies and licensed annually with the City of Philadelphia. Philadelphia and Pennsylvania law both require the licensing of dogs. The license issued by the City satisfies the requirements of both laws.

View the complete City of Philadelphia ordinance

Due Date

Payment for your license is due upon the expiration of your current license. 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 the City of Philadelphia.

License Term

Animal Licenses will expire the last day of the month, one year from last renewal or initial issuance.

The City of Philadelphia chose to privatize animal licensing in 2004 to promote animal licensing in the City, to increase the cost-effectiveness of the program, and to provide additional services to its citizens.

PetData, Inc., headquartered in Farmers Branch, 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 1993. 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 those as determined 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 client agencies. Groups or individuals requesting licensing data should contact the individual client's animal services agency director as we release data only to our contracted client.