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License Online
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
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.
NOTE: No-fee licenses for guide dogs are not currently supported in the online payment system. The no-fee license may be applied for by mail.
If you prefer to pay by another method, click here to view your other payment options.
Required Paperwork
- A rabies vaccination certificate is requested 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 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 discounted fees for senior citizens age 65 and over.
Please send legible copies of your paperwork, as documentation is not returned with your license receipt.
License Fees
| Annual License | Regular | Seniors 65+ |
| Unaltered Dogs | $40.00 | $20.00 |
| Spayed/Neutered Dogs | $16.00 | $8.00 |
Would you like to make a donation to the Pennsylvania SPCA? All proceeds will be used exclusively to find unwanted animals new homes. Please indicate the amount of your donation on your paperwork to ensure that your payment is applied correctly. For more information about the PSPCA, visit www.pspca.org.
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.
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Download License Application (PDF format) |
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.