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 and 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 "City of Sterling Heights" in the amount of $6.00 to the mailing address below. Please do not send cash. Please include a copy of your license receipt or a note to designate the pet for which you are purchasing a replacement tag. In order to obtain a replacement tag, the rabies expiration date on file must be current. If it is not current, please include a copy of the current rabies certificate.

Sterling Heights 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. If you need assistance, you may call customer service at 1-800-574-1453.

Licenses are non-transferable.

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 the city limits at the time of licensing.

To request a refund, please send your request in writing to the address below or via email to Customer Service. Please include information about where and when your payments were made.

Sterling Heights Dog Licensing
c/o PetData
PO Box 141929
Irving, TX 75014-1929

All dogs must be licensed by March 31st. One-year licenses expire on March 31st of the following year. Two and three-year licenses may also be purchased as long as the rabies vaccination is current through April 2nd of the year prior to the expire year.

Macomb County Animal Shelter
21417 Dunham Rd
Clinton Township
586-469-5115

To report stray animals or for questions unrelated to licensing, please call Sterling Heights Animal Control at 586-446-2879

If the pet that you have found is wearing a Sterling Heights license tag, please call Sterling Heights Dispatch at 586-446-2800.

Sheltering of strays for the City of Sterling Heights is provided by the Macomb County Animal Shelter.

If an Animal Control Officer finds your pet, and your pet is wearing a current license tag on its collar, Animal Control will contact you. If another citizen finds your pet with its license tag, they will contact Sterling Heights Dispatch who will then contact you.

If your pet has been lost, Animal Services recommends that you visit the shelter to look for your pet at least every other day. Sheltering of strays for the City of Sterling Heights is provided by the Macomb County Animal Shelter. You may also contact Sterling Heights Animal Control at 586-446-2879 regarding your pet.

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.

In addition, it is the law in the City of Sterling Heights to have your dog licensed. Failure to do so may result in a $500 fine.

Licensing Ordinance

All dogs 6 months of age and older must be licensed with the City of Sterling Heights within 30 days of being in the city.

View the complete Sterling Heights ordinance:

Sterling Heights Animal Control Ordinance

Due Date

Payment for your license is due by March 31st. If you are licensing for the first time, you must purchase a license within 30 days of obtaining a pet over the age of 6 months or within 30 days of moving into the City of Sterling Heights.

A late fee of $12.00 is added to the license fee if your license is not purchased by the due date.

License Term

All dogs must be licensed by March 31st. One-year licenses expire on March 31st of the following year. Two and three-year licenses may also be purchased as long as the rabies vaccination is current through April 2nd of the year prior to the expire year.

The City of Sterling Heights chose to privatize animal licensing beginning in 2013 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.