Virginia Beach, Virginia Not your city or county?

Common Questions

Questions About Notices

Questions About Current Licenses

Questions About Lost and Found Animals

Questions About Pet Licensing

Questions About PetData

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Why did I receive this notice?

Please choose the option that best describes the notice you received:

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Why am I being billed when I have a current license?

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.

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When will I get my license tag?

The metal license tag is permanently assigned to your pet, and you will not receive a new tag during the renewal process unless requested. If you have lost your tag or it has become unreadable, please let us know when you mail your renewal, and a new tag will be mailed with your license registration. Otherwise, a receipt only will be mailed.

We will mail your tag or 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 required documentation, you will be notified via mail and the processing of your license will be delayed.

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How do I get a replacement tag?

You may obtain a replacement for a lost, stolen or badly mutilated license tag by going in person to any Treasurer's Office location. Please bring a copy of your pet's current tag receipt and $1.00 for the cost of the replacement tag.

Only one license tag can be active at one time. Requests for multiple tags for the same animal cannot be fulfilled.

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Can I transfer a license?

A license tag may be transferred to a different owner name at the same address. If both owner and address have changed, a new license must be purchased.
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Can I obtain a refund?

A refund may be available for the following reasons:

  1. 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. The pet owner lived outside the city limits at the time of licensing.
  3. A previously spayed or neutered pet was licensed at the unaltered rate. Proof of the date of alteration must be submitted.

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

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How long is this license valid?

Animal licenses will expire one, two or three years from the date of vaccination or expiration of the prior license, depending on the license term purchased. The license cannot be valid longer than the rabies vaccination expiration.
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Where is the local animal shelter?

Virginia Beach Care and Adoption Center
341 S Birdneck Rd
Virginia Beach, VA

To report stray animals or for questions unrelated to licensing, please call 757-385-4444.

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I have found a pet: what should I do?

If the pet that you have found is wearing a City of Virginia Beach license tag, please contact Animal Control and they will notify the owner of their pet's temporary location.
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I have lost a pet: what should I do?

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 your pet has been lost, Animal Control recommends that you visit the shelter to look for your pet. The shelter is located at 341 S Birdneck Rd. You may also contact the Virginia Beach SPCA at 757-427-0070. Even though the SPCA does not pick up animals, they will frequently take in stray animals that have been found by a citizen and brought to their facility. They are located at 3040 Holland Road, near the intersection of Holland Road and Dam Neck Road.

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Why should I license?

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 Animal Control monitor compliance with local and state rabies vaccination laws.

Licensing also helps Animal Control 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.

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What are the licensing requirements?

Licensing Ordinance

All dogs and cats over four months of age must be licensed with the City of Virginia Beach.

New residents have a grace period of 30 days to license their pets after establishing residency. If the rabies certificate is older than 90 days at residency a prorated license is only available at one of the local Treasurer's offices with verification of new residency.

View the complete City of Virginia Beach ordinance

Due Date

The license tax on dogs and cats shall be due and payable as follows:

  1. When a dog or cat becomes four (4) months of age and receives its first rabies vaccination.
  2. When a dog or cat receives a subsequent rabies vaccination.
  3. Within thirty (30) days from the day a person brings a dog or cat into the city from another jurisdiction, if such dog or cat is to be kept in the city more than thirty (30) days.

License Term

Animal licenses will expire one, two or three years from the date of vaccination or expiration of the prior license, depending on the license term purchased. The license cannot be valid longer than the rabies vaccination expiration.
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Why was licensing privatized?

The City of Virginia Beach chose to privatize animal licensing in 2010 to promote animal licensing, to increase the cost-effectiveness of the program, and to provide additional services to its citizens.
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Who is PetData?

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.
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Does PetData sell information?

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.

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