License Requirements

Licensing Ordinance

All dogs, cats and ferrets 4 months of age and older must be vaccinated for rabies and licensed annually or triennially with Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

The cities of Charlotte, Mint Hill, Pineville and the unincorporated area of Mecklenburg County are required to license through Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Licensing.

If you live within the town limits of Matthews, you are required to license with Matthews Animal Licensing.

View the complete City of Charlotte ordinance

Due Date

Payment for your license is due by the expiration date of your current license. All dogs, cats and ferrets 4 months of age or older are required to have both a current rabies shot and a current animal license. New residents of Charlotte-Mecklenburg have 30 days to license their pets.

A late fee of $10.00 is charged if your license has not been purchased within 30 days of the due date.

License Term

Animal Licenses will expire either one year or three years from date of purchase for the first license depending on the license term purchased. Subsequent licenses will expire either one or three years from the expiration of the previous license, depending on the license term purchased.