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.

If you have received a citation for licensing only, you must provide proof of licensing within 14 days of the citation issue date to correct the citation. All citations must be cleared with the City of Citrus Heights. Citation fines are payable to the City of Citrus Heights and should be paid in person or mailed directly to Citrus Heights Animal Services, 6315 Fountain Square Drive, Citrus Heights CA 95621. Please contact Citrus Heights Animal Services at 916-725-7387 for more information regarding your citation.

The metal license tag you receive when you first license your pet with the City of Citrus Heights is permanently assigned to your pet. Once you have a City tag, you will not receive a new tag during the renewal process unless requested. If you have lost your City tag or it has become unreadable, please pay the replacement tag fee when you mail your renewal, and a new tag will be mailed with your license registration. Otherwise, a receipt only will be mailed. *Once a City tag has been issued to your pet, please remove tags issued by other jurisdictions to avoid confusion. **You do not need to purchase an additional County tag when licensed in the City.

We will mail your tag and/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 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 Citrus Heights Animal Services" in the amount of $16.00 to the mailing address below. Please do not send cash. You may include either a copy of your prior license receipt or a note to designate the pet for which you are purchasing a replacement tag. If you need assistance, you may call customer service toll-free at 1-855-223-1682.

If you are renewing your pet's license, please indicate that a replacement tag is needed on the renewal form and include the replacement tag fee.

Citrus Heights Animal 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.

A valid City of Citrus Heights license can be transferred to a new owner of the same pet. This request can be made by contacting customer service toll-free at 1-855-223-1682.

A valid license from another jurisdiction may be transferred to the City of Citrus Heights at no charge for the remainder of the license term, up to a maximum of 12 months. In order to apply for this transfer, please send the pet’s current rabies vaccination certificate, a copy of the pet’s valid license from another jurisdiction, and the owner’s current contact information to the following address:

Citrus Heights Animal Licensing
c/o PetData
PO Box 141929
Irving, TX 75014-1929

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 or via email to Customer Service.

Licenses will only be valid for a term equal to or less than the remaining duration of the pet’s current rabies vaccination.

Placer County Animal Services Center at 11232 B Avenue, Auburn, CA 95603

To report stray animals or for questions unrelated to licensing, please call Citrus Heights Animal Services at 916-725-7387.

Contact Citrus Heights Animal Services at 916-725-7387 to make a report of a found animal. Sheltering of strays for the City of Citrus Heights is provided by Placer County Animal Services Center.

If the pet that you have found is wearing a City of Citrus Heights license tag, please call 916-725-7387 for assistance.

If an Animal Services 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 call the phone number on the license tag, and you will be contacted.

If your pet has been lost, Animal Services recommends you file a report on the Lost & Found Hotline at 916-727-4850 and that you visit the shelter to look for your pet at least every other day. Sheltering of strays for the City of Citrus Heights is provided by Placer County Animal Services Center. You may also contact Citrus Heights Animal Services at 916-725-7387 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.

Licensing Ordinance

All dogs and cats over four months of age must be licensed with the City of Citrus Heights. Newly acquired pets must be licensed within 30 days of acquisition or entry into the City.

View the complete City of Citrus Heights ordinance

Due Date

Payment for your license is due within 30 days of the date that your current license expires. If you are licensing for the first time, you must purchase a license within 30 days of obtaining a pet over the age of 4 months or within 30 days of moving into the City of Citrus Heights.

A late fee of $25 is added if your license has not been renewed within 30 days of the expiration of your prior license.

License Term

Licenses will only be valid for a term equal to or less than the remaining duration of the pet’s current rabies vaccination.

The City of Citrus Heights chose to privatize animal licensing beginning in 2017 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.