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.

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 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.

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 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 "Nevada County Animal Services" in the amount of $7.00 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 1-855-884-9551 or email us.

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.

Nevada County 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.

If your pet has a current license in another city or county but now resides in Nevada County, you must apply for a Nevada County dog license. If you are taking ownership of a dog already licensed in Nevada County we will allow the transfer of that dog with the purchase of a new dog tag at a cost of $7.00. Please mail your check or money order payable to "Nevada County Animal Services" with proof of the current license to the address below. Please do not send cash. You will be issued a Nevada County license tag for the remaining time that the original license was valid.

Nevada County Animal Licensing
c/o PetData
PO Box 141929
Irving, TX 75014-1929

Licenses may not be transferred from one owner to another owner or from one pet to another pet.

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 Nevada County at the time of licensing.

Refunds are not available for unused time or if the animal is altered during the licensing period and you paid at the higher rate.

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.

Nevada County Animal Licensing
c/o PetData
PO Box 141929
Irving, TX 75014-1929

Licenses may be purchased for up to 3 years, with fees charged accordingly, as long as the rabies vaccination is valid for the same period of time. Rabies laws state that the license term cannot exceed the rabies expiration date.

Multi-year licenses are only available if the rabies vaccination is current for the same time period. The license cannot be valid longer than the expiration of the rabies vaccination.

To report stray animals or for questions unrelated to licensing, please call Nevada County Animal Control at 530-265-1471.

If the pet that you have found is wearing a Nevada County license tag, please enter the tag number in the tag search box to the left. Strays in Nevada County may be found at Sammies Friend Animal Shelter, the Grass Valley Animal Shelter, or the Truckee Animal Shelter.

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 another citizen finds your pet with its license tag, they may use the tag number to contact you through our online tag search or by calling the phone number on the license tag.

If your pet has been lost, Animal Services recommends that you visit the shelter to look for your pet at least every other day. Strays in Nevada County may be found at Sammies Friend Animal Shelter, the Grass Valley Animal Shelter, or the Truckee Animal Shelter.

You may also contact Animal Control at 530-265-1471 regarding your pet.

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 the City 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 at the City shelters 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 4 months of age and older in unincorporated Nevada County must be licensed with Nevada County within 30 days of being in the county.

View the complete Nevada County ordinance.

Due Date

Payment for your license is due within 30 days of 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 pet over the age of 4 months or within 30 days of moving into Nevada County.

A late fee of $12 is added to the license fee if your license is not purchased by the due date.

License Term

Licenses may be purchased for up to 3 years, with fees charged accordingly, as long as the rabies vaccination is valid for the same period of time. Rabies laws state that the license term cannot exceed the rabies expiration date.

Multi-year licenses are only available if the rabies vaccination is current for the same time period. The license cannot be valid longer than the expiration of the rabies vaccination.

Nevada County chose to privatize animal licensing beginning in 2014 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.