License in Person

Licensing Ordinance

All dogs and cats 4 months of age and older must be licensed with Richmond. New residents must license their dogs and cats within 30 days of being in the city.

View the complete Richmond ordinance

Licensing Locations

You may license your pet in person at Richmond Animal Care & Control at 1600 Chamberlayne Ave in Richmond. Please bring your pet’s rabies vaccination certificate and proof of spay/neuter with you.

Required Paperwork

1. A current rabies vaccination certificate is required if the rabies vaccination on file has expired. Please check your certificate for correct address and pet information.
2. Proof of spay/neuter, such as a signed statement from a veterinarian or an invoice for services, is required if the pet has been altered since the last licensing period.

Your paperwork will not be returned to you, so please retain a copy of your documents for your records.

License Fees

Standard License Fees	1-Year
Annual License	$10.00
Other Fees
Replacement Tag	$1.00

Pets not spayed/neutered are required to have a breeding permit in addition to the city license. After receiving the pet’s city license, please contact Richmond Animal Care & Control to obtain the breeding permit.

Download License Application (PDF format) *To use as an electronic fillable form, open in Adobe Reader.

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 Richmond.