License Requirements

Licensing Ordinance

All dogs and all unaltered cats over four months of age must be licensed with the City of Santa Barbara. New residents or owners of new pets have a grace period of 30 days to license their pets.

View the complete City of Santa Barbara 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 dog or unaltered cat over the age of 4 months or within 30 days of establishing residence in the City of Santa Barbara.

A late fee of $28.00 is added if your license has not been renewed within 30 days of the expiration of your prior license.

License Term

Initial licenses are valid for six months, one year, two years or three years (depending on the term purchased) from the date of purchase or the expiration of the rabies vaccination, whichever comes first. Renewals are valid from the prior license's expiration. A license cannot be valid for a longer period than the current rabies vaccination.