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 renew your license, and a new tag will be mailed with your license certificate. Otherwise, only a receipt will be mailed.

We will mail your tag 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 Santa Ana" in the amount of $9.00 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 1-866-201-1775.

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.

Santa Ana Dog 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.

Licenses may not be transferred from one owner to another owner or from one pet to another pet. A new license must be purchased. Click here to view your licensing options.

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.
4. If the pet died within 45 days of the owner paying for the license.

To request a refund, please send your request in writing or via email to Customer Service.

Your dog’s license will be valid from the date of the last license expiration until the last day of the month one year later, but it cannot exceed the expiration of the rabies vaccination. If the vaccination expires earlier, then a new rabies vaccination is required before the license can be issued.

The animal shelter for Santa Ana is located at the following address:

Orange County Animal Care
1630 Victory Rd
Tustin, CA 92782

The City of Santa Ana contracts with Orange County Animal Care Center for animal shelter services. Animals impounded by the City of Santa Ana are taken to the Orange County Animal Care Center. The shelter’s operating hours are: Monday through Sunday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Wednesday 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The Animal Care Center is closed on Holidays. Their telephone number is 714-935-6848. The shelter holds all unclaimed animals for a period of four days following the day of impound.

To report stray animals or for questions unrelated to licensing, please call Santa Ana Animal Control at 714-245-8792.

If the pet that you have found is wearing a Santa Ana license tag, please enter the tag number in the tag search box on the left side of the page. If you need assistance, you may call our office at 1-866-201-1775.

If an Animal Control Officer finds your pet, and your pet is wearing a current license tag on its collar, Animal Control will contact you. If another citizen finds your pet with its license tag, they may call the phone number on the tag, or lookup the tag number through our online tag search.

If your pet has been lost, Animal Control recommends that you visit the shelter to look for your pet at least every other day. Sheltering of strays for the City is provided by Orange County Animal Care. You may also contact Animal Control at 714-245-8792 regarding your pet.

Licensing helps Animal Control 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 4 months of age and older must be licensed with the City of Santa Ana within 15 days of being in the city.

View the complete Santa Ana ordinance

Due Date

Payment for your license is due upon expiration of your current license. If you are licensing for the first time, you must purchase a license within 15 days of obtaining a pet over the age of 4 months or within 15 days of moving into Santa Ana.

A penalty fee is added to the license fee if your license is not purchased or renewed by the due date. The penalty fee is $48 and accumulates annually. To avoid the assessment of a $48 penalty fee, please remit the payment and/or rabies certificate, if required, by the due date. A penalty fee may be assessed for the following reasons: late payment, revaccination of the dog after the rabies expiration date, or failure to provide the rabies vaccination certificate.

License Term

Your dog’s license will be valid from the date of the last license expiration until the last day of the month one year later, but it cannot exceed the expiration of the rabies vaccination. If the vaccination expires earlier, then a new rabies vaccination is required before the license can be issued.

The City chose to privatize animal licensing beginning in 2023 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.