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 "City of Sunnyvale" in the amount of $5.00 to the mailing address below. Please do not send cash. Please include a copy of your 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 at 1-877-594-9690.

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.

Sunnyvale 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.

Sunnyvale animal licenses are non-transferable.

A refund may be available 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.

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

Licenses must be purchased for a term equal to or less than the remaining duration of the pet’s current rabies vaccination. Licenses are valid until the 1st day of the month 12, 24 or 36 months after purchase date, depending on the term that has been purchased, or until the 1st day of the month of the expiration of the pet’s current rabies vaccination.

When a license is renewed after the expiration date of the prior license, the new license period will begin on the expiration date of the previous license.

Humane Society Silicon Valley, 901 Ames Ave., Milpitas, CA 95035

To report stray animals or for questions unrelated to licensing, please call Animal Control at 1-408-730-7178.

Sheltering of strays for the City of Sunnyvale is provided by the Humane Society Silicon Valley

If the pet that you have found is wearing a City of Sunnyvale license tag, please call 408-730-7178 for assistance.

If an Animal Control Officer finds your pet, and your pet is wearing a current license tag on its collar, Animal Control or Humane Society of Silicon Valley will contact you. If another citizen finds your pet with its license tag, they may call Animal Control who will then contact you.

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 of Sunnyvale is provided by Humane Society Silicon Valley. You may also contact Animal Control at 408-730-7178 regarding your pet. The City of Sunnyvale shares borders with several other cities, so be sure to check other local shelters, such as; Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority, San Jose Animal Care & Services, and Palo Alto.

The primary purpose is rabies control and prevention. Licensing also 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 and residing in the City of Sunnyvale must be vaccinated for rabies and licensed with the city.

View the complete City of Sunnyvale ordinance

Due Date

License shall be renewed upon expiration. A late fee will be applied if renewed 30 days after expiration. 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 Sunnyvale.

License Term

Licenses must be purchased for a term equal to or less than the remaining duration of the pet’s current rabies vaccination. Licenses are valid until the 1st day of the month 12, 24 or 36 months after purchase date, depending on the term that has been purchased, or until the 1st day of the month of the expiration of the pet’s current rabies vaccination.

When a license is renewed after the expiration date of the prior license, the new license period will begin on the expiration date of the previous license.

The City of Sunnyvale chose to privatize animal licensing beginning in 2016 to promote animal licensing, to increase the cost-effectiveness of the program, and to provide additional services to its residents.

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.