License Online

Licensing Ordinance

All dogs and cats over four months of age must be licensed with the City of Virginia Beach.

New residents have a grace period of 30 days to license their pets after establishing residency. If the rabies certificate is older than 90 days at residency a prorated license is only available at one of the local Treasurer's offices with verification of new residency.

View the complete City of Virginia Beach ordinance

Instructions to License Online

Ready to purchase your license? If you would like to license online, a convenience fee of $1.95 will apply for each transaction. Any required documents, such as your pet's current rabies certificate, may be scanned and uploaded or submitted later by fax, mail or email. The license will be issued after all required documents are received.

Click here to begin.

If you prefer to pay by another method, click here to view your other payment options.

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 and you are applying for the lower spayed/neutered license fee.
3. A service dog Exemption Request form is required for the free service dog license. The form is available for download as a PDF file or as a text file for users of text-to-voice programs.

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

License Fees

Standard License Fees	1st Year	2nd Year	3rd Year
Unaltered Dog or Cat	$10.00	$20.00	$30.00
Spayed/Neutered Dog	$7.00	$14.00	$21.00
Spayed/Neutered Cat	$5.00	$10.00	$15.00
Service Dog	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00

You have the option of purchasing a 1, 2, or 3 year license that runs concurrently with your dog's or cat's rabies vaccination. Your initial license fee is retroactive to your pet's rabies vaccination date, regardless of the licensing option you choose. No license will be issued that exceeds the date of rabies expiration.

The cost for licensing unaltered or fertile pets is higher than for licensing spayed or neutered pets in order to promote sterilization and to reduce pet overpopulation and starvation.

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

Due Date

The license tax on dogs and cats shall be due and payable as follows:

1. When a dog or cat becomes four (4) months of age and receives its first rabies vaccination.
2. When a dog or cat receives a subsequent rabies vaccination.
3. Within thirty (30) days from the day a person brings a dog or cat into the city from another jurisdiction, if such dog or cat is to be kept in the city more than thirty (30) days.