State guide
District of Columbia
Dog licensing in District of Columbia turns on who the official page names. That office is DC Health Division of Animal Services. DC Health's Division of Animal Services issues dog licenses. A fee from the official page: No fee for a service animal actually used to assist a person with a physical or sensory impairment; $15 if certified neutered or spayed or unable to endure the procedure; $50 for other dogs. The page quotes the code: an owner of a dog over four months shall obtain an annual license before July 1, or within 10 days of acquiring the dog, or within 10 days after the dog turns four months.
Checked against official sources on October 11, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Who sets the license rule
- DC Health, Division of Animal Services
- Who sells the license
- DC Health Division of Animal Services
- Official page
- Official page →
Rabies and distemper vaccination proof is required before the license. The fee is $50 for other dogs. This record is sourced to the official page linked here. Read the linked page before you pay, because a form can change. This entry does not add a phone number or a penalty that the page does not show.
The fee is zero for a service animal actually used to assist a person with a physical or sensory impairment. Each dog over four months needs its own license, and seven or more dogs require a hobby license. Use the linked page rather than a third-party summary. Read the linked page before you pay, because a form can change.
The fee is $15 when a veterinarian certifies the dog is neutered or spayed or unable to endure that procedure. A replacement tag is $5 on the dog-licensing page. Rules for a neighboring city are not automatically yours. Read the linked page before you pay, because a form can change. This entry does not add a phone number or a penalty that the page does not show.
City pages in District of Columbia
Official resources in District of Columbia
Quotes D.C. Code on age, vaccines, and fees.
Annual license requirement.
Key facts for District of Columbia
- DC Health's Division of Animal Services issues dog licenses.
- The page quotes the code: an owner of a dog over four months shall obtain an annual license before July 1, or within 10 days of acquiring the dog, or within 10 days after the dog turns four months.
- Rabies and distemper vaccination proof is required before the license.
- The fee is zero for a service animal actually used to assist a person with a physical or sensory impairment.
- The fee is $15 when a veterinarian certifies the dog is neutered or spayed or unable to endure that procedure.
- The fee is $50 for other dogs.
- Each dog over four months needs its own license, and seven or more dogs require a hobby license.
City license pages in District of Columbia
| City | city | href | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington dog license | Washington | /cities/washington-dc | An owner of a dog over four months must obtain an annual license before July 1, or within 10 days of acquiring the dog, or within 10 days after the dog turns four months. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Open the official page for District of Columbia before you pay.
- Match the office to the address where the dog lives.
- Bring the rabies certificate if the page says it is required.
- Do not use another state's fee table.
Not seeing your city or county?
We list a city only when an official government page publishes its rules. If yours isn't in the table above, it may not publish them online yet. Here's what to use instead, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above. It applies across District of Columbia, but cities and counties can add their own steps, fees or deadlines.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from District of Columbia's population center, for comparison only):
- Harrisburg dog license, Pennsylvania · about 95 miles
- Richmond dog license, Virginia · about 98 miles
- Philadelphia dog license, Pennsylvania · about 126 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office. They have the current local rule, fee and form.DC Health, Division of Animal Services
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the District of Columbia page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us and include a link to the official page. We check every tip before it goes up.