Dog License by City

State guide

Massachusetts

Massachusetts residents should follow the office named on the retrieved page: Licensing authority in the city or town where the dog is kept; Boston's page says Animal Care and Control issues dog licenses. Section 137 requires the owner or keeper of a dog over six months to obtain a license. No license fee is stated in this entry because the page reviewed did not supply one that is being quoted. Licensing is done in the office of the licensing authority in the city or town where the dog is kept.

Checked against official sources on October 11, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.

Try a ZIP like 30303, “Travis County” or “Columbus, OH”
Who sets the license rule
City or town licensing authority; Boston Animal Care and Control issues Boston licenses
Who sells the license
Licensing authority in the city or town where the dog is kept; Boston's page says Animal Care and Control issues dog licenses
Official page
Official page →

The authority needs vaccination certification, an exemption certification, or the notarized letter the section describes. Boston's own page says dogs older than six months need a license before April 1. 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 tag shows the license number, the city or town, and the year. Boston prints $15 for a neutered or spayed dog and $30 for an intact dog, and it waives the fee for residents 70 and older who apply by mail or in person. Use the linked page rather than a third-party summary.

Cities and towns set the fee, and section 139, if you open it, addresses a service-animal rule and a local option for owners 70 or older. Worcester, Quincy, Tewksbury, Concord, and other towns publish their own clerk rules, so Boston's price is not the state price. Rules for a neighboring city are not automatically yours.

City pages in Massachusetts

Official resources in Massachusetts

M.G.L. c.140 §137

Dogs over six months must be licensed where kept.

Boston how to license

Boston fees and the April 1 date.

M.G.L. c.140 §139

No license fee for an ADA service animal; towns may waive the fee for owners 70 or older if they accept that provision.

Key facts for Massachusetts

City license pages in Massachusetts

CitycityhrefDetails
Boston dog licenseBoston/cities/boston-maIf you own a dog in the city older than six months, you must license it before April 1 each year.
Worcester dog licenseWorcester/cities/worcester-maThe city clerk issues licenses to people who own or keep a dog in Worcester, and the city ordinance requires all dogs to be licensed.
Quincy dog licenseQuincy/cities/quincy-maMassachusetts General Laws chapter 140 requires all dogs six months and older to be licensed every year, and Quincy issues those licenses at the city clerk.
Tewksbury dog licenseTewksbury/cities/tewksbury-maThe town clerk licenses dogs when a current rabies certificate and spay or neuter evidence are on file, and renewals are due by March 15.
Concord dog licenseConcord/cities/concord-maState law requires all dogs in the Commonwealth over 6 months of age to be vaccinated against rabies and licensed annually, and Concord says dogs must be licensed by March 31 to avoid a penalty.
Greenfield dog licenseGreenfield/cities/greenfield-maGreenfield's 2026 dog licenses are purchased through the city clerk, and renewals and new licenses must include proof of rabies and spay or neuter under the Massachusetts law the page cites.
Somerville dog licenseSomerville/cities/somerville-maThe city clerk publishes a dog license application and a dog kennel license application.
Cambridge dog licenseCambridge/cities/cambridge-maThe city website lists Dog License among services a person can apply for.
Salem dog licenseSalem/cities/salem-maSalem publishes a dog-licenses page for residents.
Fall River dog licenseFall River/cities/fall-river-maThe city homepage announces that Fall River issues 2026 dog licenses.
Revere dog licenseRevere/cities/revere-maThe city clerk's how-do-I list includes getting a dog license.

* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.

What to do next

  1. Open the official page for Massachusetts before you pay.
  2. Match the office to the address where the dog lives.
  3. Bring the rabies certificate if the page says it is required.
  4. 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:

  1. General Start with the statewide information above. It applies across Massachusetts, but cities and counties can add their own steps, fees or deadlines.
  2. Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Massachusetts's population center, for comparison only):
  3. Call to confirm Ask the official office. They have the current local rule, fee and form.
    City or town licensing authority; Boston Animal Care and Control issues Boston licenses
    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 Massachusetts page on USA.gov can point you to the right office.
  4. Know the current info? Tell us and include a link to the official page. We check every tip before it goes up.

Helpful guides

Dog license planner →

Do you serve Massachusetts? Get a featured listing for $30/month, clearly labeled as a paid placement.