State guide
Michigan
A license in Michigan is issued as the sourced page describes. The issuer is Treasurer of the county, or except as provided in section 14 the treasurer of the township or city, or an authorized agent. Michigan's Dog Law of 1919 says the owner of a dog four months or older applies to the county treasurer or, except as section 14 provides, the township or city treasurer. No license fee is stated in this entry because the page reviewed did not supply one that is being quoted. Unless the county board adopts a different schedule, the application is annual on or before March 1.
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
- County treasurer, or the township or city treasurer where section 14 of the dog law allows
- Who sells the license
- Treasurer of the county, or except as provided in section 14 the treasurer of the township or city, or an authorized agent
- Official page
- Official page →
The application needs a current rabies vaccination certificate from an accredited veterinarian, with electronic exceptions the statute describes. Detroit's animal-control path did not return a city fee table in this check. 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 license fee is the fee in the county budget. Use the treasurer named for the place you live. Use the linked page rather than a third-party summary. 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.
For a spayed or neutered dog, the fee if any shall be set lower than the fee for a dog that is not. No single Michigan state price is printed here because the statute points to the county budget. Rules for a neighboring city are not automatically yours. Read the linked page before you pay, because a form can change.
Official resources in Michigan
Dogs four months or older; treasurer issues the license; rabies certificate required.
Key facts for Michigan
- Michigan's Dog Law of 1919 says the owner of a dog four months or older applies to the county treasurer or, except as section 14 provides, the township or city treasurer.
- Unless the county board adopts a different schedule, the application is annual on or before March 1.
- The application needs a current rabies vaccination certificate from an accredited veterinarian, with electronic exceptions the statute describes.
- The license fee is the fee in the county budget.
- For a spayed or neutered dog, the fee if any shall be set lower than the fee for a dog that is not.
- Detroit's animal-control path did not return a city fee table in this check.
- Use the treasurer named for the place you live.
What to do next
- Open the official page for Michigan 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.
Looking for your city or county in Michigan?
We haven't found official city-level pages for Michigan we can verify yet, so we don't show local numbers here rather than guess. Here's what to use instead, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above. It applies across Michigan, but cities and counties can add their own steps, fees or deadlines.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data (distance from Michigan's population center, for comparison only):
- Cleveland dog license, Ohio · about 164 miles
- Chicago dog license, Illinois · about 189 miles
- Erie dog license, Pennsylvania · about 220 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office. They have the current local rule, fee and form.County treasurer, or the township or city treasurer where section 14 of the dog law allows
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 Michigan 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.