Dog Licensing
Why obtain a dog license? Simply put, it's the law!
In countries with no rabies control measures, many people die each year after contracting the disease. Rabies is almost always fatal. As a result, every state in the United States requires their counties and cities to protect their residents from contracting rabies by mandating that every owned dog (and sometimes cats) be given a rabies vaccination. The only way for cities to avoid being in violation of this state mandate is to require that their residents vaccinate their pets.
Cities have no way of obtaining proof that their residents have complied with the law unless they have a record. In order to obtain a record, cities must require residents to license their pets with the caveat being they cannot license their pet without first supplying proof of rabies vaccination. The City of Palo Alto can then ensure that all dogs licensed in our jurisdiction have proof of rabies vaccination and are therefore in compliance with the State Rabies Mandate.
For more information, see State of California Health & Safety Code 121690, California Code of Regulations Title 17 Section 2606.4, Palo Alto Municipal Code 6.16.010, Los Altos Municipal Code 5.12.010, and Los Altos Hills Municipal Code 6-1.511.
- You may be issued a citation for owning an unlicensed dog(s) and could face fines of $50-$150 per dog. Also, if your pet becomes lost, a license tag on your pet's collar is the fastest way to reunite you and your pet. Even if your pet has a microchip, a license tag is immediately visible and does not require a scanner.
- A rabies tag (which may be provided by your veterinarian) is different than a license tag. The issuer of the rabies tag cannot license your pet. It is your responsibility to license your pet with the local animal control jurisdiction
Learn more about dog licensing
Rabies Exemption
NEW PROCEDURES FOR 2026
How to submit a canine rabies vaccination exemption request
In Santa Clara County, a rabies vaccination certificate from a veterinarian is required to license a dog. Canine rabies vaccination exemptions will only be approved for serious medical conditions. The Santa Clara County Canine Rabies Vaccination Exemption Packet, when completed and signed, submitted along with relevant medical records, and approved by the local health officer, may be submitted in lieu of proof of rabies vaccination for purpose of securing a license for the indicated dog, as required by Title 17, California Code of Regulations §2606.4.
To request the Santa Clara County Canine Rabies Vaccination Exemption Packet, email community@phd.sccgov.org or call (408) 885-4214 during operating hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Please note:
- Exemptions must be approved by the local health officer of the county in which the dog resides. If approved, exemptions are valid for one year only. If the animal is unable to be immunized the following year, a new exemption request must be submitted.
- Exemption applications and related communications will only be accepted from veterinarians, not dog owners. It is the applying veterinarian’s responsibility to relay the approved or denied notice to the pet owner.
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Examples of serious medical conditions that warrant a rabies vaccination exemption include serious immune mediated disease (e.g., IMHA), conditions requiring immune-suppressive therapy (e.g., cancer treatment), or previously documented serious adverse reactions to a rabies vaccination. Old age, minor reactions to the rabies vaccination, reactions to non-rabies vaccinations and positive rabies titers are not conditions that warrant an exemption.
Service Dogs
Service Dogs are also required to be vaccinated against rabies and licensed. However, service dogs are licensed free of charge! If you are licensing a service dog, please complete and submit the Service Dog Affidavit(DOCX, 2MB) with your application. Note: Only one service dog is allowed to be licensed per person.