All dogs residing in Yolo County must be vaccinated for rabies and a Yolo County Animal Control Dog License must be purchased at 4 months of age or within 10 days of acquiring a new dog. Licenses are yearly. ( Yolo County Code Sec. 6-1.601.)

New residents to Yolo County must comply with the dog licensing ordinance within 30 days of residency.

In order to license your pet, you must have proof of current rabies vaccination. You can get the rabies vaccine from your local veterinarian or a vaccine clinic. Here are some vaccine clinics near you. Licenses can be purchased up until the year of the rabies expiration.

A rabies tag is separate from a license tag. The issuer of the rabies tag will not license your pet. It is the owner’s responsibility to license their pet with the County.

Cat licensing is optional. Additional fees will be charged for a late license.

If you are having trouble licensing your pet, we recommend you contact our licensing partner DocuPet by email at info@docupet.com, or by phone at 1-877-239-6072

Pay Your License Online- ycas.docupet.com
If your license is due for renewal, you will be given the option to purchase an additional replacement tag ($10) if needed.

Pay Your License By Mail– Please visit ycas.docupet.com/en_US/licensing. Download/print the license application form and mail it with your payment to the address on the form. Remember to include a copy of the vaccination and spay / neuter certificate, if applicable. Checks and money orders for mailed payments are accepted.

Licensing Department Contact Information
Phone: (530) 668-5287 ext 4 
Fax: (530) 668-5288
Email: PetLicensing@yolocounty.org

Has Anything Changed For Your Current License? 

Updating Your Pet’s Record When You Move

It is important that we have your most current address and phone number in our database. If you move or change phone numbers, please call our office or send us an email at petlicensing@yolocounty.org and we will update the information in your pet(s) records.

It is important especially if you move outside the county limits, to notify us immediately. We will then inactivate your pet(s) record and will not send you renewal notices in the future. If you move outside the limits of your current licensing jurisdiction, you must purchase a pet license in the jurisdiction in which you reside. Make sure to give the new licensing office your pet’s microchip number (if applicable) for their database.

Lost, Stolen, Given Away, or Deceased Pets

If your pet becomes lost, stolen, given away, or is now deceased, please send us an email to let us know as soon as possible. We will update the pet record immediately.

Transferring Ownership of a Pet

If you relinquish ownership of your pet to someone else who resides within our licensing jurisdiction, our office will need your authorization to transfer the pet to the new owner. This can be done in person at the Yolo County Animal Shelter or via mail/email with a handwritten letter and a copy of the driver’s license of the original owner.

If you are the new owner and you reside in Yolo County, please visit ycas.docupet.com to license online or visit us in person at 2640 East Gibson Road, Woodland, CA 95776.

Licenses cannot be transferred from person to person and a new license will be issued when pets are transferred between owners.

Why License Your Pet?

Benefits of Licensing

Even though dog licenses are required for all Yolo County dogs ages 4 months and older by law, there are many other benefits to licensing your pet.

• If your dog is ever missing, a license tag provides a quick and accurate way of notifying you if someone else finds your pet. It also provides proof that your dog has been vaccinated against rabies.

• Animals found wearing identification are more likely to find their way home than animals without. Animal Services will contact you by phone or mail if your pet comes to the shelter wearing a valid license.
• Through our licensing partnership with DocuPet, all Yolo County pet licenses now come equipped with the free HomeSafe™ 24/7 lost pet service, which has reunited thousands of lost pets with their families using linked license tags and online pet profiles.
• Animals at the shelter wearing identification are held longer and the shelter staff makes every attempt to contact and reunite the owner with the animal.
• The fee for reclaiming your dog if it is brought to the shelter is reduced if the dog is current on rabies vaccinations and licensing.

DocuPet License Tags

Yolo County Animal Services is working with DocuPet to offer pet owners better license tags that get lost pets home and keeps them out of the shelter while providing additional functionality and benefits for the pet and their owner. 

DocuPet’s pet owner-focused licensing service is designed to make licensing your pet easier, more convenient and of value to each and every resident. The streamlined platform allows pet owners access to better data records, a stylish collection of designer pet tags, modern online systems, and North America’s best lost pet service.

Learn more at ycas.docupet.com