District of Columbia § 8-1804 Licenses and fees.

District of Columbia Statutes

§ 8-1804 — Licenses and fees.

District of Columbia § 8-1804

Title 8Environmental and Animal Control and Protection.

Ch. 18Animal Control.

Subch. IGeneral.

This text of District of Columbia § 8-1804 (Licenses and fees.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District of Columbia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

D.C. Code § 8-1804 (2026).

Text

(a)For purposes of this section, “owner” shall not include:

(1)A licensed veterinary hospital;

(2)A licensed pet shop; and

(3)An incorporated animal welfare agency not engaged in the sale of animals.

(b)An owner who has a dog over the age of 4 months shall before July 1st of each year, or within 10 days of acquiring the dog, or within 10 days after the dog becomes 4 months of age, obtain an annual license. An owner shall ensure that his or her dog wears a collar or harness and a license.

(c)Before any annual license may be issued, the owner of the dog shall have the dog vaccinated against rabies and distemper, and shall pay any outstanding fines.

(d)Repealed.

(e)The annual license fees for dogs is as follows:

(1)No fee for a dog trained as a service animal and actu

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(a) For purposes of this section, “owner” shall not include:

(1) A licensed veterinary hospital;

(2) A licensed pet shop; and

(3) An incorporated animal welfare agency not engaged in the sale of animals.

(b) An owner who has a dog over the age of 4 months shall before July 1st of each year, or within 10 days of acquiring the dog, or within 10 days after the dog becomes 4 months of age, obtain an annual license. An owner shall ensure that his or her dog wears a collar or harness and a license.

(c) Before any annual license may be issued, the owner of the dog shall have the dog vaccinated against rabies and distemper, and shall pay any outstanding fines.

(d) Repealed.

(e) The annual license fees for dogs is as follows:

(1) No fee for a dog trained as a service animal and actually used for the purpose of assisting a person with a physical or sensory impairment, such as a vision or hearing impairment;

(2) $15 for a male or female dog certified by a licensed veterinarian as neutered or spayed or certified as incapable of enduring spaying or neutering; and

(3) $50 for all other dogs.

(e-1) $2 of each fee collected pursuant to subsection (e) of this section shall be deposited into the Animal Education and Outreach Fund, established by § 8-1810.01 . Remaining money from the fees collected shall be deposited in the General Fund of the District of Columbia.

(f) The Mayor may periodically revise the schedule of fees by rulemaking.

(g) No license may be transferred from 1 dog to another.

(h) Any license issued pursuant to this section shall be issued by the Department of Health. The Department of Health may delegate this function to any veterinarians licensed in the District of Columbia.

(i) Repealed.

(j) Repealed.

Legislative History

Oct. 18, 1979, D.C. Law 3-30, § 5, 26 DCR 765; Mar. 17, 1993, D.C. Law 9-236, § 2(a), 40 DCR 614; Sept. 26, 1995, D.C. Law 11-52, § 101, 42 DCR 3684; Apr. 20, 1999, D.C. Law 12-261, § 2004, 46 DCR 3142; Apr. 24, 2007, D.C. Law 16-305, § 30, 53 DCR 6198; Dec. 5, 2008, D.C. Law 17-281, § 104(c), 55 DCR 9186; Sept. 14, 2011, D.C. Law 19-21, § 9073, 58 DCR 6226; Sept. 20, 2012, D.C. Law 19-168, § 8005, 59 DCR 8025; Sept. 26, 2012, D.C. Law 19-171, § 64, 59 DCR 6190