Dog license in Miami

Updated 16 Oct 2026

Every dog older than four months kept in Miami-Dade County must be licensed and wear its official county license tag on a collar at all times. A license tag must be renewed annually by the anniversary date of your dog's rabies vaccine, or every three years if a three-year vaccine was administered.

How much is a dog license in Miami?

Miami-Dade County Animal Services sets license tag fees based on sterilization status and age:

• $30 a year (or $90 for three years) for a spayed or neutered dog.
• $30 a year for an intact puppy between 4 and 12 months old.
• $60 a year (or $180 for three years) for an unsterilized (intact) dog aged 12 months or older.
• $5 a year for low-income residents with a sterilized dog (or $15 a year for an intact dog), available with proof of participation in an eligible public assistance program.
• $5 for a replacement tag if the original tag is lost or damaged.

Miami-Dade County operates a permanent tag initiative: your pet receives a permanent metal tag number that remains with the dog across renewals.

How to apply

You can obtain or renew a dog license through several channels:

1. Online through the Miami-Dade County Animal Services portal for permanent tag renewals.
2. At your veterinarian's office when your dog receives its rabies vaccination.
3. In person at the Miami-Dade Animal Services Pet Adoption and Protection Center in Doral (3599 NW 79th Ave) or at any county 311 Service Center (payment by personal check, cashier's check, or money order).
4. By mail sent to the Animal Services Department with a copy of your pet's current rabies vaccination certificate and payment.

You need a valid rabies vaccination certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian, proof of spay or neuter for discounted rates, a government-issued photo ID, and proof of Miami-Dade County residency.

Rabies vaccination

Florida state law and Section 5-6 of the Miami-Dade County Code mandate that all dogs, cats, and ferrets be vaccinated against rabies by four months of age. Revaccination is required every 12 months for one-year vaccines, or every 36 months for three-year vaccines. The expiration date of the county dog license tag matches the expiration date of the rabies vaccine.

Leash laws and dog parks

Under Chapter 5 of the Miami-Dade County Code, dogs may not run at large off private property. When off your property, your dog must be held on a leash under direct control. Section 5-21 also restricts outdoor tethering: tethering an unattended dog is illegal, and an owner must remain outside within visual range of the pet.

For off-leash running and exercise, Miami offers dedicated fenced dog parks with double-gated entries:

• Margaret Pace Park Dog Park (1745 N Bayshore Dr, Edgewater / Downtown Miami) — waterfront enclosures with separate areas for large and small dogs along Biscayne Bay.
• Blanche Park (3045 Shipping Ave, Coconut Grove) — neighborhood park featuring agility obstacles and fenced turf play areas.
• Tropical Park Bark Park (7900 SW 40th St, Westchester) — expansive county park with shaded dog runs and separate play zones.
• Amelia Earhart Park Bark Park (401 E 65th St, Hialeah) — large fenced acreage with dog pools, mounds, and water stations.

Dogs entering off-leash parks must be vaccinated, licensed, and monitored by their handlers.

Vets and trainers in Miami

Rabies vaccinations and health certificates are issued by local veterinary clinics.

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