Dog license in New York City

Updated 8 Oct 2026

Every dog in New York City needs a license, and the tag has to be on its collar in public. You can be fined without one.

How much is a dog license in NYC?

• $8.50 a year for a spayed or neutered dog, at any age.
• $34 a year for a dog that is not spayed or neutered and older than 4 months. Under 4 months it is $8.50.

You can buy a license for one year or up to five years. Renew late and you may be fined $2 for each year you missed. A lost tag costs $1 to replace; a new certificate is free.

How to apply

Online on the Health Department's NYC Dog Licensing site, by mailing the application form, or at a same-day licensing event. Online you pay by card or e-check, by mail by check or money order. Events take checks, money orders and cards, not cash, and you don't need to bring your dog.

The license arrives two to four weeks after the payment goes through. Some vets and pet shops sell licenses too.

Rabies shot

All dogs and cats in New York City must be vaccinated against rabies, indoor pets included. Puppies and kittens get the first shot by 4 months of age, the next one no later than a year after that, and then on the schedule your vet gives you.

Leash and off-leash hours

In city parks a dog stays on a leash no longer than six feet. The exceptions are dog runs, open during park hours, and designated off-leash areas, where dogs can run free from opening until 9 a.m. and from 9 p.m. until closing. In a dog run your dog needs a current license and rabies shot, and in public you must carry proof of both.

Vets and trainers in New York

The rabies shot is given at a vet clinic.

More: 24-hour emergency vets in New York · Dog training costs in New York