Virginia Beach pet licensing

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You will need to complete the required paperwork and contact the City of Virginia Beach directly to apply for a kennel license.

Licenses expire exactly 1, 2, or 3 years from the license start date. If you renew prior to the upcoming expiration date, your pet's new license will start the day after expiration, not on the date of purchase. Rabies must be valid during the time of renewal.

As documentation is required to show that your pet has been vaccinated against rabies or spayed/neutered, our customer care team cannot review these documents and therefore cannot process new first time licences over the phone. To license your pet for the first time, you’ll need to either upload the required documents online or present them at an in-person licensing location.

You may renew your pet's license within 60 days of your pet's current license expiration date. If you renew prior to the upcoming expiration date, your pet's new license will start the day after expiration, not on the date of purchase.

All dogs and cats must be licensed within 30 days of moving into the City of Virginia Beach.

All pets over the age of 4 months are required to be licensed.

No refunds are provided on licenses purchased regardless of circumstances.

You may have entered your address incorrectly or we may not have your address in the address database for your community. Please double-check all spelling and ensure you are using the abbreviated form for your street type ex. St instead of Street. You may contact the City of Virginia Beach directly if you believe you reside within their jurisdiction but your address is not being accepted by the system.

If you are moving, please be sure to update your address by logging into your online account and navigating to your Profile Settings page. Even though you are moving, you’ll still be able to keep your pet's tag and access your pet's online account. However, your current license may not be valid in the new community you are moving to. Please get in touch with the pet licensing provider in the new community you are moving to in order to find out more information.

We're sorry for your loss. You can update a pet's profile via your online account by editing your pet's profile and selecting 'Remove this Pet'.

We’re sorry! Unfortunately, unless you update your account to reflect that a pet is no longer in your care, we have no way of knowing. Have you already told us? You may have a duplicate account. Get in touch with your licensing organization or our DocuPet customer service team to update your record.

Please contact the City of Virginia Beach directly if you are qualifying for this rate for the first time. Once the team there verifies your designation, you will be able to renew online in future years.

A processing fee of $1.75 per license product applies to all online orders.

No, pet licence fees are the same for all residents regardless of age.

No, there is no discount for licensing multiple pets. Each pet will be charged the appropriate licensing fee.

If your community requires proof of spay/neuter for your pet in order to receive a discounted licensing rate, you will need to upload the appropriate documentation stating that your pet has been spayed/neutered to your online account. Once the documentation has been approved in the system, you will be eligible to receive the new discounted rate. Otherwise, you can visit an in-person licensing location and show proof of spay/neuter there.

Please visit the Virginia Beach Treasurer’s Office main office in person at 2401 Courthouse Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23456, and they will be able to assist you.

You are allowed for a maximum of four dogs per dwelling.

Please get in touch with the Virginia Beach Animal Enforcement Unit at (757) 385-4444.

The following species are required to be licensed: Dogs and Cats.

Visit this page for information on licensing ordinances/bylaws.

A rabies proof is required to prove that your pet has been vaccinated against rabies. A rabies proof identifying your pet as spayed/neutered or a spay/neuter proof may be accepted as documentation of sterilization.

If you can’t locate the document you received after the procedure was done, you will need to contact your vet to obtain your pet's records. Be sure to specify any and all pets you require documentation for.
Once you’ve got the paperwork in your hands, take a look to ensure:

• The document provided is the right type of proof required.
• Pet and pet owner account data matches your own.
• The document is clear and legible.

Documentation uploaded via the online system is reviewed within two to three business days.

To license your pet, you will be required to show proof that the pet's rabies vaccination is current. Documentation is also required to verify that a pet has been spayed or neutered and must be provided in order to receive the discounted rate. Requiring documentation ensures that provided pet information is accurate, which is critical for identification and safety reasons.

If the rabies vaccination certificate does not match your information because the pet was adopted, we recommend contacting the City of  Virginia Beach directly so their team can review and approve the documentation. We suggest reaching out to confirm that you have all required documentation, which may include adoption paperwork, in order to license your pet.

You will need to complete the required paperwork and contact the City of Virginia Beach to qualify for rabies exemption. Please note that rabies exempt pets can only purchase a 1 year license term.