Do I Need a Pet License? DC, Maryland and Virginia
Just moved or got a new dog or cat? Check whether it needs a license where you live, the deadline, the fee and where to apply. Every answer links to the official source, and anything we couldn’t confirm is labeled.
The step-by-step check needs JavaScript. Here’s the full table instead. Covers 16 jurisdictions: DC, eight in Maryland and seven in Northern Virginia.
| Where you live | Dogs | Cats | Move-in deadline | Current fee | Official page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | Dogs over 4 months must be licensed. | DC Health’s licensing pages cover dogs only. We found no cat license. | Not published: DC’s law doesn’t set a separate deadline for people who move in with a dog. | Official: $15 if spayed or neutered (or certified as medically unable to be). $50 otherwise. Service dogs: free. | DC Health, Division of Animal Services |
| Prince George's County | Dogs 4 months and older must be licensed. | Cats 4 months and older must be licensed. | Official: Within 30 days after residency is established. | Official: 1 year: $10 altered, $25 unaltered. 2- and 3-year terms are also offered. Residents 65+ can get free licenses for altered, vaccinated pets (in person). | Prince George's County Animal Services Division, Licensing Section |
| Montgomery County | Dogs over 4 months must wear current rabies and county license tags. | Cats over 4 months must wear current rabies and county license tags. | Not published: The county doesn’t publish a deadline for new residents. | Not published: The county’s licensing page doesn’t list fees. | Montgomery County Animal Services & Adoption Center (MCASAC) |
| City of Rockville (inside Montgomery County) | Dogs, cats and ferrets 4 months and older within Rockville city limits must be licensed with the city. | Not published: Rockville doesn’t publish a deadline for new residents or new pets. | Official: 1 year: $12 altered, $24 unaltered. 2- and 3-year terms are offered. Discounted licenses are available to eligible residents. | City of Rockville | |
| City of Gaithersburg (inside Montgomery County) | Dogs and cats 4 months and older must be rabies-vaccinated and licensed with the city every year. | Not published: Gaithersburg doesn’t publish a deadline for new residents or new pets. | Official: Annual: $10 altered ($5 reduced), $35 unaltered. Pets under 1 year: no charge with a rabies certificate. | City of Gaithersburg Animal Services | |
| Anne Arundel County | Dogs 6 months and older must be licensed. | Anne Arundel stopped requiring cat licenses on July 5, 2025. | Confirm: An older county form (2023) says within 30 days of moving into the county. The current county page doesn’t state it. | Official: 1 year: $2 altered, $15 unaltered. 3 years: $5 altered, $40 unaltered. Owners 60+ or disabled pay less. Service dogs: free. | Anne Arundel County Animal Care & Control |
| Howard County | Dog owners must buy an annual county license. | Cat owners must buy an annual county license. | Not published: The county doesn’t publish a deadline for new residents. | Sources disagree: The county page lists “$6” per dog or cat license. The 2016 fee schedule lists $6 altered and $24 unaltered. Confirm the unaltered fee. | Howard County Licenses & Permits Division (Animal Control) |
| Baltimore County | Dogs 4 months and older kept in the county more than 30 days a year must be licensed. | Cats 4 months and older kept in the county more than 30 days a year must be licensed. | Official: A license is required once a pet is kept in the county more than 30 days a year. The county doesn’t state a separate move-in deadline. | Official: $7 altered. Unaltered: $17 (owner under 60) or $11 (owner 60+). Higher after August 1. Service dogs: free. | Baltimore County Miscellaneous Permits and Licenses |
| Baltimore City | Dogs over 4 months must be licensed. | Cats over 4 months must be licensed. | Not published: The city code doesn’t set a separate deadline for people who move in with a pet. | Official: 1 year: $10 altered, $30 unaltered. Seniors 65+: $5 / $15. Lifetime (altered and microchipped): $100. | Baltimore City (Health Department / Office of Animal Control) |
| Frederick County | Dogs over 4 months must be licensed. | Cats over 4 months must be licensed. | Confirm: Current county code text, quoted in Bill 26-02, allows 30 days after establishing county residence. The county’s licensing page doesn’t state it. | Sources disagree: Current fees are unverified: the license form lists $5 altered and $20 unaltered, while Bill 26-02 lists current fees as $5 altered and $15 unaltered. Proposed change: Bill 26-02 proposes $20 unaltered and senior rates of $3 altered and $10 unaltered. Whether it took effect isn’t confirmed on the county’s page. |
Frederick County Animal Control |
| Charles County | Dogs 4 months and older need a current county license. | Cats 4 months and older need a current county license. | Official: Within 30 days of residency. | Official: $5 spayed or neutered, $25 not. Assistance dogs: no fee, but still licensed. | Charles County Animal Control |
| Arlington County | Dogs over 4 months must be licensed. | Arlington’s official licensing pages don’t mention a cat license. | Not published: Virginia law ties the deadline to acquiring the animal or to it turning 4 months. It doesn’t set a separate deadline for people who move in, and this locality doesn’t publish one. | Official: $30 lifetime license. Service dogs must be licensed but pay no fee. | Arlington County Treasurer |
| Fairfax County | All dogs 4 months and older must be licensed. | Fairfax County’s official licensing pages don’t mention a cat license. | Not published: Virginia law ties the deadline to acquiring the animal or to it turning 4 months. It doesn’t set a separate deadline for people who move in, and this locality doesn’t publish one. | Official: $10 per year for all dogs. Card payments add a $2 PetData fee. Service dogs: free. | Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration (through PetData) |
| City of Fairfax | Dogs over 4 months must be licensed with the city. | The city says cats are not licensed. They must still be vaccinated for rabies. | Not published: Virginia law ties the deadline to acquiring the animal or to it turning 4 months. It doesn’t set a separate deadline for people who move in, and this locality doesn’t publish one. | Official: $20 lifetime license. | City of Fairfax Treasurer’s Office |
| City of Alexandria | Dogs must be licensed. | Cats must be licensed too, unlike the other Northern Virginia localities we checked. | Official: Within 30 days of moving into the city, acquiring the animal, or it turning 4 months, whichever is later. | Sources disagree: The current city code lists 1 year: $10 spayed/neutered dog, $30 other dog; $2 spayed/neutered cat, $10 other cat (3-year rates also listed). Virginia law caps the license tax at $10 a year, so the higher amounts conflict with state law. Confirm with the city before paying. | City of Alexandria (administered by PetData and the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria) |
| City of Falls Church | Dogs older than 4 months must be licensed with the city. | The city says cats don’t need a city license. They must still be rabies-vaccinated. | Official: Within 30 days of moving into the city. | Official: $5 spayed or neutered, $10 unaltered. No extra cost for a 3-year license. | City of Falls Church Treasurer’s Office |
| Loudoun County | Dogs 4 months and older must be licensed. | Loudoun’s official licensing pages don’t mention a cat license. | Not published: Virginia law ties the deadline to acquiring the animal or to it turning 4 months. It doesn’t set a separate deadline for people who move in, and this locality doesn’t publish one. | Official: $10 per dog per year, regardless of spay or neuter status. Online card payments add $1.50. | Loudoun County Animal Services / Treasurer |
| Prince William County | Dogs must be licensed. | The county says cats are not required to be licensed. Cats 4 months and older must still have a current rabies vaccination. | Not published: Virginia law ties the deadline to acquiring the animal or to it turning 4 months. It doesn’t set a separate deadline for people who move in, and this locality doesn’t publish one. | Official: $10 (1 year), $20 (2 years), $30 (3 years). | Prince William County (through PetData) |
Fees shown are for dogs where dog and cat fees differ. Deadlines after acquiring a pet or a pet turning licensing age are separate from move-in deadlines; see each official page.
Sources
Checked November 2, 2026. Covers 16 jurisdictions: DC, eight in Maryland and seven in Northern Virginia.
All official sources
- Code of Virginia § 3.2-6530 (when the license tax is due)
- Code of Virginia § 3.2-6524 (dog license required; cat licensing by local option)
- Code of Virginia § 3.2-6521 (rabies vaccination)
- DC Health: Dog licensing
- D.C. Code § 8-1804
- Prince George's County: Animal licensing
- Prince George's County pet license form (PGC #2649, rev. 11/20)
- Montgomery County Animal Services: Pet licensing
- City of Rockville: Apply for a pet license
- City of Gaithersburg: Pet licensing
- Anne Arundel County: Animal licenses
- Anne Arundel County animal license form (2023)
- Howard County Animal Control
- Howard County animal license fee schedule (effective 7/1/2016)
- Baltimore County Animal Services: Licensing
- Baltimore City: Animal permits and licensing
- Baltimore City Health Code § 10-201
- Frederick County: Rabies and licensing
- Frederick County Bill 26-02 (proposed animal control code updates)
- Charles County Animal Care and Control
- Charles County Code § 230-10
- Arlington County Treasurer: Dog licenses
- Fairfax County Tax Administration: Dog license information
- City of Fairfax: Dog tags
- Alexandria City Code § 5-7-47 (license required; deadlines), current version Aug 17, 2026
- Alexandria City Code § 5-7-48 (license tax rates), current version Aug 17, 2026
- Code of Virginia § 3.2-6528 (license tax limits)
- City of Alexandria: Pets
- City of Falls Church: Dog licenses
- City of Falls Church: New resident checklist
- Loudoun County: Dog licensing
- Prince William County Tax Administration: Dog license information
- Prince William County Animal Services: Dog license
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Kalm Kode is an independent guide, not a government service. Licenses are issued only by the agencies listed. Rules and fees change; confirm with the agency before you pay.