Who Can Get Pet Licenses at the ACC

Residents of the following incorporated cities should license pets with San José Animal Care & Services: San José Milpitas Cupertino Los Gatos Saratoga

In order to license your pet, you must have proof of current rabies vaccination. You can get the rabies vaccine from your local veterinarian or a vaccine clinic. To locate a vaccine clinic near you, visit Happy Pet.

A rabies tag is separate from a license tag. The issuer of the rabies tag will not license your pet. It is the owner's responsibility to license their pet with the City.

Your pet's license expiration date will be aligned with your pet's rabies vaccination expiration date (unless the expiration of the current rabies vaccine extends beyond the license term you purchased).  Refunds cannot be issued once a license is processed.

If your Rabies vaccine will expire in less than 3 months, you should see your veterinarian or visit a clinic and have your Rabies vaccine as soon as possible so that you can obtain your pet license.

License Fees

Vaccination Expiration	Pet Information	Cupertino, Los Gatos, San José, Saratoga		Milpitas
Rabies vaccination expires in:	Pet is:	Dogs	Cats	Dogs	Cats
3 - 12 months	Spayed or neutered	$20	$10	$20	$10
3 - 12 months	Not spayed or neutered	$60	$30	$60	$30
13 - 36 months	Spayed or neutered	$45	$25	$45	$25
Late Fee*		All pets: $15		All pets: $15
Replacement tag fee (not available online)		All pets, all areas: $4

*Late fees are imposed for any application received more than thirty (30) days after the dog became four months old, more than thirty (30) days after the date the dog was acquired or brought into the city, or more than thirty (30) days after expiration of previously issued license.
Reduced license fees are available for dogs or cats that have been spayed or neutered, cannot be spayed or neutered for health reasons, or are incapable of breeding.

Pet Licensing Options
For pet owners who reside in the incorporated cities of San José, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Milpitas, or Saratoga, we offer three options to make purchase or renewal of pet licenses convenient for you:

• Online
  You may buy or renew online followed by a faxed, emailed, or mailed copy of the vaccination and spay/neuter certificate, if applicable. You will need to have your rabies certificate and spay / neuter certificate with you as you complete the online forms. Senior exemptions cannot be completed online.
• By Mail
  Download the Animal License Application Form and mail it with your payment to the address on the form. Remember to include a copy of the vaccination and spay / neuter certificate, if applicable. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and checks for mailed payments.
• In Person
  You may purchase a pet license six days a week at the José Animal Care Center. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and checks, and cash for in-person payments.
  View Hours & Location

Licensing Department Contact Information
Phone: (408) 794-7240
Fax: (408) 229-2323
Email:

Pet Licenses for Seniors
Senior exemptions are offered to owners 65 years or older. A valid driver's license or birth certificate is required for proof of age. San José, Cupertino, Los Gatos, and Saratoga allow one free license per household and the pet must be spayed or neutered. Milpitas allows one free license per household. If you are applying for a senior exemption you may not use the online option. 

Has Anything Changed For Your Current License?
Updating Your Pet's Record When You Move
It is important that we have your most current address and phone number in our database. If you move or change phone numbers, please call our office or send us an email and we will update the information in your pet(s) records. It is important especially if you move outside the city limits, to notify us immediately. We will then inactivate your pet(s) record and will not send you renewal notices in the future. If you move outside the limits of your current licensing jurisdiction, you must purchase a pet license in the jurisdiction in which you reside. Make sure to give the new licensing office your pet's microchip number (if applicable) for their database.

Lost, Stolen, Given Away, or Deceased Pets
If your pet becomes lost, stolen, given away, or is now deceased, please send us an email to let us know as soon as possible. We will update the pet record immediately.

Transferring Ownership of a Pet
If you relinquish ownership of your pet to someone else who resides within our licensing jurisdiction, our office will need your authorization to transfer the pet to the new owner. This can be done in person at the Animal Care Center or via mail with a handwritten letter and a copy of the driver's license of the original owner. This is also true if you recently acquired a pet that was formally licensed by the San Jose Animal Care Center.

If you are the new owner and you reside in the incorporated cities of San Jose, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Saratoga, or Milpitas, please complete an Animal License Application Form and send this completed form, the authorization of the transfer, and a check to our office, or visit us in person. Licenses cannot be transferred from person to person.

"Why does the City require me to license and vaccinate my pet?"
Many people living in countries without rabies control die each year from contracting this disease.  Rabies is almost always fatal.  Every State in the Union requires their counties and cities to protect their citizens from contracting rabies by mandating that every owned dog and cat be given a rabies vaccination.  The only way for cities to avoid being in violation of this State mandate is to require their citizens to vaccinate their pets.  Cities have no way of obtaining proof that their residents have complied with the law unless they have a record.  In order to obtain a record, cities must require residents to license their pets with the caveat being they cannot license their pet without first supplying proof of rabies.  The City of San Jose can then ensure that all dogs and cats licensed in their jurisdiction have proof of rabies and are in compliance with the State Rabies Mandate.  (SJMC Sections 7.08.610,  7.08.615, 7.08.620, 7.08.625, 7.08.630, 7.08.635, 7.08.0640, 7.08.645)

Limits to Owning Pets
Animal limits for licenses apply to pets that are four months of age or older.

City	Animal Limit
Cupertino	Maximum: two dogs, three cats. No more than one unspayed pet total (cat or dog)
Los Gatos	Maximum: two dogs, three cats. No more than one unspayed pet total (cat or dog)
Milpitas	Maximum: four dogs and/or cats total. No more than one unspayed pet total (cat or dog)
San José	Maximum: three dogs or five licensed animals total. Examples: two dogs and three cats, five cats, etc.
Saratoga	No limit.