Dog Licensing
Online Dog Licensing
Apply or renew your dog’s license online in minutes.
Why License Your Dog?
- It’s the law! Michigan Law requires every dog to be licensed.
- It tells everyone that your dog is updated on its rabies vaccination.
- It enables Animal Control officers to return your dog quickly if found.
Requirements
All dogs must be licensed at four months of age, or within 30 days of acquisition or new residency in Ottawa County. Licenses should be renewed by the last day of the month in which the rabies vaccination expires.
A license is required even if…
- your dog is always kept indoors or on a farm
- your dog is a service dog (free licenses available)
- it’s a puppy (older than 4 months)
Fees
Ottawa County offers one-year and three-year licenses. To qualify for a three-year license the dog must have received new three-year rabies vaccination within the past 30 days.
1 Year (Spayed/Neutered)
1 Year (Male/Female)
3-Year (Spayed/Neutered)
3-Year (Male/Female)
Puppies (1-Year License)
Frequently Asked Questions
My dog has a rabies tag. Do I need to buy a license?
Yes, it is Michigan law that requires all dogs to get licensed. A dog license is the only ID that can be traced quickly by animal control officers.
I recently moved to Ottawa County and my dog is license in our previous county. Do I still need to buy a license?
Yes, your dog needs to be license in the county that it resides. The license must be purchased within 30 days of residency.
If your dog’s license is currently valid, we may be able to replace it for free .Please mail the current license and paperwork to:
Ottawa County Treasurer’s Office
12220 Fillmore Street, Room 155
West Olive MI 49460
My dog lost his tag, what do I need to do?
Call our office at (616) 994-4501 and we will replace it free of charge.
When do I need to renew my dog license?
If you currently have a one-year license, it will expire in the same month as your dog’s rabies vaccination. If you have a three-year license, it will expire when your dog’s rabies vaccination expires. The expiration year of the tag is indicated on the current license.
I have multiple dogs, why did I only get a renewal notice for one of them?
Both dogs rabies may not expire in the same month. Licenses expire by the month the rabies expire and the year on their current tag.
I bought my dog's license at the Vet, why did I still get a renewal notice in the mail?
It can take us a couple weeks to reconcile with the vets and local government units. We may have printed the renewal notice before you renewed your dog’s license at the vet or local government unit.
My dog passed away. How do I let the county know?
You can call our office and (616) 994-4501 or you can submit a status change online.
My dog passed away and I got a new one. Can I use the same license?
No. Licenses cannot be transferred to another dog.
I gave my dog to a friend. Does she have to buy a new license?
No. Whenever the ownership or possession of any dog is permanently transferred from one person to another within the same county, the license of the dog can likewise be transferred. Please contact the Treasurer’s office at (616) 994-4501 so we can update our records.
How do I apply for a Kennel License?
- First you must contact your local unit of government zoning official to obtain information on the zoning and building requirements.
- The application will be given to you by the Ottawa County Treasurer’s Office and must be signed by the zoning administrator.
- Once the facility has been inspected by the Ottawa County Sheriff Department Animal Control (800-249-0911) the application may be mailed to: Ottawa County Treasurer’s Office, 12220 Fillmore Street, Room 155, West Olive, MI 49460.
My dog is a service dog; do I need to buy him a license?
Yes, service dogs are required to have a license. We will license them free of charge if you come into one of our County offices and show proof that they dog is an active service dog. Examples of acceptable proof would be the service dog contract, a certified service dog card, or the identification badge issued by Paws with a Cause.
My dog cannot get a rabies shot due to a medical condition. How do I get him a dog license?
In order to get a dogs license without getting a rabies shot we would need to see a letter from the veterinarian as to why the dog cannot get a rabies shot.
Once you have the letter, please mail it to:
Ottawa County Treasurer’s Office
12220 Fillmore Street Room 155
West Olive MI 49460
We will then contact our animal control officer and he will decide if the dog can get a license without a rabies shot.
I have recently moved. Do I need to update the County?
Yes. You can either call the county at (616) 994-4501 or you can use our online dog licensing system and submit an address change.
Does my dog have to wear his tag?
Yes, Michigan law requires that does wear their tag at all times, except when the dog is engaged in lawful hunting accompanied by its owner or custodian.
I forgot to license my dog, is there a late fee?
No, there is no late fee but the license will expire the same month as your dog’s rabies vaccination. So if your dog’s rabies expiration is 10/31/2015; and you’re buying a 1 year tag in December 2024, that tag will expire 10/31/2025.
What will happen if I do not license my dog?
You could receive a citation.
Cat Licenses
Cat licenses (which are not required in Ottawa County) are offered utilizing the same system and tags used for dog licensing, but for those interested pet owners it could provide the security that lost cats, when found, would more quickly be united to their homes.
- There is no requirement that cats be licensed in Ottawa County
- Because this is a choice to license, there is no rabies or spay/neuter requirements
- One year licenses are only available through the County Treasurer Office
- Per year cat license cost is $10.00