Elk Grove Pet License Fees Rising July 1

Elk Grove is raising pet licensing fees on July 1 after the City Council approved an updated animal license fee schedule on April 22. (elkgrove.gov) The council action also amends Elk Grove Municipal Code Section 8.03.010 to add a two-year license period for dogs and cats. Staff said the current code only allows one-year and three-year licenses. (elkgrove.gov) (codepublishing.com) Before the change, Elk Grove charged $15 a year for altered dogs and cats, $50 for unaltered animals, and a $15 late fee. Seniors 65 and older could get up to two altered pet licenses free, while unaltered senior licenses cost $25. (elkgrove.gov 1) (elkgrove.gov 2) City staff said those fees had not been updated since February 27, 2013. A May 2025 performance audit found Elk Grove’s licensing fees were among the lowest of seven benchmarked agencies reviewed by consultant Sjoberg Evashenk. (elkgrove.gov) The staff report compared Elk Grove’s $15 altered annual fee and $50 unaltered annual fee with regional averages of $19.67 for altered licenses and $51.67 for unaltered licenses. The report also said Elk Grove did not offer a two-year license product, limiting owners who wanted to match the term to a rabies vaccination schedule. (elkgrove.gov) Elk Grove requires licenses for dogs and cats older than four months, plus proof of rabies vaccination covering the license term. The city also requires a microchip number or payment of a microchip exemption fee. (elkgrove.gov 1) (elkgrove.gov 2) The city says a pet license expires on the anniversary date of the rabies vaccination, so a one-year or three-year license may not last exactly 12 or 36 months. Owners can apply online or by mail through Elk Grove Animal Services and its DocuPet system. (elkgrove.gov) The public hearing notice said the updated fee schedule, if adopted, would take effect July 1, 2026. For Elk Grove pet owners, that makes the next renewal cycle the first one under the new pricing. (elkgrove.gov)