How do I use your website to license my pet?
There are two ways the website can be used to license your pet. If you have a renewal
notice with your pet's current tag number on it, select the Renew an Existing License option
from the main menu. On the search screen, enter your pet's tag number and your phone number.
If this is a new pet, or you cannot find your pet using the alternate method, select the Purchase
a New License option from the main menu. On the search screen, enter your last name, house number
(ex. 21200), and phone number and click on Next.
A screen will appear showing the information that we have on file for you. If nothing is found,
you will have the opportunity to enter your information. Select your name from the list that is
displayed to view detailed information. If any fields are wrong, you can edit the information.
Click on the View Pets link near the bottom of the screen.
A screen will appear showing a list of pets for the selected owner. If nothing is found, you will
be given the opportunity to enter information about a new pet. Select the name of the pet you want
to license from the list that is displayed to view detailed information. If any fields are wrong,
you can edit the information.
If the pet you selected is eligible to be licensed at this time, the type of license it is eligible
for will display in a box at the bottom of the screen and the word Purchase will appear next to it.
If your pet is eligible for more than one license type, highlight the one that you want and click
on the word Purchase. The screen will be updated to show that the license has been added to your
shopping cart. You can select different pets and add more licenses to your cart if you wish.
When you are through shopping, click on the shopping cart button on the left side of your screen.
This will show you a summary of what is in your shopping cart along with a $1.49 service fee which
is charged by our bank to accept your payment electronically. Click on the Checkout button to
proceed to the payment process.
Who needs a King County pet license?
King County pet licenses are required for all dogs and cats 8 weeks of age or older in most areas
of the county. A pet license identifies and protects your dog or cat in case they get lost. Also,
pet licenses offer other great benefits as well.
Even indoor-only cats or pets confined to fenced yards get loose and their licenses help assure you
can be reunited with them. Licenses are inexpensive identification and are for your pet's protection
and safety. License revenue also makes it possible to reunite lost pets with their families and for
adoption services for homeless pets.
All dogs and cats must be licensed in all unincorporated King County and the following cities:
Algona, Auburn, Beaux Arts, Bellevue, Black Diamond, Bothell*, Burien, Carnation, Clyde Hill,
Covington, Duvall, Enumclaw, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kenmore, Kent, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park,
Maple Valley, Mercer Island, North Bend, Pacific, Redmond, Sammamish, SeaTac, Shoreline, Snoqualmie,
Tukwila, Woodinville and Yarrow Point. (Mercer Island only requires dog licenses.)
* NOTE: King County pet licenses are required in the entire City of Bothell, including the portion of
the city that is in Snohomish County.
The following cities issue their own pet licenses. Please contact them directly for pet license
information if you live in their city limits: Seattle, Renton (click on Department/Finance &
Information/Animal Licenses), Des Moines (Contact: Jan Magnuson at (206) 870-6549), Medina (call
425-454-9222), Newcastle (call 425-649-4444) or Normandy Park (Contact: Animal License Information
at (206) 248-7603).
Why is a search being done since I have no King County pet licenses?
To purchase a King County license for the first time, information about your household
is entered so we can search our records to verify that you do not have a current King
County pet license. This helps us avoid having duplicate information about you and your
pets. It also allows us to link together information for a household in order to make
it easier for you to manage your pet licenses with King County. In the future, when you
renew your pet’s license, you will only need to enter your pet’s tag number and your
telephone number.
What do I do if my pet is not found when I do a search?
We will search using the same information that was entered into our database from your
original application. We may have a different name in our database. Your name may have been
misspelled when we entered it, or your record may be under your spouse’s name, your child’s
name, or friend’s name. Here are options you may want to try:
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A different owner name
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A different spelling of the name
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A full or abbreviated name
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An old or new house number and/or phone number
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Look at your pet’s tag, and enter that number in the tag number field
If our search still does not find your pet, contact our Pet Licensing Office to
correct or update your account.
What do I do if I do not find all of my pets?
The best solution is to go to the Search page and enter your pet's tag number and
Your phone number into the search parameters. If this is not successful, try other
phone numbers that you may have used (an old number or a cell phone). If you are
still unsuccessful, please call our office at 206-296-2712.
What do I do if my address is not found?
First, double check that your house number and street name are correct. If so, you
may be outside of King County's licensing jurisdiction. The following cities issue
their own pet licenses: Seattle, Renton, Des Moines, Newcastle, and Normandy Park.
If you live within one of those city limits, please contact them directly for pet
license information:
-
Seattle (206-386-PETS),
-
Renton (click on
Department/Finance & Information/Animal Licenses),
-
Des Moines (206-870-6549),
-
Newcastle (425-649-4444),
-
Normandy Park (206-248-7603).
How do I know if I live in the City of Renton or in unincorporated King County?
There are portions of the Renton area that are actually Unincorporated King County. If your
house number is five digits long (example: “12345” N Main Street), then you live in
unincorporated King County, and your pet(s) would need a King County pet license. House
numbers with fewer digits, are in the City of Renton, and your pet will need a Renton
pet license.
Why do you need my home address?
This information is crucial if your pet gets lost. Your pet will get a "free ride home"
instead of being sent to the shelter. Although all pets are welcome and safe at our
shelters, this can put an unnecessary stress on your pet. If you provide a mailing
address, we will use this for all correspondence.
If you do not wish to have this extra protection for you pet, which does require you to
disclose your physical address, please contact our Pet Licensing Office at 206-296-2712.
Renewal Period Information
Online license renewals are not available if your pet’s license expiration date is
60-days past due or does not expire within 90 days.
If your pet’s license is 60-days past due, it is important that you contact our
pet licensing office at 206-296-2712, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
If your pet’s license does not expire within the next 90 days, an online renewal
cannot be processed at this time. A renewal notice will be mailed to you when the
license is due. You can return to our online service at that time. If you have any
questions, please contact our pet licensing office at 206-296-2712, Monday-Friday,
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Senior Pet License
If you are 65 years or older and your pet is spayed/neutered, you are eligible for a
senior citizen pet license, which is good for the lifetime of your pet. This license
is not transferable. Limit three Senior Pet Licenses per household.
What are the differences between the various license types?
Juvenile
This license is for pets up to 6 months old. The pet does not need to be spayed or neutered to
purchase this license. This license will expire in 6 months at which time an Altered, Unaltered,
or Senior license must be purchased. The cost is only $5.00.
Altered
This license is only available for pets that have been spayed or neutered. This type of license
expires in 12 months. The cost is $30.00.
Unaltered
This license is for pets that have NOT been spayed or neutered. This type of license expires in
12 months. The cost is $90.00. With this license, you will receive a $$$ voucher toward the
spaying or neutering of your pet.
Senior
This license is for owners who are 65 years or older. The pet must be spayed or neutered. Once
you pay the initial setup fee, annual renewals are free for the life of the pet. The cost is
$12.00 for cats and $20.00 for dogs.
Why am I being charged a $1.49 service fee?
King County is charged this fee by our payment processor for processing your online payment.
We are simply passing this fee on to you. King County receives no portion of this fee.
Contact Us
Our address is:
King County Animal Care and Control
500 Fourth Avenue, Room 403
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: 206-296-2712
Fax: 206-296-4027
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Email: petlicense@kingcounty.gov
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