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§ 459-201. Applications for dog licenses; fees; penalties

Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes and Consolidated StatutesTitle 3 P.S. AgricultureEffective: January 22, 2024

Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes and Consolidated Statutes
Title 3 P.S. Agriculture (Refs & Annos)
Chapter 8. Dogs and Cats (Refs & Annos)
Dog Law (Refs & Annos)
Article II. Licenses, Tags and Kennels
Effective: January 22, 2024
3 P.S. § 459-201
§ 459-201. Applications for dog licenses; fees; penalties
Currentness
(a) General rule.--Except as provided in subsection (b), on or before January 1 of each year, the owner of any dog, three months of age or older, or upon transfer to a new owner, whichever comes first, except as hereinafter provided, shall apply to the county treasurer of his respective county or an agent under section 200(a),1 on a form prescribed by the department, for the appropriate license for the dog. The application and license certificate shall state the breed, sex, age, color and markings of the dog, the name, address and telephone number of the owner and the year of licensure. The application shall be accompanied by the appropriate license fee as follows:
(1), (2) Deleted by 2023, Oct. 23, P.L. 114, No. 18, § 2, effective in 90 days [Jan. 22, 2024].
(2.1) For all male and female dogs, the license fee shall be $7.
(3) For Pennsylvania residents 65 years of age or older and persons with disabilities:
(i) Deleted by 2023, Oct. 23, P.L. 114, No. 18, § 2, effective in 90 days [Jan. 22, 2024].
(ii) For all male and female dogs, the license fee shall be $5.
(4) Compensation, if collected under section 200(b), shall also be paid by all applicants, regardless of age or disability.
(5) All additional costs of a vanity or collector tag issued under this subsection shall be in addition to the required license fee under this section. The additional cost shall be distributed equally between the county treasurer that issued the license and the Dog Law Restricted Account. A vanity or collector tag shall not be issued without approval of the department.
(b) Lifetime license.--The owner of any dog three months of age or older which has been permanently identified may apply to the county treasurer of his respective county or an agent under section 200(a), on a form prescribed by the department for a lifetime license for such a dog. Except as otherwise provided in this act, a dog which has been issued a lifetime license shall be required to wear a license tag. The application and license certificate shall state the breed, sex, age, color and markings of such dog, the type and number of permanent identification and the name, address and telephone number of the owner. The application shall be accompanied by the appropriate license fee as follows:
(1), (2) Deleted by 2023, Oct. 23, P.L. 114, No. 18, § 2, effective in 90 days [Jan. 22, 2024].
(2.1) For all male and female dogs, the license fee shall be $49.
(3) For Pennsylvania residents 65 years of age or older and persons with disabilities:
(i) For each male and female dog, the license fee shall be $33.
(ii) Deleted by 2023, Oct. 23, P.L. 114, No. 18, § 2, effective in 90 days [Jan. 22, 2024].
(4) Compensation, if collected under section 200(b), shall also be paid by all applicants, regardless of age or disability. A dog which has been issued a lifetime license prior to the effective date of the amendment of this subsection2 shall not be subject to fees under this subsection.
(5) All additional costs of a vanity or collector tag issued under this subsection shall be charged in addition to the fees under this section. The additional cost shall be distributed equally between the county treasurer that issued the tag and the Dog Law Restricted Account. A vanity or collector tag shall not be issued without approval of the department.
(b.1) Proof of licensure.--A person owning or keeping a dog that is required to be licensed shall produce proof of licensure within ten days after a police officer, State dog warden, department official or designated municipal animal control officer requests the proof.
(b.2) Application.--A seller of dogs at retail to a Pennsylvania resident shall provide the new dog owner with a department-issued dog license application and department-issued letter regarding dog licensing.
(c) Penalty.--A person who violates this section commits a summary offense and, upon conviction, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 for each unlicensed dog. Fraudulent statements, including those related to the breed of the dog, failure to pay the appropriate fee or failure to update records, including address and contact information, within 120 days of moving constitute a violation. The burden of proof shall be the same as under section 802.3
(d) Increase of fees.--The secretary may increase fees as follows:
(1) A fee under subsection (a)(2.1) or (3) may be increased by no more than $2, to become effective December 1, 2025.
(2) A fee under subsection (a)(2.1) or (3) may be increased by an additional $1, to become effective December 1, 2027.
(3) The secretary shall transmit notice of a fee increase under this subsection to the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the next available issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

Credits

1982, Dec. 7, P.L. 784, No. 225, art. II, § 201, effective Jan. 1, 1983. Amended 1996, Dec. 11, P.L. 943, No. 151, § 3, imd. effective; 2008, Oct. 9, P.L. 1450, No. 119, § 3, effective in 60 days [Dec. 8, 2008]; 2023, Oct. 23, P.L. 114, No. 18, § 2, effective in 90 days [Jan. 22, 2024].

Footnotes

1
3 P.S. § 459-200.
2
Subsec. (b) amended by 2023, Oct. 23, P.L. 114, No. 18, § 2, effective in 90 days [Jan. 22, 2024].
3
3 P.S. § 459-802.
3 P.S. § 459-201, PA ST 3 P.S. § 459-201
Current through Act 10 of the 2024 Regular Session. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
End of Document