<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<baltimore-city-law heading="Part I – Dog and Cat Licenses">
  <section prefix="§" num="10-201" heading="License required.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="In general.">The owner of any dog or cat must obtain and renew a license for that dog or cat, as provided in this Part I.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="When to be obtained.">The license must be obtained within 10 days of the following, whichever is later:<para num="(1)">when the dog or cat becomes 4 months old; or</para>
      <para num="(2)">when the dog or cat was acquired by the owner, whether or not the previous owner had a license for the animal.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 11, §27(a)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 99-548</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 00-024</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 11-573</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="10-202" heading="License fees.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Classes.">The Commissioner must provide for the following classes of licenses:<para num="(1)">Class A Licenses, for:<para num="(i)">dogs and cats that have been altered; and</para>
        <para num="(ii)">dogs and cats that have not been altered, but for which a licensed veterinarian certifies in writing that, because of age or bad health, the animal should not be altered.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(2)">Class B Licenses, for disability service animals, whether or not altered, on the applicant’s submission of an affidavit claiming the person has a disability.</para>
      <para num="(3)">Class C Licenses, for the lifetime of dogs and cats that are altered and microchiped.</para>
      <para num="(4)">Class D Licenses, for all other dogs and cats.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Fees.">
      <para num="(1)">The license fee for each class is as set under &lt;cite data-path="|health|§10-106"&gt;§ 10-106 of this title&lt;/cite&gt;.</para>
      <para num="(2)">For owners 65 years old or older, the annual fee for each license class is 50% of the annual fee otherwise set for that class.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 00-024</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 02-323</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 11-573</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="10-203" heading="Applications.">
    <text>The application for a license must:</text>
    <para num="(1)">be in the form that the Commissioner requires;</para>
    <para num="(2)">be accompanied by the required fee;</para>
    <para num="(3)">be accompanied by an affidavit certifying that neither the applicant nor anyone residing on the applicant’s household  has ever been convicted of animal abuse, cruelty, or neglect; and</para>
    <para num="(4)">contain:<para num="(i)">the name and address of the owner;</para>
      <para num="(ii)">a description of the dog or cat;</para>
      <para num="(iii)">proof of a still-current rabies vaccination, unless this requirement is waived by the Public Health Veterinarian; and</para>
      <para num="(iv)">any other information that the Commissioner requires.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 11, §27(b)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 99-548</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 00-024</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 11-573</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="10-204" heading="Issuance of licenses and tags.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="In general.">
      <para num="(1)">On approval of the application and receipt of the required fee, the Office must issue the license.</para>
      <para num="(2)">Together with the license, the Office must issue an identification tag that is:<para num="(i)">durably constructed;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">designed so that it can be conveniently fastened or riveted to a well-fitted collar or harness; and</para>
        <para num="(iii)">stamped with the year of its issuance and an identifying number.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Animal from animal shelter.">For an unlicensed dog or cat that is reclaimed or adopted from an animal shelter, the animal shelter must:<para num="(1)">require a license application and the required fee to be submitted to it; and</para>
      <para num="(2)">on receipt of the application and receipt of the required fee, issue the license and identification tag for that dog or cat.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 11, §27(d)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 99-548</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 00-024</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 11-573</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="10-205" heading="Term.">
    <text>Unless sooner suspended or revoked, a dog or cat license (except for a Class C License) expires annually on the anniversary of its issuance.</text>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 11, §27(c)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 99-548</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 00-024</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 11-573</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="10-206" heading="Records; replacements.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Public record of identifying numbers.">The Office and the animal shelter must:<para num="(1)">keep a record of the identifying numbers of all licenses, identification tags, and microchips issued; and</para>
      <para num="(2)">make this record available to the public and other City agencies, subject to a copy fee.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Replacements.">If a license, microchip, or an identification tag is lost or destroyed, a replacement must be obtained and the required fee paid.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 11, §27(f), (h)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 99-548</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 00-024</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 11-573</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="10-207" heading="Prohibited conduct.">
    <text>No person may:</text>
    <para num="(1)">fail to obtain a license as required by this Part I;</para>
    <para num="(2)">permit any cat or dog for which the person is required to obtain a license to be outdoors at any time unless it is wearing a valid identification tag issued under this subtitle;</para>
    <para num="(3)">use any license or identification tag for any dog or cat other than the one for which it was issued;</para>
    <para num="(4)">use any license or identification tag that was issued to a previous owner of the dog or cat;</para>
    <para num="(5)">remove any identification tag from any dog or cat without the consent of its owner;</para>
    <para num="(6)">use any microchip required by this subtitle for any dog or cat other than the one to which the microchip applies; or</para>
    <para num="(7)">except as authorized by the Commissioner, remove from any dog or cat any microchip required by this subtitle.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 11, §27(e), (g), (i), (j)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 99-548</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 00-024</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 02-323</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 11-573</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="10-208" heading="Owner to provide copy to custodian.">
    <text>Whenever the owner of an animal places it in the care or custody of another person, the owner must provide that custodian with a copy of the license and identification tag issued under this Part for the animal.</text>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 11-573</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="10-209" reserved="true" />
</baltimore-city-law>
