Dogs in Asheville required to be licensed by Jan. 1
The City of Asheville’s Animal Ordinance requires that dogs must be licensed every year on Jan. 1. The fee is $10 and all dogs must have a city license by the age of six months. The city license tag and a current rabies tag must be displayed on your dog at all times.
Cats are not required to have a city license or to wear tags; however cat owners should be prepared to provide proof of current rabies vaccination.
In an effort to increase efficiency in the licensing and re-licensing of dogs that live within the city limits, the City of Asheville has partnered with animal license registration provider, PetData Inc. Pet licensing and re-licensing may be handled online at petdata.com or by US Mail at PetData Inc., P.O. Box 141929, Irving, TX 75014-1929. Dog license tags will no longer be available for sale at City Hall.
Spay and neuter law
All dogs and cats 6 months of age or older must either be spayed or neutered, or the owner must possess an Unaltered Pet Permit. The permit fee is $100 for the lifetime of the animal and may be purchased on the first floor of City Hall, 70 Court Plaza. Permit applications may also be obtained at the Asheville Police Department at 100 Court Plaza. The fine for violating this requirement is $200.
Tethering regulations
It is unlawful in the City of Asheville for an owner to leave a dog unattended and restrained by tether while outdoors. For more on the City’s tethering regulations, review Ordinance 3795 – Unattended tethering of dogs prohibited.
Animal Services
The City of Asheville’s Animal Services Unit’s duties begin with enforcement of the Asheville Animal Control– Ordinance. The team provides assistance to police officers dealing with situations involving animals, investigations involving animal bites, imposes regulations on dangerous animals, investigates reports of cruelty toward animals, impounds animals at large, assists sick or injured animals, and addresses public nuisance violations such as dogs barking excessively. For more information, visit the City’s Animal Services web page.