Dog License

New York State law requires that all owned dogs 4 months of age or older must be licensed. Dog owners may be fined for violation of this law. Licensing is an important element in animal control and the protection of the public health. Information about licensed dogs assists in the human medical follow-up of persons potentially exposed to infected dogs. Licensing also helps to reunite lost dogs with their owners and enforces the New York State spay/neuter law. This law mandates a surcharge on the license fee for unaltered dogs. Spaying or neutering a pet reduces the stray animal population. Besides being in the best interest of the animals, this also reduces the chance that people will become ill or injured from contact with a stray dog or cat.

The fee to license your dog in the City of Troy is $7.50. This must be renewed annually. An additional fee of $8.00 is added if you do not provide proof that your dog is spayed or neutered (total fee for unspayed/unneutered dog $15.50). There is NO FEE for the following EXCEPTIONS: guide dog, war dog, police dog, work dog, hearing dog, service dog. No fee will be added for a late renewal. However, the expiration date will remain the same 12 months from the original licensing date. Dog owners can be fined if a license has expired.

To apply for a dog license you can download the application from this page. Mail the completed application, updated rabies vaccination and proof of spaying or neutering to: Troy City Clerk, One Monument Square, Troy, New York 12180. You are also welcome to apply for your dog’s license in person at the City Clerk’s office in Troy City Hall.

If you apply by mail your license certificate and dog tag will be mailed to you shortly after we receive your application. If you have any questions, please call us at (518)270-4541.

YEARLY DOG RENEWALS
You will receive a renewal form in the mail approximately 2 to 4 weeks prior to your expiration date from the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets. Mail your form into the City Clerk’s Office with a check payable to the Troy City Clerk for the appropriate amount. If you have neutered or spayed your dog in the year since your last licensing date, please include that documentation for the reduced fee. If your rabies vaccination has expired, documentation of an updated rabies shot will be required.

REPLACEMENT TAGS
Renewals do not require new tags. If your tags are lost, you must come into the Clerk’s Office and apply for new tags. There is a $1.50 charge for replacement tags, which take 8 to 10 weeks for delivery to the dog owner.