In accordance with state and local laws, pet licenses are mandatory in the cities that Maricopa County Animal Care and Control serves. In fact, licenses are mandatory in the state of Arizona. Why? Because licenses help keep pets and the communities they live in safe. DocuPet was brought on board to simplify and improve pet licensing to benefit not only pet owners like you, but the entire community. DocuPet makes it easy for Maricopa County to deliver a successful pet licensing program with a streamlined software and management solution that makes licensing a breeze for pet owners and administrators alike.
Licensing your pet will require specific information and proof. Having these items at the ready allows for the fastest experience. You have the option to upload a document as a saved or scanned file, or you may take a photo directly from your device on our upload page.
We securely process payment online and accept all major credit and debit cards as forms of payment.
This document may be in the form of a Rabies Vaccination Certificate that has been signed by a veterinarian or certified professional. It is the law that pets must be up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations, so new documents will need to be uploaded to your pets profile as they receive their booster shots.
This document is required to qualify for the discounted rate and is only needed once and will be saved to your pet's profile upon upload for future renewals. This proof declaring that your pet has been spayed or neutered may be in the form of a statement or receipt from the veterinarian, shelter, or clinic that performed the procedure.
The fastest and easiest way to license or renew is right here. You'll create a profile for your pet, upload any necessary documents, process your license registration, and receive purchase confirmations via email. Payment can be made using a credit card or Visa/Mastercard debit card. Each year, you just need to log in to your existing account and renew - it's super easy!
In person licensing is available at the following location(s) however it's important to know you will still receive your tag in the mail:
Don't forget to check hours of operation, appointment policies, and accepted payment methods prior to heading out.
West Valley Animal Care Center
2500 S. 27th Avenue
(27th Avenue, south of Durango)
Phoenix, AZ 85009
Phone:
602-506-7387
Adoptions, Admissions, and Business Hours:
Monday - Friday 12 - 6pm
Saturday & Sunday 12 - 5pm
East Valley Animal Care Center
1920 S Lewis
(Baseline Rd/Lewis Dr)
Mesa, AZ 85210
Phone:
602-506-7387
Adoptions, Admissions, and Business Hours:
Monday - Friday 12 - 6pm
Saturday & Sunday 12 - 5pm
If you opt to license via snail mail - keep in mind processing your registration will take a lot longer!
Make sure you complete the below form in full and that it is free of any errors otherwise your registration may not be successfully processed. The fine print is there for a reason so keep an eye out for accepted payment methods, who the check should be made out to, where it should be mailed, and any required supporting documentation.
If you're having trouble licensing online and need to get your registration processed in a hurry, you can contact our customer care team and they may be able to process your pet license over the phone. Note that you must have up to date spay/neuter or rabies documents on file and we can only accept credit cards and Visa/Mastercard debit as payment.
DocuPet Customer Care: 1-877-239-6072
Hours of Operation: Monday-Saturday (excluding holidays) from 6:00am to 6:00pm MST and Sunday from 9:00am to 5:00pm MST
State statute requires all dogs over three months of age that reside within Maricopa County for at least thirty consecutive days of each calendar year be licensed and vaccinated. Licenses are available for a 1 year term and must be renewed prior to the expiration date. You will receive reminders from DocuPet about upcoming license expirations via mail, phone, and email.
| Licenses | Online License Purchase: 1 Year Fee | In-Person License Purchase: 1 Year Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Spayed/Neutered Dog | $19.00 | $22.00 |
| Senior Rate (65+): Spayed/Neutered Dog | $10.00 | $10.00 |
| Unaltered/Intact Dog | $50.00 | $55.00 |
| Spayed/Neutered Dog | |
|---|---|
| Online License Purchase: 1 Year Fee | $19.00 |
| In-Person License Purchase: 1 Year Fee | $22.00 |
| Senior Rate (65+): Spayed/Neutered Dog | |
|---|---|
| Online License Purchase: 1 Year Fee | $10.00 |
| In-Person License Purchase: 1 Year Fee | $10.00 |
| Unaltered/Intact Dog | |
|---|---|
| Online License Purchase: 1 Year Fee | $50.00 |
| In-Person License Purchase: 1 Year Fee | $55.00 |
Visit our Help Desk for more information: https://docupetinc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us
MCACC launched with DocuPet May 2025.
You may have entered your address incorrectly or we may not have your address in the address database for your community. Please double-check all spelling and ensure you are using the abbreviated form for your street type ex. St instead of Street. You may contact DocuPet directly if you believe you reside within their jurisdiction but your address is not being accepted by the system.
Temporary licenses expire after 30 days. To convert a temporary license into a full license you must provide new proof of rabies expiration prior to the temporary license expiration date. If the rabies expiration date extends beyond the original term selected your pet's license may be extended to the full term originally selected. If the newly provided rabies expiration date falls prior to the term end, the new license expiration date will be the same as the rabies vaccination expiration date.
Please ensure you have all the required documentation in order to license your pet. If you have all the records you need to proceed you can license your pet online. Alternatively you can mail in your license purchase by downloading the application on maricopa.docupet.com or in person at either the West Valley Animal Care Center or the East Valley Animal Care Center.
Maricopa County Animal Care and Control provides licensing services for the following areas: Apache Junction, Avondale, Buckeye, Carefree, Cave Creek, Chandler, El Mirage, Fountain Hills, Gila Bend, Gilbert, Glendale, Goodyear, Guadalupe, Litchfield Park, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Queen Creek, Scottsdale, Surprise, Tempe, Tolleson, Unincorporated Maricopa County, Wickenburg, Youngtown
Licenses are required to be renewed prior to the expiration date each year.
Licenses expire at the end of the 1 year term unless your pet's current rabies vaccination expiration date falls prior to the end of the term. A license cannot be valid at any time a pet's rabies is expired. If you provide new proof of rabies expiration extending beyond the original term selected prior to the license expiration date, your pet's license may be extended to the full term originally selected.
Refunds may be granted for a license if a pet passes 30 days of the license purchase.
You may renew your pet's license within 60 days of your pet's current license expiration date. If you renew prior to the upcoming expiration date, your pet's new license will start the day after expiration, not on the date of purchase.
You may license in person at either the West Valley Animal Care Center or the East Valley Animal Care Center.
West Valley Animal Care Center
2500 S. 27th Avenue
(27th Avenue, south of Durango)
Phoenix, AZ 85009
East Valley Animal Care Center
1920 S Lewis
(Baseline Rd/Lewis Dr)
Mesa, AZ 85210
Late fees come into effect if a license is not renewed within 30 days of the original expiration date. Late fees accrue every 30 days at a rate of $3 a month for an altered dog and $6 a month for an unaltered dog.
Those aged 65 and older may qualify for a senior citizen rate. Your pet must be spayed/neutered to receive the senior rate.
Please contact Maricopa County Animal Care and Control if you are qualifying for this rate for the first time. Once the team there verifies your designation, you will be able to renew online in future years.
In order to receive a discounted licensing rate, you will need to upload the appropriate documentation stating that your pet has been spayed/neutered to your online account and you will be eligible to receive the new discounted rate. Otherwise, you can visit Maricopa County Animal Care and Control in person at the West Valley Animal Care Center or the East Valley Animal Care Center and show proof of spay/neuter there.
Please visit Maricopa County Animal Care and Control in-person located at either the West Valley Animal Care Center or the East Valley Animal Care Center, and they will be able to assist you.
No, each pet will only receive one free tag with their first license via DocuPet. This tag doesn’t expire. If you’ve already received a DocuPet tag, your furry friend is good to go! If you’d like a new tag, you can purchase a standard replacement tag or a new designer tag during the license order process or in our store.
If you are moving please be sure to update your address by logging into your online account and navigating to your Profile Settings page. If you are moving to another address within Maricopa County just simply update your address and your license will remain valid. If you are moving out of Maricopa County you’ll still be able to keep your pet's tag and access your pet's online account. However, your current license may not be valid in the new community you are moving to. Please get in touch with the pet licensing provider in the new community you are moving to in order to find out more information.
We're sorry for your loss. You can update a pet's profile via your online account by editing your pet's profile and selecting 'Remove this Pet'.
We’re sorry! Unfortunately, unless you update your account to reflect that a pet is no longer in your care, we have no way of knowing. Have you already told us? You may have a duplicate account. Get in touch with your licensing organization or our DocuPet customer service team to update your record.
The following species are required to be licensed: Dogs
Please get in touch with Maricopa County Animal Care and Control at 602-506-7387.
State statute requires all dogs over three months of age that reside within Maricopa County for at least thirty consecutive days of each calendar year be licensed and vaccinated.
If you can’t locate the document you received after the procedure was done, you will need to contact your vet to obtain your pet's records. Be sure to specify any and all pets you require documentation for.
Once you’ve got the paperwork in your hands, take a look to ensure:
A valid rabies proof is required to purchase a pet license. A 30-day temporary license may be issued if you do not have rabies proof at the time of licensing. Proof of spay/neuter is required to receive the discounted altered rates.
To license your pet, you will be required to show proof that the pet's rabies vaccination is current. Requiring documentation ensures that provided pet information is accurate, which is critical for identification and safety reasons.
You will need to complete the required paperwork and contact Maricopa County Animal Care and Control to qualify for rabies exemption.