Dog Licenses

City of Haverhill

Dog License Permit

Dog License renewal forms will be included with this year's census/street listing - or you can complete a permit online. Dog license renewals begin March 1 of each year and run through May 31. Any renewal registered after May 31st incurs a late fee. We accept dog license and renewal applications online, by mail, or in-person. We must have the following information before issuing the dog license:

Rabies certificate from a veterinarian with an expiration date of current rabies inoculation
Payment and completed application (if you are coming in person, we will complete the application for you!)
Certification of dog being spayed/neutered from veterinarian
- While this is not required to register a dog, there is a price difference for dogs that are spayed/neutered - $15 for dogs spayed/neutered, $20 for unaltered dogs and proof of such must be presented to receive the discounted price.

If these documents are not presented to us, we cannot process your application.

If applying online, all documentation can be uploaded with your application. Once we have received your application, documentation, and payment, we will mail your license and tag to you.

If your dog is deemed "potentially dangerous" by Animal Control, there is an additional fee of $25. If your dog is deemed "dangerous", the additional fee is $50.

Licensing for service dogs & kennels must be done in the Clerk's office.

A dog license may be obtained in the City Clerk's office. The fee is $15.00 for a neutered or spayed dog and $20.00 for a male or female dog

Every dog 3 months old or older must be licensed.
A current rabies certificate must be provided unless an updated certificate is on file in the City Clerk's office.
All outstanding dog fees must be paid before a dog can be relicensed.
Leash Law - No dog is permitted to run 'at large' at any time.
There is a fine for impoundment of dogs when picked up 'at large.'
Licenses are valid for one year to May 31 of the following year - late fines accrue starting June 1.
Pollution prevention of Pet Waste

Click here for Dog Licensing ordinance.

Click here for Kennel Licensing ordinance

Dog Citations:

Recently, residents who have unlicensed dogs have been receiving citations. The question has arisen as to how Animal Control and the Police Department become aware of these unlicensed dogs. According the Massachusetts CMR 330:300, veterinarians required to forward copies of rabies certificates to the City Clerk’s office. We enter the updated information into our system and then forward to the Police Chief who in turn forwards the information to Animal Control. Notated on these certificates is whether the listed dog is in our system or not. Animal Control then issues citations from the vet certificates to the owners of unlicensed dogs.

"330.300: Certificate of Vaccination A certificate of vaccination must be completed in triplicate by the vaccinating veterinarian. The original copy shall be filed by the vaccinating veterinarian within 30 days with the clerk of the city or town where the dog is licensed, one copy of to be provided to the owner of the dog, and one shall be retained by the vaccinating veterinarian. The certificate shall be either the certificate recommended in the latest Compendium of Animal Rabies control published by the national Association of state Public Health veterinarians or a certificate containing at least the following information: the owner’s name and address; a description of the animal, including breed, sex, age, name and distinctive markings; date of vaccination; rabies vaccination tag number; type of rabies vaccine used; route of vaccination; expiration date of the vaccine; and the vaccine lot number.”

Contact Us

Haverhill City Hall
4 Summer Street
Haverhill MA, 01830

Monday - Friday 8:00 - 4:00
Call Center 311 (within city limits)
(978) 358-1311 (outside the city)

Online Service Requests