Connecticut Dog License Requirements

Updated October 13, 2026 · 2 min read · 2 sources

Short answer

Yes. Connecticut requires every dog 6 months or older to be licensed with the town clerk by June 30 each year (C.G.S. 22-338). The fee is $7 for spayed or neutered dogs and $12 for unaltered dogs, plus a $1 clerk fee. A rabies vaccination certificate is required, and unlicensed dogs cost $1 a month extra.

Connecticut is one of the states that requires dog licensing by state law, so the basic rule is the same everywhere in the state even though the paperwork is handled locally.

Connecticut dog license at a glance

Question Answer
Statewide requirement? Yes
Age 6 months and older
Deadline June 30 each year
Fee $7 altered, $12 unaltered, plus $1 clerk fee
Rabies certificate needed? Yes (22-338(b))

What Connecticut law says

  • C.G.S. 22-338(a) requires licensing with the town clerk where the dog is kept.
  • New owners must license within 30 days (22-339).
  • A vet certificate is needed the first time a dog is licensed as spayed or neutered (22-340).
  • A replacement tag costs $0.50, and the tag goes on the collar or harness (22-341).
  • Dogs roaming without a tag are presumed unlicensed; exhibition dogs in the state 30 days or less are exempt.

How to license a dog in Connecticut

  1. Have your dog vaccinated against rabies by a veterinarian and keep the rabies certificate.
  2. If your dog is spayed or neutered, keep the veterinarian's proof; altered dogs usually pay a lower fee.
  3. Apply through the office named above. Many towns and counties also accept online or mail applications.
  4. Attach the tag to your dog's collar and renew before the deadline to avoid late fees.

Licenses, rabies shots and microchips

Dog licenses and rabies vaccination usually go together: the license office or the veterinarian checks the rabies certificate before a tag is issued. See Connecticut rabies vaccination laws for the required age and booster rules. A license tag helps animal control return a lost dog quickly, and a microchip is a permanent backup if the collar comes off.

What happens if your dog is not licensed?

An unlicensed dog found at large can be picked up by animal control, and getting it back usually means paying impound fees and buying the license. Penalties are listed above where the state statute sets them; local ordinances often add their own fines. Leash and at-large rules are covered in Connecticut leash laws.

Sources

  1. Michigan State University Animal Legal & Historical Center: Connecticut dog laws
  2. Michigan State University Animal Legal & Historical Center: Table of state rabies vaccination laws

Find help near you in Connecticut

Popular cities: Waterbury

This page summarizes state statutes for general information and is not legal advice. Laws change and cities and counties often add their own rules; check the current statute and your local ordinance, or ask a licensed attorney about your situation.

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