Your Licensing Guide

Lake County

Why License?

In accordance with state and local laws, pet licenses are mandatory in Lake County. In fact, licenses are mandatory in nearly every community across North America. 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 Lake 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.

Check out the ways you can license your pet below and feel good knowing that 100% of licensing revenue funds are given to Lake County to support important animal welfare initiatives helping to improve your community.

How to License

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!

Renew my pet's license

My pet has a license, but it has expired or will very soon.

Renew now

License a pet for the first time

I've never licensed a pet with Lake County before.

License now

Lake County Details & Fees

Pet licenses are required for all dogs living in Lake County. Licenses are available for 1 year, 3 year, and lifetime terms and must be renewed prior to January 31st. You will receive reminders from us about upcoming license expirations via mail, phone, and email.

DOG LICENSES DEC 1 - JAN 31 AFTER JAN 31
Dog License (1 Year) $20.00 $40.00
Dog License (3 Year) $60.00 $80.00
Permanent Dog License $200.00 $220.00
DOG LICENSES JUL 1 - NOV 30
Puppy License $10.00
Dog License (1 Year)
DEC 1 - JAN 31 $20.00
AFTER JAN 31 $40.00
Dog License (3 Year)
DEC 1 - JAN 31 $60.00
AFTER JAN 31 $80.00
Permanent Dog License
DEC 1 - JAN 31 $200.00
AFTER JAN 31 $220.00
Puppy License
JUL 1 - NOV 30 $10.00

A replacement Lake County tag is available for a $5.00 fee or at no additional charge when you license your pet.

When licensing a Certified Guide or Assistance Dog for the first time, licensing must be done in person.

A late fee of $20 will apply if you fail to license before February 1st.

Licenses are required for all dogs over 3 months of age.

Puppy licenses are available from July 1st to December 1st for puppies aged 3 months and younger.

Frequently Asked Questions

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HELP DESK

Visit our Help Desk for more information: https://docupetinc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us

LICENSING OPTIONS, DATES, AND LOCATIONS

Licenses are available for renewal each year on December 1st. 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 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 the Lake County Auditor's Office directly if you believe you reside within their jurisdiction but your address is not being accepted by the system.

All licenses expire each year on Janaury 31st, one or three years in the future depending on the license term purchased. If you renew prior to the upcoming expiration date, your pet's new license will still start on February 1st. Any lifetime license purchase will have no expiration date.

Please visit the Lake County Auditor's Office in person as kennel licensing is not processed through DocuPet. They are located at  105 Main St., Painesville, OH 44077. 

You may license in person at the following locations:

  • Lake County Auditor’s Office: 105 Main St., Painesville, OH 44077
  • Lake County Dog Shelter: 2600 North Ridge Rd., Painesville, Ohio 44077
  • Lake County Humane Society: 7564 Tyler Blvd E, Mentor, OH 44060
     

FEES AND FINES

Please visit the Lake County Auditor's Office in person if you are qualifying for this rate for the first time. They are located at 105 Main St., Painesville, OH 44077. Once the team there verifies your designation you will be able to renew online in future years.

No, there is no discount for licensing multiple pets. Each pet will be charged the appropriate licensing fee.

For all online orders, a processing fee is applied on license purchases at a rate of 2.65% + $0.25 per transaction.

Please visit Lake County Auditor's Officec in person 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.

Visit this page for licensing options and fees.

A $20 late fee will apply if you fail to license before February 1st.

ACCOUNT UPDATES

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'.

If you are moving, please be sure to update your address by logging into your online account and navigating to your Profile Settings page. Even though you are moving, 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! 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.

CITY INFORMATION AND CITY ORDINANCES

The laws governing dog licensing in the State of Ohio may be found in the Ohio Revised Code (ORC), sections 955.01, 955.05, and 955.26. 

The following species are required to be licensed: Dogs

Please get in touch with the Lake County Dog Shelter at  440-350-2640.