Town of North Hempstead

Town Clerk - DOG LICENSE INFORMATION

Click here for a Dog License Application

The office of the Town Clerk is responsible for the licensing of all dogs in the Town as follows:

ARTICLE 7 OF THE AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS LAW RELATES TO THE LICENSING, IDENTIFICATION AND CONTROL OF DOGS AND THE ANIMAL POPULATION CONTROL PROGRAM IN NEW YORK STATE AND IS ADMINISTERED BY THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS. DOGS HARBORED IN NEW YORK CITY, HOWEVER, MUST BE LICENSED BY THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. LOCAL OFFICIALS, GENERALLY ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS OR DOG CONTROL OFFICERS, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING ARTICLE 7.

PLEASE READ: IMPORTANT CHANGES IN RABIES VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS

Rabies expiration date no longer dictates the expiration of the dog license. The rabies must be valid for 30 days at the time of
license issue/renewal or you are, by law, unable to validate the license.

WHAT DOGS MUST BE LICENSED?

Every dog owned or harbored in North Hempstead for longer than 30 days must be licensed. The following are the only license exemptions:

Dogs under four months of age not running at large
Dogs harbored in New York City (these dogs must be licensed by the NYC Department of Health)
If a non-resident brings a dog into North Hempstead for less than 30 days and the dog is licensed according to the resident state's licensing laws
Dogs confined to the premises of any public or private hospital, research institution or a Class A Dealer with a certificate of exemption from the Commissioner

HOW TO LICENSE YOUR DOG

Apply for a dog license at the Town Clerk's Office, Town of North Hempstead, 200 Plandome Road, Manhasset NY 11030.

In addition to the application, the owner will need:

A certificate from a licensed veterinarian showing that the dog has been spayed or neutered, unless this proof is already on file with the clerk.
ALL dogs three months or older must have proof of a rabies vaccination signed by a licensed veterinarian or a certificate stating why the life of the dog would be endangered by the vaccine.
License fee made payable to the North Hempstead Town Clerk
After the application and appropriate certificates are filed and the license fee has been paid, the license will be validated for one year. Each dog is assigned a permanent official identification (ID) number and issued a metal ID tag which is to be attached to the dog's collar.

NO REFUND WILL BE MADE AFTER A LICENSE HAS BEEN VALIDATED.

Satisfactory proof is required for guide dogs, war dogs, hearing dogs, police works dogs or service dogs, such as a training certificate, etc., for licenses.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN A PUREBRED LICENSE, CONTACT THE TOWN CLERK, TOWN OF NORTH HEMPSTEAD, AT (516) 869-7655.

LICENSE FEES

The statutory license fees are:
For SPAYED or NEUTERED dogs: (certificate required)
NYS Fee $2.50 + Local Fee $4.50 = $7.00
For UNSPAYED or UNNEUTERED dogs over 4 months of age: NYS Fee $10.50 + Local Fee $4.50 = $15.00 ($3.00 of this fee is used to fund the Animal Population Control Program)
For UNSPAYED or UNNEUTERED dogs under 4 months of age: NYS Fee $7.50 + Local Fee $4.50 = $12.00
For GUIDE, WAR, HEARING, POLICE WORK, or SERVICE dogs: NO FEE
In addition to the state fees, any licensing municipality may impose a fee up to $10.00 The Town of North Hempstead imposes a $4.50 local fee. However this fee is waved for dog owner's age 60 and over if proof of owner's age is submitted with the dog license application.

License renewal forms will be mailed directly to the dog owner by the Department of Agriculture and Markets. If you do not receive your dog license renewal form from New York State and you believe your dog's license has expired, please call North Hempstead Town Clerk's office at (516) 869-7655.

HOW TO CHANGE A LICENSE

To insure the accuracy of license records, it is essential that any change to the information on the license be provided to the local licensing agent who in turn will notify this Department so that records can be updated.

The owner must provide in writing any of the following changes:

Dog ownership
Dog owner's address
Loss or theft of the dog (if the dog is found, it's return)
Death of a dog
Any local fees collected are kept by the licensing municipality for dog control services and enforcement of Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets law. The state fee is apportioned as follows:

83.08% is retained by the licensing municipality for dog control and enforcement of Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets law.
16.92% is forwarded to the N.Y.S. Department of Agriculture and Markets to provide all dog license forms identification tags, send renewal applications and maintain the centralized database of dog licenses.

LOCAL DOG CONTROL SERVICES

If a dog is lost but identified with a N.Y.S. identification tag, the DCO will contact the N.Y.S. Department of Agriculture and Markets to trace the dog tag to the owner.

FINES

The local dog control officer must institute action for violations of both state and local laws. Fines or civil penalties shall be up to $25 for the first offense, $50 for the second offense and $100 for the third and subsequent offenses.

VICIOUS DOGS

Under Town of North Hempstead Law, Chapter 14; A vicious dog is "any dog owned, harbored or trained primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting; any dog owned, harbored or trained primarily or in part for the purpose of attacking a human being or domestic animal upon command; or any dog known by the owner to be or identifiable as, in whole or in part, of a breed commonly known as Pit Bull, which shall include dogs wholly or partly of the breeds known as American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier."

Click here for a Dog License Application

Dog owners must submit the completed application along with payment, proof of rabies vaccination
and a certificate of spay/neuter, if applicable, to

Town Clerk
TOWN OF NORTH HEMPSTEAD
PO BOX 3000, 200 Plandome Rd.
Manhasset, NY 11030
(516) 869-7655