It shall be unlawful for any person to own or harbor or keep any dog four months of age or older within the city unless there is attached to such dog a collar upon which there is a current numbered metal tag. The collar need not be attached to the dog while such dog remains in the dwelling of the owner or other person having custody thereof, or in the enclosed yard adjacent thereto. Nothing contained in this section, however, shall be construed to relieve the necessity of having a current tag for each dog.
(Ord. 918 § 1, 1978)
Application for registration must be made within fifteen days after obtaining a dog over four months of age or within fifteen days of establishing residence within the city.
(Ord. 918 § 1, 1978; Ord. 1158 § 1, 1988)
No dog shall be registered without presentation of a rabies vaccination certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian. Such certificate shall be valid for the entire registration period.
(Ord. 918 § 1, 1978)
A fee shall be paid annually to the city for each registration required by this chapter, as provided by resolution. The period of time for which registration shall be issued may vary from twelve months to thirty-six months. Registration may be issued for new residents, newly acquired dogs, or puppies at four months of age for periods of time less than the minimum twelve-month period if the animal's rabies certificate expires sooner than the minimum registration period. Proof of new residency, purchase date of dog or dog's age must be presented for prorating of the fee. Any person whose dog has been spayed or neutered is eligible for a one-time fee exempt license for up to two years, provided that a certificate of sterilization issued by a licensed veterinarian is presented with the registration application and the dog has been previously licensed by Laguna Beach animal services before it was spayed or neutered. Such fee shall not apply to any dog while kept or maintained exclusively within a commercial kennel or by a recognized animal rescue organization.
(Ord. 918 § 1, 1978; Ord. 1158 § 2, 1988; Ord. 1596 § 2, 2015)
No registration fee shall be required for the following:
(a) 
Guide dogs for the blind;
(b) 
Dogs honorably discharged from the armed forces of the United States;
(c) 
Dogs in the care, custody and control of nonresidents who are traveling through the city or temporarily staying in the city, for a period not exceeding fifteen days or with proof of current registration from primary place of residence, or brought into the city for the exclusive purpose of being entered in a dog show or exhibition, provided such dogs are so entered and not kept elsewhere in the city;
(d) 
Dogs used in crime detection or apprehension by public officers.
(Ord. 918 § 1, 1978; Ord. 1158 § 3, 1988; Ord. 1248 § 1, 1992; Ord. 1568 § 3, 2012)
The owner shall state at the time application is made and, upon standard printed forms of application provided for such purpose, his or her name, address and telephone number, and the name, breed, color, age and sex of each animal for which application is made.
(Ord. 918 § 1, 1978)
Upon collection of the registration fee, a dated receipt will be issued stating the name, address and telephone number of the owner, dog tag number, description of the dog, and the expiration date of the rabies vaccination, together with a registration tag stamped with a serial number, year and name of the city.
(Ord. 918 § 1, 1978)
(a) 
No person who owns, harbors or keeps any dog shall fail or refuse to exhibit the registration and tag required by this chapter upon demand of any person charged with the enforcement of this chapter.
(b) 
In case any registration tag is lost or destroyed, replacement may be obtained upon showing such proof as may be required, and upon payment of the replacement fee as set by resolution of the city council.
(c) 
No unauthorized person shall remove from any animal any collar, harness or other device to which is attached a registration tag for the current year or remove such registration tag from any animal.
(d) 
Animal registrations are not transferable or refundable.
(e) 
It is unlawful for any person to attach any current license tag to any dog, which tag was not issued for said dog, or to counterfeit or imitate a dog tag, or to attach a counterfeit or imitation tag to any dog; and it shall be unlawful for any person to make any false statement as to any fact required in connection with the securing and issuance of the tag.
(Ord. 918 § 1, 1978; Ord. 1158 § 4, 1988)
Registrations shall become delinquent sixty days following the date on which they are due, and all delinquent registrations shall be subject to the payment of a penalty, as set by resolution of the city council, in addition to the registration fee.
(Ord. 918 § 1, 1978; Ord. 1158 § 5, 1988)
Cats over four months of age may be registered with the city in the same manner in which dogs are registered, and for the same fee. Cats must have a current rabies vaccination valid for the entire one-year registration period.
(Ord. 918 § 1, 1978)