No person owning, having an interest in, or having control, custody or possession of any dog over four months of age shall fail, neglect or refuse to license and register such dog, in accordance with the provisions of this article.
(Prior code § 6-4.1; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)
A metallic tag and license certificate with corresponding numbers shall be furnished by the City Clerk to any person required by this article to obtain a license for a dog, upon payment of the required fee.
The City Clerk shall keep a record of the name, address and telephone number of the owner of the dog or other person making payment of the license fee and to whom a certificate and tag is issued, and the number and date of such certificate. Such metal tag issued for the current license year shall be securely fastened to the collar or harness of the dog and shall be worn by the dog at all times other than those periods when confined to the owner's house, enclosed yard or pen. A duplicate of a lost license tag may be procured from the Executive Director upon proof of loss and payment of the required fee.
(Prior code § 6-4.2; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)
At the time any owner obtains a dog over the age of four months, or moves into the City of Norwalk with a dog over the age of four months, owner shall obtain a dog license and pay an original license fee. The license shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance and shall thereafter be renewed annually. All license renewal fees are due annually on the anniversary of the issuance of original dog license.
(Prior code § 6-4.3; Ord. 210-1722 § 2; Ord. 25-1757, 7/1/2025)
Any person who fails to pay the required dog license fee prior to the renewal date shall pay, in addition to the license fee, a penalty of up to 50% of the license fee.
Any person who fails to obtain a license within 30 days after acquiring any dog, or after moving into the City of Norwalk with any dog, or having any dog come into their care, custody or control shall pay, in addition to the license fee, a penalty fee of up to 50% of the license fee.
All dog license penalty fees will be assessed based on the number of days overdue as listed below up to 50% of the cost of the dog license as listed in the City's adopted User Fee Schedule
•
31-60 days overdue
•
61-90 days overdue
•
90 days overdue
(Prior code § 6-4.4; Ord. 21-1722 § 2; Ord. 25-1757, 7/1/2025)
No license fee shall be required for the following:
A. 
Seeing Eye dogs;
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 30 days, or dogs temporarily brought into the City for the exclusive purpose of being entered in a bench show or dog exhibition; provided, such dogs are so entered and not kept elsewhere in the City;
D. 
Dogs which are owned by any governmental agency.
(Prior code § 6-4.5; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)
No person shall fail or refuse, upon request, to show to the Executive Director or any police officer the license certificate and the tag for any duly registered dog kept or remaining within any home or upon any enclosed premises under his or her immediate control.
(Prior code § 6-4.6; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)
No unauthorized person shall remove from any dog any collar, harness or other device to which is attached a valid registration tag or remove such tag.
(Prior code § 6-4.7; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)
No person shall imitate or counterfeit the tags provided for in this article or use any imitation or counterfeit of such tag.
(Prior code § 6-4.8; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)
A. 
No dog license is transferable to any other dog.
B. 
A valid dog license accompanied by a valid rabies certificate, issued by any other California jurisdiction may be transferred to the City. A dog owner possessing such a license and certificate shall be issued a Norwalk dog license upon payment of the required fee if the expiration date of the original license is no sooner than the next July 1st. If the expiration date is sooner than the next July 1st, the owner shall be issued a Norwalk license upon payment of the prorated share of the annual license fee, covering the period between the expiration date and the next July 1st.
(Prior code § 6-4.9; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)
Every person applying for a dog license must exhibit a certificate issued by a person licensed by the State of California or by any other state or nation to practice veterinary medicine, which certificate shall show that the dog for which the license is requested either (A) has been vaccinated in accordance with the provisions of Sections 6.24.010 and 6.24.020; or (B) should not be so vaccinated by reason of age, infirmity or other disability. Such exemption shall be valid for a period not to exceed one year. A license for any dog shall not be issued unless and until such certificate is exhibited. Such certificate of vaccination must be valid throughout the entire license period.
(Prior code § 6-4.10; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)
The amount of any license fees imposed by this article shall be deemed a debt to the City and any person keeping any animal without having obtained a license and registration certificate from the City shall be liable to an action in the name of the City in any court of competent jurisdiction for the amount of the license fees and penalties imposed or required by this article to be paid for the privilege of keeping such animal, and it shall be the duty of the Executive Director to cause a complaint to be filed against any person so violating the provisions of this article. Such action shall be cumulative and shall not be deemed a bar to, or a waiver of, the right of the City to prosecute any person for a violation of this article or any other applicable provision of this chapter.
(Prior code § 6-4.11; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)
In order to provide a method for identifying cats, a license may be obtained in accordance with the licensing procedure set forth in Article I. This article shall not require the licensing of cats, but merely provide for their optional licensing.
(Prior code § 6-11.1; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)