Animal Care Services

Licensing Penalties

Late Penalty 

Pet licenses (dog and cat) are required to be renewed annually. Pet owners have 60 days from the license expiration date to renew their pet license. After 60 days, a late penalty is assessed. After 90 days, citations may be issued.

Administrative Citations

Long Beach Municipal Code Chapter 6.16 provides for the issuance of administrative citations for Long Beach Municipal Code violations. The administrative citation program and the establishment of appropriate fines are intended to act as a reasonable deterrent in preventing Municipal Code violations. 

Fine Schedule 

Each day a violation exists constitutes a separate and distinct offense. Fines are imposed as follows. A $100 fine will be imposed for the initial violation. A $200 fine will be imposed for each instance of a second violation of the same code section committed within one year from the date of the initial violation. A $250 or $500 fine, depending on the violation, will be imposed for any subsequent violation of the same code section committed within one year from the date of the initial violation.

Note: All penalties and violation fines are cumulative.

Consequence of Failure to Pay the Fine 

Failure to pay fine(s) within the specified time period may result in a 25% late charge, imposition of a special assessment and/or lien against the real property on which the violation occurred, filing of a claim with the small claims court for recovery of the fine and all costs associated with such filing, suspension and/or revocation of any City permits, business licenses, or land use approvals, or any legal remedy available to the City to collect such money. 

Rights of Appeal 

A Cited Party may appeal administrative citations and imposed levies. For cited code violations, the appeal must be requested within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of service of the Citation. In order to appeal, a completed Request for Hearing form together with a deposit in the total amount of outstanding fine(s), late charges, and/or levies must be submitted to the appropriate bureau that issued the citation (see below). Requesting an appeal does not relieve the Cited Party from the requirement to correct all code violations as specified. 

Generally, the only relevant evidence considered for appeal is whether the violations(s) existed on the date and time the Administrative Citation was issued, whether the Cited Party is the Responsible Person who caused or maintained the violation(s), and whether imposed levies resulting from failure of a Responsible Person to correct the violations, were reasonably calculated based upon abatement costs incurred by the City. If an appeal is denied, the entire deposit shall be retained by the City as payment in full of outstanding fines, late fees, and/or levies. 

If an appeal is upheld, the entire deposit shall be refunded to the Cited Party within thirty (30) business days from the date of the written appeal decision. Failure to properly file a written appeal within the appropriate time frame shall constitute a waiver of the Cited Party's right to appeal and seek judicial review. 

How to Pay Your Fine 

The amount of your fine is indicated on the front of this citation. You are required to pay your fine in full by the Correction Date noted on the citation. Please mail in your payment with the attached payment remittance slip to the bureau indicated on the citation. 

By Mail: Payment may be made by personal check, cashier's check, or money order payable to the City of Long Beach. 

At Animal Care Services: Payment may be made by Discover, MasterCard, Visa, debit card, personal check, cashier's check, or money order payable to the City of Long Beach.

Please write your citation number on your check or money order. 

Payment of the fine shall not excuse the failure to correct the violation nor shall it bar further enforcement action by the City of Long Beach.

Citations issued by the Animal Care Services Bureau: 

Submit payments and appeals to: 

Animal Care Services Bureau
7700 E. Spring Street
Long Beach CA 90815 

Request for Hearing Forms and Hardship Waiver Forms are available at Animal Care Services and online.