State licensing guides
Tap your state for a complete breakdown of licensing requirements, fees, required documents, and a ready-to-go checklist.
🌴 California
County-level licensing. Dogs required statewide; cats vary by city. Fees range from $7.50 to $100 depending on county and spay/neuter status.
⛪ Texas
City-level registration. No statewide license, but state rabies law applies to all dogs and cats. Microchip required in Houston and Austin.
🌊 Florida
County-level licensing. State rabies law covers dogs, cats, and ferrets. Hurricane season makes portable records essential.
🗽 New York
Statewide dog licensing law — every municipality must offer it. NYC has its own system through the Department of Health. Cats not required statewide.
🔔 Pennsylvania
Statewide Dog Law with standardized fees. Lifetime license option available. Licenses issued through county treasurer, not animal control.
🌽 Illinois
County-level licensing. State rabies law covers dogs and cats. Cook County (Chicago) adds county-level enforcement and penalties.
🌰 Ohio
Statewide dog registration through county auditors. Rabies vaccination handled at county level — but required by virtually every facility.
🍑 Georgia
County-level licensing. State rabies law covers dogs, cats, and ferrets. Year-round parasite prevention essential.
🌲 North Carolina
County-level licensing. Rabies required for dogs, cats, and ferrets over 4 months. Certified rabies vaccinators available at county clinics.
🏔️ Michigan
Statewide dog licensing. Rabies required by law for dogs. Cat requirements vary by county. MDARD licenses and inspects boarding facilities.
Moving-to guides
Relocating to a new state? These guides cover everything: health certificates, record transfers, licensing timelines, and finding a new vet.
🌴 Moving to California
CVI within 10 days. County licensing within 30 days. Ferrets are illegal. Year-round flea prevention needed.
⛪ Moving to Texas
CVI within 30 days. City-by-city licensing (some as tight as 10 days). Year-round heartworm prevention essential.
🌊 Moving to Florida
CVI within 30 days. County licensing varies (as tight as 5 days). Highest heartworm state. Hurricane readiness needed.
🗽 Moving to New York
CVI within 10 days. NYC requires dog license within 30 days. Lyme disease prevention critical — tick checks year-round.
🔔 Moving to Pennsylvania
CVI within 10 days. Statewide dog license required statewide ($8.50/spayed). High-risk Lyme disease state.
🌽 Moving to Illinois
CVI required. Chicago and Cook County require overlapping tags. Harsh winters — paw protection needed from day one.
🌰 Moving to Ohio
CVI required. Dog registration through county auditor — unique to Ohio. Some cities have breed restrictions.
🍑 Moving to Georgia
CVI within 30 days. County-by-county licensing. Year-round heartworm and flea/tick prevention essential.
🌲 Moving to North Carolina
CVI required. County-level licensing. Watch for Lyme and Rocky Mountain spotted fever — tick prevention critical.
🏔️ Moving to Michigan
CVI required. Statewide dog license through county treasurer. Upper Peninsula has high Lyme risk. Cold winters demand year-round prep.
The interstate move checklist
No matter which states you're moving between, these steps apply to every pet owner on the move:
- Get a health certificate. Most states require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI / health certificate) issued within 10–30 days of travel. Your current vet issues this. Airlines always require it; some states require it for any interstate transport.
- Confirm your rabies vaccination is current. Every state requires rabies vaccination for dogs; most require it for cats too. Bring the original certificate — not a photocopy. Some states won't accept a vaccine that's within its first 28 days.
- Research your destination state's licensing requirements. Use the guides above or search "[state] pet license requirements." Some states require licensing within 10–30 days of establishing residency. Don't wait for a citation to find out.
- Transfer your records to the new vet. Your old vet's office can fax or mail records — or you can share your pet's Voocie timeline with the new vet directly. No waiting, no phone tag.
- Update your microchip registration. Your new address, phone number, and new vet's information should all be updated in your microchip registry. This is separate from — and more important than — any license tag.
- Register with your new city/county. Bring your rabies certificate, spay/neuter proof, and ID to your new local animal services or clerk's office. Many accept online applications now.
Why records matter more when you move
When you stay in one place, your vet knows your pet's history — you don't have to explain it every visit. When you move, that context disappears. The new vet starts from scratch unless you bring records.
This isn't just about convenience. It affects your pet's care:
- Medication interactions — the new vet needs to know what your pet is currently taking and what they've reacted to in the past.
- Chronic conditions — a history of bloodwork trends, imaging, or specialist notes gives the new vet the full picture from day one.
- Vaccination schedules — without records, some vets will re-vaccinate to be safe, which means unnecessary costs and needle pokes for your pet.
- Emergency readiness — if your pet needs emergency care during the move, an ER vet with zero history has to order everything from scratch.