Montana's rabies law
Montana Code Annotated (MCA) § 7-23-4101 through 7-23-4104 grants counties and municipalities the authority to adopt dog licensing ordinances and require rabies vaccination. The Montana Department of Livestock's Animal Health Division coordinates rabies surveillance and response across the state. Montana reports rabies cases in bats and skunks annually — outdoor pets in rural Montana are at meaningful risk. Source: Montana Department of Livestock — Animal Health Division (accessed September 3, 2026).
City-by-city licensing requirements
Billings (Montana's largest city)
Billings requires all dogs and cats over four months old to be licensed annually. The Billings Animal Shelter administers the program. Fees: $10/year for altered pets, $25/year for unaltered. Proof of rabies vaccination required. Billings also requires a city pet permit for households with more than three dogs or three cats. Source: City of Billings — Animal Control (accessed September 3, 2026).
Missoula
Missoula requires dog licensing under Missoula Municipal Code Chapter 6.08. The Missoula Animal Control shelter handles licensing and enforcement. Fees: $7/year for altered dogs, $25/year for unaltered dogs. Missoula is notable for its community cat program — free-roaming community cats are managed through TNR (trap-neuter-return) rather than traditional animal control. Source: City of Missoula — Animal Control (accessed September 3, 2026).
Great Falls
Great Falls requires dog licensing through the Great Falls Animal Shelter. Fees: $10/year for altered dogs, $30/year for unaltered. Great Falls Municipal Code Title 6 governs animal control. The city has a breed-neutral dangerous dog ordinance focused on behavior, not breed.
Helena (state capital)
Helena requires dog licensing under Helena City Code Chapter 4. The Lewis and Clark Humane Society (contracted) handles licensing. Fees are comparable to other Montana cities — approximately $10–15/year for altered dogs.
Bozeman
Bozeman is Montana's fastest-growing city and requires dog licensing under Bozeman Municipal Code. The Bozeman Police Department's Animal Control unit administers the program. Bozeman's Gallatin Valley has significant wildlife-pet interaction — bears, mountain lions, and coyotes are real concerns for pet safety.
Rural Montana
Much of Montana — especially the eastern plains and mountainous regions — has no municipal licensing requirement. However, the statewide rabies vaccination framework still applies, and county animal control officers can enforce vaccination requirements. If you live in rural Montana with outdoor pets, rabies vaccination is critical given the bat and skunk rabies reservoirs across the state.
Montana pet license checklist
Last verified: September 3, 2026. State law sourced from MCA § 7-23-41. City licensing from Billings, Missoula, and respective city codes. Fees and requirements can change — verify with your local jurisdiction. This guide is informational only and does not constitute legal advice.