Dog License Program - Ohio Revised Code
Section 955.01 Registration of Dogs
A)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section or in sections 955.011 [955.01.1], 955.012 [955.01.2], and 955.16 of the Revised Code, every person who owns, keeps, or harbors a dog more than 3 months of age, shall file, on or after the first day of the preceding December but before the 31st day of January of each year, in the office of the county auditor of the county in which the dog is kept or harbored, an application for registration for the following year, beginning the 31st day of January of that year. The board of county commissioners, by resolution, may extend the period for filing the application. The application shall state the age, sex, color, character of hair, whether short or long, and breed, if known, of the dog and the name and address of the owner of the dog. A registration fee of 2 dollars for each dog shall accompany the application, unless a greater fee has been established under division (A)(2) of this section or under section 955.14 of the Revised Code.
(2) A board of county commissioners may establish a registration fee higher than the 1 provided for in division (A)(1) of this section for dogs more than 9 months of age that have not been spayed or neutered, except that the higher registration fee permitted by this division shall not apply if a person registering a dog furnishes with the application either a certificate from a licensed veterinarian verifying that the dog should not be spayed or neutered because of its age or medical condition or because the dog is used or intended for use for show or breeding purposes or a certificate from the owner of the dog declaring that the owner holds a valid hunting license issued by the division of wildlife of the department of natural resources and that the dog is used or intended for use for hunting purposes. If the board establishes such a fee, the application for registration shall state whether the dog is spayed or neutered, and whether a licensed veterinarian has certified that the dog should not be spayed or neutered or the owner has stated that the dog is used or intended to be used for hunting purposes. The board may require a person who is registering a spayed or neutered dog to furnish with the application a certificate from a licensed veterinarian verifying that the dog is spayed or neutered. No person shall furnish a certificate under this division which the person knows to be false.
(B) If the application for registration is not filed and the registration fee paid, on or before the 31st day of January of each year or, if the board of county commissioners by resolution has extended the date to a date later than the 31st day of January, the date established by the board, the auditor shall assess a penalty in an amount equal to the registration fee upon the owner, keeper, or harborer, which must be paid with the registration fee.
(C) An animal shelter that keeps or harbors a dog more than 3 months of age is exempt from paying any fees imposed under division (A) or (B) of this section if it is a nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 285, 261.
(2) A board of county commissioners may establish a registration fee higher than the 1 provided for in division (A)(1) of this section for dogs more than 9 months of age that have not been spayed or neutered, except that the higher registration fee permitted by this division shall not apply if a person registering a dog furnishes with the application either a certificate from a licensed veterinarian verifying that the dog should not be spayed or neutered because of its age or medical condition or because the dog is used or intended for use for show or breeding purposes or a certificate from the owner of the dog declaring that the owner holds a valid hunting license issued by the division of wildlife of the department of natural resources and that the dog is used or intended for use for hunting purposes. If the board establishes such a fee, the application for registration shall state whether the dog is spayed or neutered, and whether a licensed veterinarian has certified that the dog should not be spayed or neutered or the owner has stated that the dog is used or intended to be used for hunting purposes. The board may require a person who is registering a spayed or neutered dog to furnish with the application a certificate from a licensed veterinarian verifying that the dog is spayed or neutered. No person shall furnish a certificate under this division which the person knows to be false.
(B) If the application for registration is not filed and the registration fee paid, on or before the 31st day of January of each year or, if the board of county commissioners by resolution has extended the date to a date later than the 31st day of January, the date established by the board, the auditor shall assess a penalty in an amount equal to the registration fee upon the owner, keeper, or harborer, which must be paid with the registration fee.
(C) An animal shelter that keeps or harbors a dog more than 3 months of age is exempt from paying any fees imposed under division (A) or (B) of this section if it is a nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 285, 261.
Section 955.04 Kennel Registration
Every owner of a kennel of dogs shall, in like manner as provided in section 955.01 of the Revised Code, make application for the registration of such kennel, and pay to the county auditor a registration fee of 10 dollars for each such kennel, unless a greater fee has been established under section 955.14 of the Revised Code. If such application is not filed and the fee paid, on or before the 31st day of January of each year, the auditor shall assess a penalty in an amount equal to the registration fee upon the owner of such kennel. The payment of such kennel registration fee shall entitle the licensee to not more than 5 tags, to bear consecutive numbers and to be issued in like manner and have like effect when worn by any dog owned in good faith by such licensee as the tags provided for in section 955.08 of the Revised Code. Upon application to the county auditor, additional tags, in excess of the 5 tags, may be issued upon payment of an additional fee of $1 per tag.
