Your Licensing Guide

City of Torrance

Why License?

In accordance with state and local laws, pet licenses are mandatory in the City of Torrance. In fact, licenses are mandatory in nearly every community across North America. Why? Because licenses help keep pets and the communities they live in safe. DocuPet was brought on board to simplify and improve pet licensing to benefit not only pet owners like you, but the entire community. DocuPet makes it easy for City of Torrance to deliver a successful pet licensing program with a streamlined software and management solution that makes licensing a breeze for pet owners and administrators alike.

Check out the ways you can license your pet below and feel good knowing that 100% of licensing revenue funds are given to the City of Torrance to support important animal welfare initiatives helping to improve your community.

What will you need?

Licensing your pet will require specific information and proof. Having these items at the ready allows for the fastest experience. You have the option to upload a document as a saved or scanned file, or you may take a photo directly from your device on our upload page.

Payment

We securely process payment online and accept all major credit and debit cards as forms of payment.

Documents

Spay/neuter certificate

This document is required to qualify for the discounted rate and is only needed once and will be saved to your pet’s profile upon upload for future renewals. This proof declaring that your pet has been spayed or neutered may be in the form of a statement or receipt from the veterinarian, shelter, or clinic that performed the procedure.

Rabies vaccination proof

This document serves as formal proof that your pet has received a California-approved rabies vaccination. This document may be in the form of a Rabies Vaccination Certificate that has been signed by a veterinarian or certified professional. It is the law that pets must be up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations, so new documents will need to be uploaded to your pets profile as they receive their booster shots.

How to License

  • Online
  • Mail
  • Phone

The fastest and easiest way to license or renew is right here. You’ll create a profile for your pet, upload any necessary documents, process your license registration, and receive purchase confirmations via email. Payment can be made using a credit card or Visa/Mastercard debit card. Each year, you just need to log in to your existing account and renew - it’s super easy!

Renew my pet's license

My pet has a license, but it has expired or will very soon.

Renew now

License a pet for the first time

I've never licensed a pet with City of Torrance before.

License now

If you opt to license via snail mail - keep in mind processing your registration will take a lot longer!

Make sure you complete the below form in full and that it is free of any errors otherwise your registration may not be successfully processed. The fine print is there for a reason so keep an eye out for accepted payment methods, who the check should be made out to, where it should be mailed, and any required supporting documentation.

Pet license form

Download Application Form

If you’re having trouble licensing online and need to get your registration processed in a hurry, you can contact our customer care team and they may be able to process your pet license over the phone. Note that you must have up to date spay/neuter or rabies documents on file and we can only accept credit cards and Visa/Mastercard debit as payment.

DocuPet Customer Care: 1-877-239-6072
Hours of Operation: Monday-Saturday (excluding holidays) from 6:00am-6:00pm PST

City of Torrance Details & Fees

Pet licenses are required for all dogs living in the City of Torrance. Licenses are available for one year year terms and must be renewed prior to the expiration date. You will receive reminders from us about upcoming license expirations via mail, phone, and email.

License Type Fee
Unaltered Dog $75.00
Spayed/Neutered Dog $29.00
Unaltered Cat - Voluntary $13.00
Spayed/Neutered Cat - Voluntary $7.00
License Type Fee
Unaltered Dog $75.00
Spayed/Neutered Dog $29.00
Unaltered Cat - Voluntary $13.00
Spayed/Neutered Cat - Voluntary $7.00

Licenses are required for all dogs over four months of age.

A replacement City of Torrance tag is available for a $7.00 fee or at no additional charge when you license your pet.

Voluntary cat licenses are available in the City of Torrance. Although not required, licensing your cat is a great way to help ensure their safety.

A valid rabies certificate is required to complete the licensing process. You must upload or present your certificates at time of purchase.

A spay/neuter certificate is required to qualify for the discounted rate.

A late fee of $20 applies 30 days following license expiration and is not applicable to voluntary cat licenses.

A senior citizen exemption is available for eligible residents aged 62 and over with an altered pet. Qualified residents may be eligible for one (1) Free License per home per year. Please refer to the City of Torrance ordinance 41.3.8 SENIOR CITIZEN EXEMPTION to learn more about qualifying. Please click HERE to download the application.

Frequently Asked Questions

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HELP DESK

Visit our Help Desk for more information: https://docupetinc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us

LICENSING OPTIONS, DATES, AND LOCATIONS

Please ensure you have all the required documentation in order to licence your pet. If you have all the records you need to proceed you can license your pet online.
If this is your first time licensing a pet in the City of Torrance, click here to learn more.
If you already have an account with us or have ever licensed a pet with the City of Torrance click here to learn more.

Licenses are required to be renewed prior to the expiration date each year.

Licenses expire exactly 365 days from the license start date. If you renew prior to the upcoming expiration date, your pet's new license will start the day after expiration, not on the date of purchase. Rabies must be valid during the time of renewal.

Not available in person.

All pets over the age of 4 months are required to be licensed.

Refunds may be granted for a license if a pet passes 30 days of the license purchase.

You may renew your pet's license within 60 days of your pet's current license expiration date. If you renew prior to the upcoming expiration date, your pet's new license will start the day after expiration, not on the date of purchase.

As per California State law, a pet license may not be valid at anytime a pet's rabies vaccination is expired.

Temporary licenses expire after 30 days. To convert a temporary license into a full license you must provide new proof of rabies expiration prior to the temporary license expiration date. If the rabies expiration date extends beyond the original term selected your pet's license may be extended to the full term originally selected. If the newly provided rabies expiration date falls prior to the term end, the new license expiration date will be the same as the rabies vaccination expiration date.

PROGRAM AND PARTNERSHIP

You may have entered your address incorrectly or we may not have your address in the address database for your community. Please double-check all spelling and ensure you are using the abbreviated form for your street type ex. St instead of Street. You may contact City of Torrance directly if you believe you reside within their jurisdiction but your address is not being accepted by the system.

FEES AND FINES

Late fees come into effect if a license is not renewed within 30 days of the original expiration date.

A senior citizen exemption is available for eligible residents aged 62 and over with an altered pet. Qualified residents may be eligible for one (1) Free License per home per year. Please refer to the City of Torrance ordinance 41.3.8 SENIOR CITIZEN EXEMPTION to learn more about qualifying.

Visit this page for licensing options and fees: City of Torrance Licensing Fees

For all online orders a processing fee is applied on license purchases at a rate of $1.50.

Those aged 62 and older may qualify for a senior citizen rate. Your pet must be spayed/neutered to receive the senior rate.

City of Torrance does not offer any special rates for service animals and are required to be licensed as all other dogs. Please call (310) 328-5310 to directly to discuss.

No, there is no discount for licensing multiple pets. Each pet will be charged the appropriate licensing fee.

If your community requires proof of spay/neuter for your pet in order to receive a discounted licensing rate, you will need to upload the appropriate documentation stating that your pet has been spayed/neutered to your online account. Once the documentation has been approved by City of Torrance, you will be eligible to receive the new discounted rate. Otherwise, you can visit City of Torrance in person at 3031 Torrance Blvd Torrance CA 90503 and show proof of spay/neuter there.

For all online orders, a processing fee is applied on license purchases at a rate of 2.65% + $0.25 per transaction.

City of Torrance does not offer any special rates for veterans. Please call (310) 328-5310 to directly to discuss.

ACCOUNT UPDATES

If you are moving, please be sure to update your address by logging into your online account and navigating to your Profile Settings page. Even though you are moving, you’ll still be able to keep your pet's tag and access your pet's online account. However, your current license may not be valid in the new community you are moving to. Please get in touch with the pet licensing provider in the new community you are moving to in order to find out more information.

CITY INFORMATION AND CITY ORDINANCES

Please get in touch with the City of Torrance at (310) 328-5310.

You are allowed for a maximum of four (4) pets; no more than three (3) of which are permitted to be dogs per dwelling.

The following species are required to be licensed: Dogs are mandatory and cats are voluntary

Visit this page for information on licensing ordinances/bylaws: City of Torrance Code

DOCUMENT SUBMISSION

If you can’t locate the document you received after the procedure was done, you will need to contact your vet to obtain your pet's records. Be sure to specify any and all pets you require documentation for.
Once you’ve got the paperwork in your hands, take a look to ensure:

  • The document provided is the right type of proof required.
  • Pet and pet owner account data matches your own.
  • The document is clear and legible.

To license your pet, you will be required to show proof that the pet's rabies vaccination is current. Documentation is also required to verify that a pet has been spayed or neutered and must be provided in order to receive the discounted rate. Requiring documentation ensures that provided pet information is accurate, which is critical for identification and safety reasons.

A rabies proof is required to prove that your pet has been vaccinated against rabies. A rabies proof identifying your pet as spayed/neutered or a spay/neuter proof may be accepted as documentation of sterilization.

You will need to complete the required paperwork and visit the City of Torrance in person to qualify for rabies exemption.

A valid rabies proof is required to purchase a pet license. A 30-day temporary license may be issued if you do not have rabies proof at the time of licensing. Proof of spay/neuter is required to receive the discounted altered rates.