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1. Which Dogs Must Be Licensed?

All dogs, 4 months old or over, living in the State of New Hampshire, must be licensed by their owners in the town or city of residence and they must have proof of rabies vaccination. Access the Dog License Application (PDF)

2. When Do I License My Dog?

License a new adult dog immediately. License a puppy as soon as it is 4 months old and has had its first rabies vaccine. The license period runs May 1st through April 30th of each year. License renewals will be accepted after March 1st of each year.

3. What Do I Need to License My Dog?

State law requires that before a license is issued, the owner or keeper of a dog must furnish proof to the Clerk that the dog has been vaccinated against rabies. The rabies certificate should be in the name of the owner of the dog, or a letter of ownership from the previous owner should be provided as well.

In addition, the annual license fee is less for a dog that has been spayed or neutered. Evidence of the procedure needs to be supplied to the Clerk. Once this information is on file, it need not be provided for future license renewals.

New Hampshire town and city clerks are notified by local veterinarian offices when rabies vaccinations are administered, and this information may already be on file with the City Clerk. However, all records are not always current for a variety of reasons including: reporting time lag; notice mailed to an incorrect town or city clerk due to differences in the owner’s mailing address and residence; or vaccinations administered at off-site pet clinics or by out-of-state facilities. Feel free to contact the Clerk’s office at 603-589-3010 if you wish to determine whether or not this information is already on file for your pet.

4. How Much Does It Cost?

The cost of a dog license is as follows:
Please note, if paying online, there is a transaction fee and convenience fee associated (usually around $3) with the online service payed to the credit card processing service in addition to the fees below. 

• Puppy (ages 4-7 months) - $7.50
• Spayed or neutered dogs - $7.50
• Unaltered female or male dogs - $10
• Senior citizen dog - 1st Dog $3.00 (owner who is 65 years old or older on the first dog only, there is no discounted license fee for additional dogs)

5. Where Do I Go?

City Clerk’s Office is under construction but accepting appointments. We will continue to accept online, mail in requests, and drop-offs (Use the outside Drop Box on Elm Street side of building). We are experiencing delays in processing requests. Thank you for your continued patience.
Pay online anytime (before fees are due).

6. Can I License My Dog By Mail?

You may license your dog by mail using the Dog License Form and enclosing a check for the appropriate fee. We cannot accept credit cards for dog licenses under any circumstances, so we are unable to process license applications that are received by fax or email.

7. What Happens If I Don’t License My Dog?

Failure to license a dog is a violation of state law and city ordinances. In addition to the annual license fee you will be charged a late fee of $1 per month for each month (or part of a month) after June 1.

In addition, you are subject to a civil forfeiture fee of $32 due within 15 days after receiving notice of forfeiture. If the forfeiture is not paid, the case will be disposed of in Nashua District Court. Any dog off the premises of the owner of the dog without a current registration tag on his collar may be subject to impoundment, a penalty of $32, and to all other penalties and provisions as provided by the Nashua Code of Ordinances (Sections 5-1 through 5-11).

8. What If I No Longer Own My Dog?

Please contact the City Clerk by telephone (603-589-3010), fax (603-589-3029), or email if you no longer have a dog or have moved out of the City. We will update our records so that you will not receive any future late notices or notice of forfeiture. See all City Clerk contact information.