Dog owners in Pennsylvania will pay more to license their pets in 2026.
The state’s Department of Agriculture said dog license fees will increase $2 for the upcoming year and could rise another $1 in 2027 under legislation signed into law in 2023 by Gov. Josh Shapiro.
That law set the stage for the first major increase in the cost of dog license fees in a quarter-century. It also eliminated discounts for spayed and neutered canines that in past years saved owners up to $2 annually.
Annual licenses will cost $10.80 for 2026 and can be purchased through county treasurer offices.
The one-time cost to license dogs for their lifetime rises to $52.80.
Westmoreland County Treasurer Jared Squires said his office so far has not seen much reaction to the increase in license fees.
“We’re getting some emails, but not a heavy ton of them,” Squires said. “We’re not seeing as many people do year-to-year licenses, and we’re seeing more people going for lifetime licenses now.”
Fines of up $500 can be levied on owners with unlicensed dogs, according to the state.
According to statistics from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, dog license fees generated more than $5.5 million for the state during the last fiscal year. Those funds are used to pay for the state’s dog law enforcement bureau, which licenses kennels, investigates puppy mills and compiles a dangerous dog registry.
More than 692,000 dog licenses were issued by county treasurers 2024 including:
• Allegheny — 69,712
• Armstrong — 9,994
• Butler — 21,684
• Fayette — 10,936
• Washington — 16,009
• Westmoreland — 27,062
Local counties retain $1.80 for every annual license sold.
