Animal Tags & Licenses

Roanoke County requires pet owners to tag dogs four months of age or older. Animal licenses are issued on a calendar year basis.  Therefore, all licenses expire on December 31st regardless of the date of vaccination or previous tag purchase.  Licenses for the upcoming calendar year cannot be purchased until after January 1st. For example, a 2020 dog tag (1 or 3 years tag) must be purchased after January 1, 2020.

It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, harbor, care for, have custody of, or knowingly permit at any time, more than four dogs or cats, in any combination thereof (this number not including dogs or cats under four months of age), to be upon any property or within any dwelling in the town, excluding the premises of properly licensed animal shelters; animal hospitals and clinics; grooming parlors; animal training schools and boarding kennels; and excluding work dogs. If more than two dogs or cats are kept as permitted herein, such additional dogs or cats must be spayed or neutered.


Purchase Rates

License Type
Male / Female
Spayed / Neutered
One year $10.00 $5.00
Three years $27.00 $13.50

A current certificate of rabies inoculation is required, as well as a veterinarian's certificate of neutering or spaying.

Where to Purchase

Dog licenses, although issued by Roanoke County, can be purchased by Town of Vinton residents at the Vinton Treasurer's Office, located at 311 S. Pollard St., Vinton, VA 24179.

For More Information

If you have any questions, please contact the Finance and Treasurer Department at 540-983-0608.

Remember to keep your pets on a leash when outside your property and be courteous to others by cleaning up after them.