The Lewiston City Clerk’s Department reminds all dog owners that the one-month grace period for licensing their pets is set to expire Wednesday, Jan. 31.

Per state law, a dog’s license expires Dec. 31 each year, and a $25 late fine will be added to each license for all dogs licensed after Jan. 31.

According to the City Clerk’s Department, only about 70% of the dogs that were licensed in 2023 have been re-licensed for the new year.

“We do not want our residents to have to pay the $25 late fine, but it is a state requirement. In December, we sent letters to all owners of dogs licensed in 2023 to remind them that the licenses expire Dec. 31 and the late fine is effective Feb. 1,” said City Clerk Kathy Montejo, according to a news release from the department.

Dog license fees are $11 for a male or female dog and $6 for a spayed or neutered animal, which means the late fine is more than the cost of the license itself.

“We have almost 650 dogs that still need to be re-licensed, which means that we will be doing a lot of dog licensing during the next two weeks, before the Jan. 31 late fine begins, or many of our residents will have to pay the state-mandated late fee,” said Montejo.

Per state requirements, the late fine is assessed per dog and not per household.

Licensing a dog requires proof of the animal’s rabies certificate.

As a convenience, dog owners may mail in their license renewal information, and the tag for the new year will be mailed back to the owner. The dog owner should mail a copy of the rabies certificate, along with the dog’s name; the owner’s name, address and phone number; and a check payable to the City of Lewiston for the correct amount.

The address is City Clerk’s Department, Lewiston City Hall, 27 Pine St., Lewiston, ME 04240. Residents may also license their dog at lewistonmaine.gov.

The City Clerk’s Department, 207-513-3124, has office hours weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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