- Data page
- Updated October 19, 2026
Dog licensing rules and fees by county
Dogs over four months old need a license in Solano and Yolo counties, and a valid rabies certificate is required. As posted in October 2026, a one-year license for a spayed or neutered dog is $24 in unincorporated Solano County and $21 in Yolo County.
Fees differ by city inside Solano County. The table lists each jurisdiction the Solano portal serves and the Yolo county fee.
- Minimum age to license4 months
- Solano, unincorporated, spayed or neutered, 1 year$24.00
- Yolo, altered dog, 1 year$21.00
- Yolo, unaltered dog, 1 year$42.00
License fees and rules
| Where | License | 1 / 2 / 3 years |
|---|---|---|
| City of Benicia | Unaltered Dog | $60.00 / $120.00 / $180.00 |
| City of Benicia | Spayed/Neutered Dog | $25.00 / $40.00 / $60.00 |
| City of Benicia | Senior Unaltered Dog | $30.00 / $60.00 / $90.00 |
| City of Benicia | Senior First Spayed/Neutered Dog | $0.00 / N/A / N/A |
| City of Benicia | Senior Additional Spayed/Neutered Dog | $15.00 / $20.00 / $25.00 |
| City of Vacaville | Unaltered Dog | $60.00 / $114.00 / $169.50 |
| City of Vacaville | Spayed/Neutered Dog | $22.00 / $39.60 / $58.30 |
| City of Vacaville | Senior Unaltered Dog | $20.00 / $36.00 / $53.00 |
| City of Vacaville | Senior Spayed/Neutered Dog | $10.00 / $16.00 / $23.00 |
| Unincorporated Areas of Solano County | Unaltered Dog | $40.00 / $76.00 / $113.00 |
| Unincorporated Areas of Solano County | Spayed/Neutered Dog | $24.00 / $36.00 / $53.00 |
| Unincorporated Areas of Solano County | Senior Spayed/Neutered Dog | $10.00 / $16.00 / $23.00 |
| City of Fairfield | Unaltered Dog | $62.00 / $118.00 / $175.00 |
| City of Fairfield | Spayed/Neutered Dog | $25.00 / $44.00 / $66.00 |
| City of Fairfield | Senior Spayed/Neutered Dog | $12.00 / $20.00 / $29.00 |
| City of Fairfield | Senior Unaltered Dog | $20.00 / $36.00 / $53.00 |
| Dixon | Unaltered Dog | $40.00 / $76.00 / $113.00 |
| Dixon | Spayed/Neutered Dog | $20.00 / $36.00 / $53.00 |
| Dixon | Senior Unaltered Dog | $20.00 / $36.00 / $53.00 |
| Dixon | Senior Spayed/Neutered Dog | $10.00 / $16.00 / $23.00 |
| Rio Vista | Unaltered Dog | $40.00 / $76.00 / $113.00 |
| Rio Vista | Spayed/Neutered Dog | $20.00 / $36.00 / $53.00 |
| Rio Vista | Senior Unaltered Dog | $20.00 / $36.00 / $53.00 |
| Rio Vista | Senior Spayed/Neutered Dog | $10.00 / $16.00 / $23.00 |
| Vallejo | Unaltered Dog | $40.00 / $76.00 / $113.00 |
| Vallejo | Spayed/Neutered Dog | $20.00 / $36.00 / $53.00 |
| Vallejo | Senior Unaltered Dog | $20.00 / $36.00 / $53.00 |
| Vallejo | Senior Spayed/Neutered Dog | $10.00 / $16.00 / $23.00 |
| Suisun City | Unaltered Dog | $40.00 / $76.00 / $113.00 |
| Suisun City | Spayed/Neutered Dog | $20.00 / $36.00 / $53.00 |
| Suisun City | Senior Unaltered Dog | $20.00 / $36.00 / $53.00 |
| Suisun City | Senior Spayed/Neutered Dog | $10.00 / $16.00 / $23.00 |
Solano County rules
- Licenses required for all dogs over 4 months of age.
- A valid rabies certificate is required to license; a license expires early on the rabies expiry date.
- 1, 2 or 3 year terms; spay/neuter proof needed for the altered rate; senior rate = owner 65+.
- Replacement tag $21.00.
- Temporary license valid 60 days while documents are gathered.
Solano County Animal Care Services (Sheriff-Coroner), 2510 Claybank Road, Fairfield, CA 94533; online licensing through DocuPet since July 30, 2024
Yolo County rules
- Pet licenses are required for all dogs living in Yolo County; cat licensing is voluntary.
- Licenses required for all dogs over 4 months of age.
- 1, 2 and 3 year terms; license cannot outlast the rabies vaccination.
- Late fees apply 30 days after expiration.
- Temporary license valid 60 days.
Yolo County Animal Services (Sheriff), shelter 2640 E Gibson Road, Woodland, CA 95776; online licensing through DocuPet
What the table shows
Each row gives the fee for one, two and three years. Solano County rates apply by jurisdiction: Benicia, Vacaville, Fairfield, Dixon, Rio Vista, Vallejo, Suisun City and unincorporated areas. Spay or neuter proof is needed for the altered rate, and senior rates apply to owners 65 or older. A license ends early on the rabies certificate's expiration date. Yolo County lists two fees, altered and unaltered.
Where Happy Paws sits
The kennel's address, 6677 Midway Road, is in unincorporated Solano County, according to the Census Geocoder. Your own license follows the city or county where your dog lives, not where it boards. California Health and Safety Code section 121690 requires licensing and rabies vaccination for dogs, which is why the same certificate helps in both places.
Vintage and method
Fees were read from the Solano and Yolo County DocuPet licensing portals on October 19, 2026, and the Solano agency page. They change, so the portal is the final word. Older Yolo pages show lower fees, and we used the portal's current figures.
Related reading
The page on dog licenses in Solano and Yolo explains how the license and the rabies certificate fit together, and the rabies page covers the boarding rule.
Sources (checked October 19, 2026)
More data
Other data pages
Answers
Questions people ask
Still have a question? Call 707-678-6600 (every day 7:30-11:30 AM and 2-5 PM) or see the boarding FAQ.
Does the kennel check my dog's license?
The kennel asks for vaccination records. A license is a rule between you and your county.
Do cats need a license?
In Yolo County cat licensing is voluntary.
Happy Paws Kennels
Ask about your dates
Send your dates and pets and the kennel will get back to you. Holiday stays need a 50% deposit 30 days before drop-off, so ask early.
6677 Midway RoadDixon, CA 95620707-678-6600
| Drop-off and pick-up, every day | 7:30 to 11:30 AM and 2:00 to 5:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Tours, every day (no appointment) | 9:00 to 11:00 AM and 2:00 to 4:00 PM |
Check-out is by 11:30 AM. An afternoon pick-up is charged half of the nightly rate.