License

Dog Licenses

Ohio State Law requires any dog over the age of three (3) months to have a license within 30 days of ownership. Any license purchased after 30 days of ownership, or renewed after the annual renewal period must include a penalty equal to the cost of the license. Your dog’s license may be purchased at the Auditor’s office Monday through Friday between 8:00 and 4:30. Also check the list of Agents below.

Lake County has partnered with DocuPet to provide an enhanced pet licensing experience for residents.

When you register your pet in Lake County, you will receive a unique license tag to attach to their collar. The new licensing process with DocuPet allows residents to select a standard license tag at no additional charge or upgrade to one of DocuPet’s colorful designer tag styles for an additional fee.

Residents can easily license their pets online at lakecountyohio.docupet.com, or can license in person at one of the locations listed below. the shelter during business hours. Residents can also purchase license through the mail by sending a completed license application.

Agent	Address	City	State	Zip	Phone
Lake County Auditor	105 Main St.	Painesville	OH	44077	440-350-2534
Lake County Dog Shelter	2600 North Ridge Rd.	Painesville	OH	44077	440-350-2640
Lake Humane Society	7564 Tyler Blvd. Unit E	Mentor	OH	44060	440-951-6122

Tag Renewals
Ohio Law requires that licenses be renewed each year between December 1st and January 31st.

Fees

Adult Dog License 1 year – $20.00 PER DOG due by January 31st (late fee of $20.00 per dog will apply if not postmarked by due date).
Adult Dog License 3 year – $60.00 PER DOG
Adult Dog License Permanent – $200.00 PER DOG
Kennel License – $100.00 for five tags and is available through the Auditor’s Office ONLY (additional tags may be purchased for $1.00 each) due by January 31st (late fee of $100.00 will apply if not postmarked by due date).
A duplicate license is only $5.00. To transfer a current license to a new owner is only $5.00. Transfer ownership certificate.
The Lake County Humane Society will collect an additional $0.75 on every license sold.

We ask all dog owners to place the new dog tag on the dog’s collar immediately to help insure your dog’s safe return home.

Current Licenses From Outside Lake County
If you move to Lake County from another county within Ohio we will honor the license until it is expired. If you move here from another state you are required to purchase a license within 30 days.

Lost Dogs
Dog licenses are designed to assist in the location and return of a lost pet.

If your dog gets lost, a license tag on your dog’s collar is the fastest way to reunite you and your dog.

Your pet’s license now includes DocuPet’s free HomeSafe® 24/7 lost pet service and is etched with their own unique 8-digit code that links to their online pet profile, making it easy for anyone who finds a lost pet to reference the code and create a Found Pet Report in seconds.

Licensing your pet not only displays responsible pet ownership but it also helps fund local animal welfare initiatives in your community. In addition to your pet’s license, here are some benefits of your DocuPet online profile:

● Hundreds of unique and colorful designer tag styles to choose from or design your own tag style online

● With full access to HomeSafe® 24/7 lost pet service, upload recent photos of your pet and include important information that will help identify and retrieve them if they become lost

● Gain access to exclusive promotions and discounts

● Add additional pet guardians to your pet’s profile

● Skip the trip and easily purchase or renew your pet’s license from the comfort of home

● Upload important new documents for your pet by snapping a photo

● Easily view and download your pet’s license documentation

● Read up on exclusive pet-focused content

● Manage, or make changes to your account at anytime including updating your contact information and making changes to pet details and status

● View your order status and history

Cigarette License

Anyone who sells or transports cigarettes within Lake County must obtain a yearly Cigarette Dealer’s License.

Licenses are to be renewed annually between May 1st and the 4th Monday in May. The retail dealer needs to fill out a brief registration form and pay the annual fee. Licenses are good for a one-year period that runs from the 4th Monday in May to the 4th Monday of May the next year. Retail licenses bought after the 4th Monday in May, for new businesses, are subject to pro-rating and can only be purchased at the office of the Lake County Auditor.

Retail Dealer’s Cigarette Licenses may only be purchased at the County Auditor’s Office or by mail. The application form is available above and can be printed out and sent to: Lake County Auditor, Cigarette Licensing, 105 Main St Suite C101, Ohio 44077 with the licensing fee of $125 per physical location.

If you are transferring an existing retail cigarette license to another location within Lake County, you can only do so at the offices of the Lake County Auditor for a $5 fee.

Vendor’s License

Every Ohio retailer (vendor) making taxable retail sales must obtain a vendor’s license, collect sales tax, file tax returns with payment of tax collected, and maintain complete records of transactions.

There are two types of Vendor’s Licenses – Regular and Transient (Transient Licenses can ONLY be purchased through the State of Ohio) Regular/County Vendor’s License is the only vendor’s license issued by the Lake County Auditor Office and is required to sell products at a fixed place of business within the county. Vendors with multiple locations must obtain one regular vendor’s license for each fixed sales location. The application fee is $25, and there is no annual renewal fee.

Vendor’s Licenses can be purchased at the County Auditor’s Office, by mail or using the state’s registration portal. The application form is available above and can be printed out and sent to: Lake County Auditor, Vendor’s Licensing, 105 Main St Suite C101, Ohio 44077 with the licensing fee of $25 per physical location.