the Wayne County Auditor's Office

Why License?

In accordance with state and local laws, pet licenses are mandatory in Wayne County. In fact, licenses are mandatory in nearly every community across North America. Why? Because licenses help keep pets and the communities they live in safe. DocuPet was brought on board to simplify and improve pet licensing to benefit not only pet owners like you, but the entire community. DocuPet makes it easy for the Wayne County Auditor's Office to deliver a successful pet licensing program with a streamlined software and management solution that makes licensing a breeze for pet owners and administrators alike.

Check out the ways you can license your pet below and feel good knowing that 100% of licensing revenue funds are given to the Wayne County Auditor's Office to support important animal welfare initiatives helping to improve your community.

How to License

  • Online
  • In-person
  • Mail
  • Phone

The fastest and easiest way to license or renew is right here. You’ll create a profile for your pet, upload any necessary documents, process your license registration, and receive purchase confirmations via email. Payment can be made using a credit card or Visa/Mastercard debit card. Each year, you just need to log in to your existing account and renew - it’s super easy!

Renew my pet's license

My pet has a license, but it has expired or will very soon.

Renew now

License a pet for the first time

I've never licensed a pet with Wayne County before.

License now

In person licensing is available at the following location(s) however it’s important to know you will still receive your tag in the mail:

Don’t forget to check hours of operation, appointment policies, and accepted payment methods prior to heading out.

Wayne County Auditor's Office
428 West Liberty Street, Wooster, Ohio 44691

Wayne County Dog Shelter
5694 Burbank Road, Ohio 44691

If you opt to license via snail mail - keep in mind processing your registration will take a lot longer!

Make sure you complete the below form in full and that it is free of any errors otherwise your registration may not be successfully processed. The fine print is there for a reason so keep an eye out for accepted payment methods, who the check should be made out to, where it should be mailed, and any required supporting documentation.

Pet license form

Download Application Form

If you’re having trouble licensing online and need to get your registration processed in a hurry, you can give our customer care team a call and they may be able to process your pet license over the phone. Note that we can only accept credit cards and Visa/Mastercard debit as payment.

DocuPet Customer Care: 1-877-239-6072
Hours of Operation: Monday-Saturday (excluding holidays) from 9:00am-9:00pm EST

Wayne County Details & Fees

Pet licenses are required for all dogs living in Wayne County. Licenses are available for 1 year, 3 year and lifetime terms and must be renewed prior to January 31st. You will receive reminders from us about upcoming license expirations via mail, phone, and email.

Dog Licenses Fee
Dog License - 1 Year $16.00
Dog License - 3 Year $48.00
Lifetime License $160.00
*Puppy License $8.00
Service Dog $0.00
One-Year License
Fee $16.00
Three-Year License
Fee $48.00
Lifetime License
Fee $160.00
*Puppy License
Fee $8.00
Service Animal
Fee $0.00

A replacement Wayne County tag is available for a $5 fee or at no additional charge when you license your pet.

A late fee of $16 will apply if you fail to license before February 1st.

Licenses are required for all dogs over 3 months of age.

*Puppy licenses are available from July 1st - November 30th for puppies aged 3-months and younger

Frequently Asked Questions

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PROGRAM AND PARTNERSHIP

You may have entered your address incorrectly or we may not have your address in the address database for your community. Please double-check all spelling and ensure you are using the abbreviated form for your street type ex. St instead of Street. You may contact Wayne County Auditor's Office directly if you believe you reside within their jurisdiction but your address is not being accepted by the system.

DocuPet has a Help Center that houses many helpful articles about the DocuPet system, communications, and other information that is not specific to your licensing jurisdiction. Visit here.

LICENSING OPTIONS, DATES, AND LOCATIONS

Wayne County Auditor's Office provides licensing services for the following areas: Wayne County

Licenses are required to be renewed prior to the expiration date depending on the length of the license term you purchased.

Licenses are available for renewal each year on December 1st. If you renew prior to the upcoming expiration date, your pet's new license will start the day after expiration, not on the date of purchase.

Ohio State Law requires any dog over the age of three (3) months to have a license within 30 days of ownership. 

Please visit Wayne County Auditor's Office in person as kennel licensing is not processed through DocuPet. They are located at 428 West Liberty Street in Wooster.

You may license in person at Wayne County Auditor's Office located at 428 West Liberty Street in Wooster. 

FEES AND FINES

Visit this page for licensing options and fees.

There are no senior rates to license your pet.

Wayne County Auditor's Office does not offer any special rates for veterans. Please call (330) 287-5430 or email auditor@wayne-ohio.org directly to discuss.

Please visit Wayne County Auditor's Office in person if you are qualifying for this rate for the first time. They are located at 428 West Liberty Street in Wooster. Once the team there verifies your designation you will be able to renew online in future years.

No, there is no discount for licensing multiple pets. Each pet will be charged the appropriate licensing fee.

A $16 late fee will apply if you fail to license before February 1st.

Please visit Wayne County Auditor's Office in person if you are qualifying for this rate for the first time. Once the team there verifies your designation you will be able to renew online in future years.

TAGS

Please visit in person at Wayne County Auditor's Office located at 428 West Liberty Street in Wooster and they will be able to assist you.

CITY INFORMATION AND CITY ORDINANCES

The laws governing dog licensing in the State of Ohio may be found in the Ohio Revised Code (ORC), sections 955.01, 955.05, and 955.26. 

The following species are required to be licensed: Dogs

Please get in touch with Wayne County Dog Shelter at 330-804-3647.