How Much Does a Replacement Dog Tag Cost? $5 in Most Places, $10 in Renton and $15 in San Diego, Plus Late Fees

What eight official pages list for a replacement tag

These are the replacement-tag fees each agency states on its own page. Fees change, so treat this as a snapshot and confirm on the agency site before you pay.

• Washington, DC: $5 for a replacement tag, requested with a lost dog tag application
• King County, Washington: $5, available by mail, phone or at a licensing location
• Sarasota County, Florida: $5.00, replacing a current-year license that was lost or damaged
• Hillsborough County, Florida: $5 replacement fee
• Miami-Dade County, Florida: $5 per replacement tag
• Pinellas County, Florida: $5 for a replacement tag with the same number
• Renton, Washington: $10, paid with an animal license application
• San Diego Humane Society (California): $15 in every jurisdiction it serves

Six of the eight agencies charge exactly $5. The spread from $5 to $15 is a three-fold difference for a piece of stamped metal, so the price is mostly a local policy choice, not a manufacturing cost.

Why the tag costs less than the license

A replacement tag is not a new license. It replaces a tag for a license you already paid for. That is why the fee is small. Sarasota County says its replacement tag replaces a current year's license that has been lost or damaged, and Pinellas says its replacement carries the same number as the original. In King County, the same page lists annual licenses at $30 for an altered pet and $60 for an unaltered one, so a $5 tag fee is a fraction of what you already paid. For license prices themselves, see our guide to dog license costs by county.

How you actually get the replacement

The cost is only part of the effort. DC asks for a "lost dog tag application." Renton asks you to submit an animal license application and pay the fee by mail or in person at City Hall. San Diego Humane Society takes orders online through DocuPet, by mail, or in person at its El Cajon, Escondido, Oceanside and San Diego campuses. King County accepts requests by mail, by phone or at licensing locations. Before you go, look for a lost-tag form and bring your pet's name and the license number if you know it.

The wait and the late fee

San Diego Humane Society says processing takes approximately 30 days, so a dog can go a month without the new tag. Ask whether the agency can give you a paper receipt or temporary proof in the meantime, since some animal control offices will accept it if the dog is found loose.

The bigger cost is a lapsed license. Renton charges a $30 late fee on renewals past the due date. San Diego Humane Society lists a $25 late fee for residents of 14 listed cities, including San Diego, Oceanside and El Cajon. King County's late charges run from $15 to $30 and rise with time past expiration, and its page lists a $125 fine for an unlicensed altered pet. If your tag is lost and the license has also expired, you may be paying a replacement fee, a renewal and a late charge in one visit.

Lifetime tags and rabies dates

Pinellas County says its license tags are valid throughout a pet's lifetime, though renewal is required when the rabies vaccination expires. That means one lost tag there can cost $5 in total if the vaccine record is current. In many places the license is tied to the rabies certificate, so a pet whose shot has lapsed cannot simply get a new tag. Our guide to low-cost rabies clinics shows what an overdue vaccine costs.

Cheaper protection than a second tag

A license tag is one way for a lost dog to get home, and tags do fall off. A microchip stays in place, though it only helps if the registry has your current phone number. Our guide to microchip costs lists the implant and registry fees. If your dog does get picked up, our breakdown of reclaim fees shows what it costs when a dog without a current tag ends up in a shelter, which is far more than a $5 replacement fee.

Three tips that keep the cost at one tag

First, write down the license number and the date it expires now, while the tag is still on the collar. A photo of the tag on your phone is enough, and it can speed up a replacement request at agencies that ask for the number. Second, check the renewal date before you apply, because paying the replacement fee and then a late fee on a separate visit costs more than handling both at once. Third, if you are renting or moving, update the address on the license record, since a tag that points to an old address will not bring your dog home. None of this is complicated, but each step is easy to skip when the tag has just gone missing and the dog is still at your side.

How to total your own bill

Add the replacement fee, any postage, any late renewal, and any rabies update you need first. If you also changed addresses, update the license record at the same time, since the tag is only useful if the phone number or address on file is current. Ask whether a paper receipt is accepted until the new tag arrives.

Questions to ask before you pay

• Is the fee per tag, and does it carry the same license number?
• Does my license need renewing or a rabies update first?
• Can I apply online, by mail or only in person?
• How long does the new tag take to arrive?
• Is there a late fee if my license has expired?

This guide is about costs only, not veterinary advice. Fees were taken from each agency's published page in 2026 and can change at any time. Confirm current fees and procedures directly with your local animal services office.