Rabies Vaccine for Dogs and Cats in Los Angeles: The Law, the Cost, and How to Get It at No Extra Cost

Short answer: yes, it is required. In Los Angeles County every dog and cat has to be vaccinated against rabies before a pet license will be issued. Under California law a dog can get the first rabies shot at 3 months of age, needs a booster one year later, and after that a booster at least every 3 years. At Vaccine Vets the rabies vaccine is optional with every package at no extra cost: dogs are $99, cats are $59, you walk in without an appointment, there is no exam fee, and the rabies certificate is emailed the same day.

Below is everything else LA pet owners usually ask us at the tent: when, how often, what it costs elsewhere, and what you need for the license.

Is the rabies vaccine required by law in Los Angeles?

Yes. California Health and Safety Code section 121690 requires dog owners to have their dogs vaccinated against rabies, and the state regulation that spells out the details (17 CCR section 2606.4) makes the vaccination a condition of the dog license. The license itself has to be obtained no later than 30 days after your dog turns 4 months old.

Los Angeles County goes one step further than the state. LA County Animal Care and Control requires both dogs and cats to be vaccinated against rabies before it will issue a license. So if you live in the county and own a cat, the rabies shot is not optional.

When does my puppy or kitten get the first rabies shot?

• Earliest: 3 months of age (12 weeks). That is the state minimum for a vaccine to count.
• Typical: LA County Animal Care's puppy schedule lists the rabies shot at 16 weeks, which is when many pets finish the rest of the puppy or kitten series anyway.
• Deadline: dog license (and therefore the vaccine) within 30 days after the dog turns 4 months.

If you adopted an adult pet with no records, treat it as unvaccinated. The first shot is good for one year no matter the age of the animal.

How often does it need a booster?

The first rabies vaccine is valid for 1 year. The booster given a year later, and every one after that, is valid for 3 years when a 3-year vaccine is used. Your certificate shows the expiration date, and a license cannot run past that date, which is why the county asks for a current certificate at every renewal.

One thing people get caught by: if the booster is late (the previous vaccine already expired), the new shot is usually treated like a first shot and is good for one year only. Keep the date on your calendar.

How much does a rabies vaccine cost in LA?

At a full-service animal hospital the rabies shot is often bundled with an exam fee. LA County Public Health notes that shelter and low-cost clinics in the county offer rabies vaccinations for as little as $10.

At a Vaccine Vets pop-up clinic the rabies vaccine is optional with every package at no extra cost:

• Full Guard for Dogs, $99: DHPP, Lepto 4, Bordetella, deworming, plus an optional rabies vaccine (no extra cost)
• Full Guard for Cats, $59: FVRCP, deworming, plus an optional rabies vaccine (no extra cost)
• Puppy & Kitten Starter, $189: the full starter series across visits
• Microchip, $40: ISO chip, registration included

Card only (no cash), no exam fee, and you get the rabies certificate by email before you get home.

What you need for the pet license

1. A current rabies certificate. Ours is emailed the same day and has the vaccine name, lot, date given and expiration, which is what the license office looks for.
2. Proof of spay or neuter if you want the reduced license fee.
3. The license application for where you live. If you are inside the City of Los Angeles, that is LA Animal Services. If you are in an unincorporated area or one of the cities that contracts with the county, it is LA County Animal Care and Control. Other cities (Long Beach, Pasadena, Burbank and so on) run their own programs.

Does my indoor cat really need it?

Legally, yes in LA County. Practically, rabies in Los Angeles County is found almost entirely in bats, and bats do get into houses and apartments. An indoor cat that swats a bat off the floor is exactly the case the rule exists for. It is also the one vaccine that matters if your cat ever bites someone: a current rabies certificate can be the difference between a short home observation and a long quarantine.

Where to get it this month

We run walk-in clinics at parks and shelters across LA County every weekend. See the September clinic calendar or open the clinic finder for the closest date to you. Bring your dog on a leash or your cat in a carrier, and any old vaccine records if you have them (not required).

Quick answers

Can my dog get rabies and other vaccines on the same day? Yes, that is how the packages work. DHPP, Lepto, Bordetella and rabies are routinely given at the same visit.

My dog is 10 weeks. Can I get the rabies shot now? Not yet. The state minimum is 3 months. Start the puppy series now and add rabies at the 12 to 16 week visit.

I lost the certificate. Reply to the confirmation email we sent, or reach out through the site, and we resend it.

Is there a rabies-only option? The rabies vaccine is optional with every package at no extra cost and is also available on its own for $15, which keeps the price of the whole visit under what most clinics charge for the rabies shot plus an exam.

This article is general information about rabies vaccination rules in Los Angeles County and is not medical advice for your specific pet. If your pet is sick, pregnant, or has reacted to a vaccine before, talk to a veterinarian before vaccinating.

Sources

• California Health and Safety Code section 121690 (rabies vaccination and licensing of dogs)
• 17 CCR section 2606.4 (minimum age 3 months, 1-year then 3-year revaccination, license within 30 days of 4 months)
• LA County Animal Care and Control (dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies before a license is issued; puppy vaccination schedule)
• LA County Public Health, Veterinary Public Health: vaccination clinics (low-cost clinic pricing)