Rabies Laws in Phoenix, Arizona (2026)
Phoenix's rabies risk profile is unusual: the Sonoran Desert's bobcat, fox, and bat populations meet a dense human-residential edge. Maricopa County Animal Care & Control is the operational authority — not Phoenix city government — and they run one of the busiest urban rabies surveillance programs in the West.
- County
- Maricopa County
- Population
- ~1,650,000
- Animal control
- (602) 506-7387
- Report a bite within
- 24 hours
What Phoenix Requires
Arizona Revised Statutes §11-1011 requires rabies vaccination for every dog over 3 months old. Phoenix City Code Chapter 8 enforces additional licensing and leash requirements within city limits. Cats are not required by state law, but Maricopa County strongly recommends vaccination.
Ordinance citation
Arizona Revised Statutes §11-1011 and Phoenix City Code Chapter 8 (Animals)
Read the sourcePhoenix Licensing & Vaccination
Required species & age
Dogs — first rabies vaccination by 3 months of age.
Arizona requires the first rabies vaccination by 3 months — earlier than most US states. Booster at 1 year, then 1- or 3-year intervals per product label.
Annual licensing fee
- Dog — spayed/neutered
- $20 / year (spayed or neutered)
- Dog — intact
- $45 / year (intact)
- Cat
- Cats are not required by state to be licensed or vaccinated; voluntary vaccination is strongly recommended.
- Senior discount
- Discounted licenses for owners 65+.
Dog licenses are issued by Maricopa County Animal Care & Control — not the city of Phoenix — and are required for every dog over 3 months living anywhere in the county.
Reporting a Bite in Phoenix
Animal bites must be reported within 24 hours.
Primary
(602) 506-7387
Maricopa County Animal Care & Control
Backup
(602) 506-6767
Maricopa County Department of Public Health
After hours
Animal Care & Control operates extended hours; after hours, dial 911 for a serious bite or go to the nearest ER. The hospital will file the public-health report.
Confirmed rabies cases in Maricopa County (2024)
28 confirmed animal rabies cases reported in 2024.
By species
bat
18
fox
5
bobcat
3
skunk
2
Phoenix is one of the few major US metros with significant terrestrial rabies in fox and bobcat populations, in addition to a year-round bat reservoir. Cases cluster on the desert-residential edge — northern Phoenix, Cave Creek, and the McDowell Mountains foothills.
Source: Maricopa County Department of Public Health – Rabies Surveillance
10-Day Quarantine & Observation
In Arizona, biting dogs, cats, and ferrets must be observed for 10 days following the bite. Owned, currently-vaccinated pets are usually approved for the 10-day home observation. Stray or unvaccinated biting animals are typically impounded at the East or West Shelter.
Facility
Maricopa County Animal Care & Control – East and West Shelters
2500 S. 27th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85009 (West) and 2630 W. Rio Salado Pkwy, Mesa, AZ 85201 (East)
(602) 506-7387
PEP-Equipped Hospitals in Phoenix
Major facilities known to handle rabies PEP. Always call ahead to confirm rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG) availability.
Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix Emergency Department
Central Phoenix — Level 1 trauma center.
St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center Emergency Department
Central Phoenix — stocks rabies vaccine.
HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center
East Valley — Level 1 trauma center.
Phoenix Children's Hospital Emergency Department
Pediatric Level 1 trauma center.
Key Contacts
Maricopa County Animal Care & Control
Maricopa County Department of Public Health
Arizona Department of Health Services
Phoenix FAQs
A fox bit my dog in north Phoenix. Is this a real rabies risk?+
Yes — Maricopa County has an active fox-variant rabies focus on the desert-residential edge, especially in the McDowell foothills and Cave Creek corridor. Call Maricopa County Animal Care & Control at (602) 506-7387 immediately. If your dog is currently vaccinated, the standard response is a booster within 96 hours plus a 45-day owner-observation period. If your dog is overdue, the county may require a much longer confinement.
Phoenix gets so few bats — do I really need to worry about them?+
Yes. Bats are Maricopa County's single largest source of confirmed rabies cases. Big brown and Mexican free-tailed bats roost in tile roofs, attics, and saguaro cavities across the metro. Many bat exposures happen at night with no visible bite — if you wake up to a bat in your bedroom, treat it as a possible exposure.
Where do I get my Phoenix dog license — city or county?+
Maricopa County issues dog licenses for the entire county including Phoenix — not the city of Phoenix. Apply online at maricopa.gov/AnimalCareControl or at any Animal Care & Control shelter location once your veterinarian issues the rabies certificate.
What's the bite-reporting timeline in Phoenix?+
Arizona requires reporting within 24 hours. Most Phoenix ERs file the public-health report automatically when treating a bite wound, but you should also call Maricopa County Animal Care & Control at (602) 506-7387 to confirm the case is on file and to coordinate animal observation.
My cat caught a bat outside my house in Ahwatukee. What now?+
Treat your cat as exposed. Call Maricopa County Animal Care & Control. If your cat is vaccinated, the standard response is a booster plus an owner-observation period. If your cat is unvaccinated — common in Arizona because cat vaccination isn't legally required — the county may recommend a strict 4-month confinement or, in some cases, euthanasia. Submit the bat for rabies testing if it can be safely contained.
Full Arizona rabies law
Phoenix sits inside Arizona, which sets the underlying vaccination, quarantine, and reporting framework. Dogs are vaccinated at 3 months and then revaccinated according to vaccine label and state veterinarian revaccination periods.
Read the complete Arizona guideReferences
- Arizona Revised Statutes §11-1001 et seq. (Rabies Control) — Arizona State Legislature
- Maricopa County Animal Care & Control — Maricopa County
- Maricopa County Public Health – Rabies — Maricopa County Department of Public Health
Last reviewed: 2026-05-11
Disclaimer
This page is an educational summary, not legal or medical advice. Rabies laws and animal-control procedures change. Verify current requirements with Phoenix's animal services, your local health department, or a licensed veterinarian. For an active exposure, seek medical care immediately — do not wait.