Rabies Laws in Los Angeles, California (2026)
Los Angeles is one of the few major US cities that licenses cats as well as dogs. The city's ordinance leans on LA Animal Services for enforcement, while bite investigations and PEP coordination run through LA County Public Health.
- County
- Los Angeles County
- Population
- ~3,900,000
- Animal control
- (213) 240-7941
- Report a bite within
- 24 hours
What Los Angeles Requires
Los Angeles Municipal Code §53.15 requires every dog and cat over 4 months old to be vaccinated against rabies and licensed with LA Animal Services. The ordinance also obligates owners to report any animal bite to LA County Department of Public Health.
Los Angeles Licensing & Vaccination
Required species & age
Dogs, Cats — first rabies vaccination by 4 months of age.
LA city ordinance extends California state law by also requiring cats over 4 months to be vaccinated against rabies — California state law mandates only dogs.
Annual licensing fee
- Dog — spayed/neutered
- $25 / year (spayed or neutered)
- Dog — intact
- $100 / year (intact)
- Cat
- $25 / year (spayed or neutered) — LA is unusual in requiring cat licensing.
- Senior discount
- Discounted licenses for owners 62+.
License is purchased after the rabies certificate is issued by a licensed California veterinarian.
Reporting a Bite in Los Angeles
Animal bites must be reported within 24 hours.
Primary
(213) 240-7941
LA County Department of Public Health – Veterinary Public Health
Backup
(888) 452-7381
LA Animal Services (24/7)
After hours
After hours or for the bite itself, call 311 or LA Animal Services. For medical care, go directly to the nearest ER.
Confirmed rabies cases in Los Angeles County (2024)
18 confirmed animal rabies cases reported in 2024.
By species
bat
16
skunk
1
fox
1
Los Angeles County's rabies reservoir is almost entirely bats. Terrestrial cases (skunk, fox) are rare but tracked. Annual confirmed bat cases routinely cluster in the western and southern foothills.
Source: LA County Department of Public Health – Veterinary Public Health
10-Day Quarantine & Observation
In California, biting dogs, cats, and ferrets must be observed for 10 days following the bite. Owned, currently-vaccinated pets are usually approved for 10-day home observation. Stray or unvaccinated biting animals are typically impounded at the nearest LA Animal Services shelter for the observation period.
Facility
LA Animal Services District Shelters
Six city shelters — see laanimalservices.com
(888) 452-7381
PEP-Equipped Hospitals in Los Angeles
Major facilities known to handle rabies PEP. Always call ahead to confirm rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG) availability.
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center Emergency Department
Westwood — Level 1 trauma center.
LAC+USC Medical Center Emergency Department
County safety-net hospital — handles PEP regardless of insurance.
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Emergency Department
Beverly Grove — call ahead to confirm HRIG availability.
LA County Department of Public Health
Coordinates rabies investigations and PEP authorization countywide.
Key Contacts
LA County Veterinary Public Health
LA Animal Services (24/7)
LA 311
Los Angeles FAQs
I caught my dog playing with a dead bat in Griffith Park — is that an exposure?+
Yes, treat it as a possible exposure. Call LA County Veterinary Public Health at (213) 240-7941. 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, LA County may require a strict 4-month confinement or, in some cases, euthanasia. Do not handle the bat — call LA Animal Services to collect it for testing.
Does LA really require cat licensing? My cat never goes outside.+
Yes — LA is one of the few US cities that requires cat rabies vaccination and licensing for cats over 4 months old, indoor or not. The ordinance recognizes that bats regularly enter LA homes. License your cat through LA Animal Services after your veterinarian issues the rabies certificate.
What's the bite-reporting deadline in Los Angeles?+
Animal bites must be reported to LA County Public Health within 24 hours. Most ERs and urgent care clinics will file the report on your behalf when they treat the wound, but you should also call LA County Veterinary Public Health directly at (213) 240-7941 to confirm the case is on file.
Can my dog do the 10-day quarantine at home in Los Angeles?+
Yes, in most cases. If your dog is currently vaccinated, owned, and licensed, LA County typically approves at-home observation. The dog must be kept indoors or in a secure yard with no contact with other animals or people outside the household for 10 days from the bite date. Unvaccinated or stray biting animals are usually impounded at an LA Animal Services shelter.
Is there a free or low-cost rabies vaccine clinic in LA?+
LA Animal Services runs periodic low-cost rabies clinics across all six district shelters. Schedules are published at laanimalservices.com. The vaccine is typically $10–$15 and bundled with city license processing.
Full California rabies law
Los Angeles sits inside California, which sets the underlying vaccination, quarantine, and reporting framework. First booster 12 months after initial dose, then every 3 years (or per product label) unless local ordinances require more frequent boosters.
Read the complete California guideReferences
- Los Angeles Municipal Code §53 – Animals — City of Los Angeles
- LA County Veterinary Public Health – Rabies — LA County Department of Public Health
- LA Animal Services — City of Los Angeles
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 Los Angeles's animal services, your local health department, or a licensed veterinarian. For an active exposure, seek medical care immediately — do not wait.