WCRAS Fee Schedule
Washoe County Code 55.090(2) requires all fees required to be paid pursuant to Washoe County Code, Chapter 55 (animals and fowl) as set by Washoe County Board of County Commissioners (Board). The Board also approves fee waivers for specific circumstances. Fees for WCRAS include fees for licenses and permits, field enforcement, shelter operations and daily care, vaccinations and medical services.
When these fees apply: Eligible dogs in Washoe County must have a current license with WCRAS. Licensing fees depend on whether the dog is spayed/neutered, if the owner is a senior (60+), and the choice between a 1-year or 3-year license. Additional fees may apply for optional replacement tags or late renewals. Learn more about dog licensing requirements here: Dog Licensing in Washoe County.
| Type | Current Fee | New Fee (Effective Jan 1, 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Unaltered dog (not spayed/neutered, 1-year) | $20.00 | $30.00 |
| Unaltered dog (not spayed/neutered, 3-year) | Not available | $90.00 |
| Altered dog (spayed/neutered, 1-year) | $8.00 | $16.00 |
| Altered dog (spayed/neutered, 3-year) | Not available | $48.00 |
| Senior 60+ altered dog (spayed/neutered, 1-year) | $8.00 | $8.00 |
| Senior 60+ altered dog (spayed/neutered, 3-year) | Not available | $24.00 |
| Active/Retired military altered dog (spayed/neutered, 1-year) | Not available | FREE |
| License replacement tag | $5.00 | $5.00 |
| License fee late payment penalty | $10.00 | $10.00 |
When these fees apply: Permit fees apply to specific cases, including having more than 5 dogs and/or 7 cats on a single property, owning a dog that has been declared dangerous or declared vicious, keeping of specific exotic animals, or other situations requiring special authorization. Learn more about permit requirements here: Permits.
| Type | Current Fee | New Fee (Effective Jan 1, 2025) | New Fee (Effective Jan 1, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Variance Permit Annual Fee | $50.00 | $200.00 | $400.00 |
| Dangerous or Vicious Dog Annual Fee | $50.00 | $250.00 | $500.00 |
| Exotic Animal Permit Annual Fee | $50.00 | $125.00 | $250.00 |
| Breeder's Permit (Annual) | No Fee | To Be Determined | To Be Determined |
| Commercial Animal Welfare Permit (Annual) | No Fee | To Be Determined | To Be Determined |
Fee Waivers: Variance Permit fees can be waived for the owner/operator(s) of a rescue organization that uses their residence to foster animals. The rescue organization must be in full compliance with all Washoe County Codes, in good standing with WCRAS, and actively transferring animals from WCRAS into their program during each calendar year. This does not apply to fosters associated with the rescue organizations. .
When these fees apply: Impound fees are incurred when an animal is taken into custody by Washoe County Regional Animal Services due to being at large or in unsafe conditions.
| Type | Current Fee | New Fee (Effective Jan 1, 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Impound (Dog) | $34.00 | $60.00 |
| 2nd Impound (Dog) | $50.00 | $75.00 |
| 3rd Impound (Dog) | $100.00 | $100.00 |
| Impound (Cat) | $28.00 | $60.00 |
| Impound (Livestock) | $45.00 | $90.00 |
Fee Waivers:
- First-Time Impound: Fees for impound, daily care, and vaccinations (excluding licensing and veterinary fees) are waived if the animal is reclaimed within 24 hours of arriving at the shelter. Subsequent impounds will be subject to full fees regardless of pick-up time. Animals without a microchip must be microchipped before release.
- Impound Due to Special Circumstances: Fees for impound, daily care (up to 5 days), and vaccinations (excluding licensing and veterinary fees) can be waived under these conditions:
- The owner was transported to the hospital due to a significant incident or accident.
- The owner was temporarily unable to care for the animal due to a natural or man-made disaster (e.g., fire, flood, hurricane).
- The owner was temporarily unable to care for the animal due to domestic violence.
- The owner has passed away, and the animal is being reclaimed by the next of kin or an authorized designee.
When these fees apply: Daily animal care fees are incurred for each day an animal is cared for at Washoe County Regional Animal Services.
| Animal Type | Current Fee | New Fee (Effective Jan 1, 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Daily care (Dog) | $9.00/day | $14.00/day |
| Daily care (Cat) | $4.00/day | $8.00/day |
| Quarantine daily care (Dog/Cat/Ferret quarantined at WCRAS) | $10.00/day | $15.00/day |
| Daily care (Livestock) | $11.00/day | $43.00/day |
| Daily care (Pocket Pet/Small Exotic) | Not available | $10.00/day |
| Daily care (Exotic Animal) | Not available | $43.00/day |
| Specialty Feed, Enrichment for Livestock, Exotic Animals, etc. | Not available | Actual cost |
Fee Waivers:
- Dangerous/Vicious Dog: Daily care fees (excluding any veterinary fees) may be waived for dogs pending a dangerous or vicious dog determination if the dog is surrendered within 5 days of impound.
- First-Time Impound: Fees for impound, daily care, and vaccinations (excluding licensing and veterinary fees) are waived if the animal is reclaimed within 24 hours of arriving at the shelter. Subsequent impounds will be subject to full fees regardless of pick-up time. Animals without a microchip must be microchipped before release.
- Impound Due to Special Circumstances: Fees for impound, daily care (up to 5 days), and vaccinations (excluding licensing and veterinary fees) can be waived under these conditions:
- The owner was transported to the hospital due to a significant incident or accident.
- The owner was temporarily unable to care for the animal due to a natural or man-made disaster (e.g., fire, flood, hurricane).
- The owner was temporarily unable to care for the animal due to domestic violence.
- The owner has passed away, and the animal is being reclaimed by the next of kin or an authorized designee.
When these fees apply: Quarantine fees are charged when an animal has bitten a person, breaking skin. In accordance with Washoe County Code 55.610, they must be quarantined and monitored for signs of rabies
| Service | Current Fee | New Fee (Effective Jan 1, 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Home Quarantine Sign-Off Fee (includes field staff time and release/sign-off of quarantine) | Not available | $66.00 |
| WCRAS Quarantine Fee (includes intake and release/sign-off of quarantine; does not include daily care fees) | Not available | $16.00 |
Note: Quarantine fees do not apply to animals that complete an approved home quarantine and are brought to WCRAS by their owner for the final sign-off.
| Service | Current Fee | New Fee (Effective Jan 1, 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Owner Surrender - Shelter | $25.00 | $30.00 |
| Emergency Owner Surrender - Field | Not available | $174.00 |
| Livestock Hauling Fee | Not available | $145.00/animal |
| Field Service Fee (courtesy response to pick up and transport owned animal) | Not available | $98.00 |
| Deceased animal pickup (Owned animal, under 75lbs; does not include disposal fee) | Not available | $70.00 |
| Deceased animal pickup (Owned animal, over 75lbs; limited to large dogs and small livestock such as goats or sheep; does not include disposal fee) | Not available | $148.00 |
| Disposal (deceased, owned animal) | $10.00 | $36.00 |
| Emergency safe hold (For pets affected by natural disasters, domestic violence situations, owner hospitalizations, and death of owner) | Not available | No impound or daily care fees; licensing fees apply |
- Impound Due to Special Circumstances: Fees for impound, daily care (up to 5 days), and vaccinations (excluding licensing and veterinary fees) can be waived under these conditions:
- The owner was transported to the hospital due to a significant incident or accident.
- The owner was temporarily unable to care for the animal due to a natural or man-made disaster (e.g., fire, flood, hurricane).
- The owner was temporarily unable to care for the animal due to domestic violence.
- The owner has passed away, and the animal is being reclaimed by the next of kin or an authorized designee.
When these fees apply: Medical service fees are incurred as needed to provide essential and humane care for animals in the shelter. If medical care is required beyond the scope of what shelter staff can provide, the animal may be referred to an outside veterinary practice, and any associated costs will be the responsibility of the owner.
| Service | Current Fee | New Fee (Effective Jan 1, 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Euthanasia (for pets in our care with severe medical issues or deemed dangerous or vicious) | $25.00 | $47.00 |
| Animal Disease Lab Testing (for rabies exposed animals, does not include euthanasia) | $50.00 | Actual cost |
| Necropsy (internal investigations only) | Not available | $64.00 |
| Referred Outside Veterinary Service Fee (injured animals) | Varies | Actual cost |
| Veterinary Exam - Complex (internal investigations only) | Not available | $249.00 |
| Veterinary Exam - Routine (internal investigations only) | Not available | $63.00 |
| Medical Treatment Fee for Impounded animal (Rx, wrap/bandage change, wound care, etc.) | Actual cost | Actual cost |
When these fees apply: Clinic fees are incurred when a pet is brought to Washoe County Regional Animal Services for walk-in microchip services or a vaccination clinic hosted by Washoe County Regional Animal Services. Learn more about WCRAS vaccine clinics here: WCRAS Vaccination clinics
| Vaccine Type | Current Fee | New Fee (Effective Jan 1, 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Microchip (Washoe County resident) | FREE | FREE |
| Microchip (Non-Washoe County resident) | $12.00 | $31.00 |
| Rabies (Dog or Cat) | $10.00 | $15.00 |
| FVRCP (Cat Vaccine) | $10.00 | $15.00 |
| DA2PP (Canine Vaccine) | $10.00 | $15.00 |
| Oral Bordetella (Kennel Cough) | $20.00 | $15.00 |
| Pyrantel (De-worm) | $10.00 | $10.00 |
| Appointment Admin Fee | Not available | $10.00 |
Fee Waivers:
- Special Events: Fees for required and core vaccinations, de-wormer, license fees, and appointment administration fees can be waived for for special events as designated by the Director of Washoe County Regional Animal Services.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Washoe County Regional Animal Services recently had a fee study conducted to help provide fiscal projections based on recommended cost recovery levels. Recommendations were based upon careful consideration of the results of the cost analysis, historical cost recovery levels, and market comparisons. Effective January 1, 2025, licensing fees will be increasing. A dedicated portion of unaltered dog license fees will roll back into a public spay & neuter program to help decrease the overpopulation of animals within our community.
We accept cash, checks, money orders, cashier's checks, debit cards, and credit cards.