Maine § 3923-A. - License and recording fees

§ 3923-A.. License and recording fees

Except as provided in subsection 3 and section 3923‑B, a dog owner or keeper obtaining a license from a municipal clerk, dog licensing agent or dog recorder shall pay the license and recording fees established in this section. For purposes of this section, "dog licensing agent" means an animal shelter or a veterinarian pursuant to section 3923‑F.   [PL 2025, c. 414, §4 (AMD).]

1.  Dogs capable of producing young.  A dog owner or keeper shall pay a fee of $11 to the municipal clerk or dog licensing agent for each dog 6 months of age or older and capable of producing young. A dog is considered capable of producing young unless certification under subsection 2 is provided.

The municipal clerk or dog licensing agent shall retain a $1 recording fee and pay the remaining $10 to the department for deposit in the Animal Welfare Fund.  

2.  Dogs incapable of producing young.  A dog owner shall pay a fee of $6 to the municipal clerk or a dog licensing agent for each dog 6 months of age or older and incapable of producing young. A dog is considered incapable of producing young when the owner provides the following:

A. A written certificate issued by a veterinarian stating that the veterinarian has neutered the dog;   [PL 1997, c. 690, §15 (AMD).]

B. A written certificate issued by a veterinarian stating that the veterinarian has examined the dog and determined that the dog is incapable of producing young; or   [PL 1997, c. 690, §15 (AMD).]

C. A previous license stating that the dog is incapable of producing young.   [PL 1997, c. 690, §15 (AMD).]

The municipal clerk or dog licensing agent shall retain a $1 recording fee, deposit $2 in the municipality's animal welfare account established in accordance with section 3945 and pay the remaining $3 to the department for deposit in the Animal Welfare Fund.  

3.  Exemption from fees.  A municipal clerk or a dog licensing agent shall issue a license upon application and without payment of a license fee required under this section for:

A. A service dog owned or kept by a person with a physical or mental disability;   [PL 2007, c. 664, §12 (AMD).]

B. [PL 2007, c. 664, §12 (RP).]

C. [PL 2007, c. 664, §12 (RP).]

D. A trained search and rescue dog recognized by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife or by the statewide association of search and rescue that cooperates with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in developing standards for search and rescue or such a dog awaiting training; and   [PL 2001, c. 422, §9 (AMD).]

E. A dog certified by the State and used for law enforcement purposes.   [PL 2001, c. 422, §9 (NEW).]

4.  Late fees.  An owner or keeper required to license a dog under section 3922, subsection 1 or section 3923‑B, subsection 1 and applying for a license for that dog after January 31st shall pay to the municipal clerk, dog licensing agent or dog recorder a late fee of $25 in addition to the annual license fee paid in accordance with subsection 1 or 2. The clerk, dog licensing agent or dog recorder shall deposit all late fees collected under this subsection into the municipality's animal welfare account established in accordance with section 3945.

5.  Dogs determined to be dangerous dogs or nuisance dogs by the court.  The owner or keeper of a dog determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be a dangerous dog shall pay a fee of $100 to the municipal clerk or a dog licensing agent. The municipal clerk or dog licensing agent shall retain a $1 recording fee, deposit $98 in the municipality's animal welfare account established in accordance with section 3945 and pay the remaining $1 to the department for deposit in the Animal Welfare Fund.

The owner or keeper of a dog determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be a nuisance dog shall pay a fee of $30 to the municipal clerk or a dog licensing agent. The municipal clerk or dog licensing agent shall retain a $1 recording fee, deposit $28 in the municipality's animal welfare account established in accordance with section 3945 and pay the remaining $1 to the department for deposit in the Animal Welfare Fund.  

A dog determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be a dangerous dog or a nuisance dog does not qualify for the exemptions from fees under subsection 3.  

An owner or keeper of a dog determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be a dangerous dog applying for a license for that dog after January 31st shall pay to the municipal clerk, dog licensing agent or dog recorder a late fee of $150 in addition to the annual license fee paid in accordance with this subsection.  

An owner or keeper of a dog determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be a nuisance dog applying for a license for that dog after January 31st shall pay to the municipal clerk, dog licensing agent or dog recorder a late fee of $70 in addition to the annual license fee paid in accordance with this subsection.  

The clerk, dog licensing agent or dog recorder shall deposit all late fees collected under this subsection into the municipality's animal welfare account established in accordance with section 3945.