The Lisbon City Council is reconsidering whether the city should continue requiring residents to license their dogs. In a Feb. 23 meeting, council members discussed if the policy is creating more administrative burden than revenue, highlighting compliance and implementation issues.
Under the current ordinance, dog owners must register their pets with the city for $5 per license, which is valid for three years. The program generates roughly $200 to $255 annually, averaging about 40 dogs registered each year.
City officials worry that the revenue may not justify the time and resources required to administer the program.
“There are obviously far more dogs in town than registered,” city administrator Brandon Siggins told council members. “The people that follow the rules are the people we don’t have the issues for.”
According to city staff, most incidents involving dog bites or animals running loose involve pets that are not registered. Enforcement has also proven challenging. While police can issue citations for violations, officials acknowledged that penalties are rarely pursued given the small licensing fee.
“If the dog bites someone the dog is going to be removed from city limits, we have zero tolerance for that,” mayor Doug O’Connor said.
The city has also faced complaints from residents who receive courtesy notices about expired registrations. In some cases, the dog has passed away or changed ownership, leading to frustration among residents.
Even if Lisbon eliminates the licensing requirement, dogs would still be required to receive rabies vaccinations under state law. City officials discussed incorporating rabies verification language directly into the municipal code to ensure continued compliance.
“I think we could take the information that is in the Iowa Code about having your dog have a rabies vaccine after four months old and not have this license process,” Siggins said.
Council members also raised questions about the city’s authority regarding the issue of loose dogs. Current code language requires proof that an owner “knowingly” allowed a dog to roam before a citation can be issued, making enforcement more complex.
Lisbon is not alone in reconsidering pet licensing. Officials noted that other nearby communities, including Monticello, have recently eliminated similar requirements for many of the same reasons. The council did not take any action on the proposal, as it was not on the council agenda.
Mount Vernon’s licensing fees for dogs is $10.
For now, Lisbon’s dog licensing requirement remains in place, but council members will continue to discuss whether the program is causing more issues than good. “Give us a little time to think about it,” O’Connor said.