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2026 Annual Town Meeting, Town of Arlington, MA
Article: 20
Warrant Article Title:
BYLAW AMENDMENT / CANINE CONTROL
Warrant Article Text:
To see if the Town will vote to amend Title VIII, Article 2, Section
4B1 to specify the process to grant a waiver for rabies vaccination
and Section 4F3 to waive licensing fees charged to owners 70
years of age and older; or take any action related thereto.
Requested By:
the Town Clerk
Report Excerpt:
Vote and comment to Town Meeting - Favorable Action (5-0)
The Board voted unanimously for favorable action on this article.
The first of the proposed amendments to the Town’s Canine
Control bylaw would align the Town’s bylaw with existing state law
regarding the steps necessary to obtain a waiver from the
requirement that any dog six months or older must receive a
rabies vaccination. The proposed amendment contains the three
very limited circumstances that qualify for a waiver.
The second proposed change would waive the license fee for dog
owners seventy years old or over, an action that is dependent
upon Town Meeting’s approval of Article 35 in this year’s Warrant.
If Article 35 is approved by Town Meeting, then the second
change will be ripe for consideration.
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Vote Language:
That the Town does and hereby amend Title VIII, Article 2,
Sections 4(B)(1) and 4(F)(3) of the Town’s Bylaws, or take any
action related thereto, so that the new Sections read:
Section 4. Licensing
(ART. 25, ATM – 04/27/88)
(ART. 23, ATM – 05/04/2009)
(ART. 13, ATM – 04/29/13)
(ART. 8, ATM – 4/26/21)
(ART. 8, ATM – 04/28/25)
A.Licensing Requirement.
1. License required. The owner or keeper of any dog over
the age of six months kept in the Town of Arlington shall
obtain a license for the dog from the Town Clerk.
2. Annual renewal. Licenses issued under this section shall
be renewed on an annual basis in accordance with
procedures to be determined by the Town Clerk.
Licenses are issued for the calendar year and must be
renewed every year on or before January 1
st
, although
there is a grace period established in sub-section F
before fines are assessed.\
3. Transfer. Within 30 days of moving into the Town, the
owner or keeper of a dog must apply to the Town Clerk
for a license.
B.Conditions.
1. Rabies vaccination. The Town Clerk shall not grant a
license unless (i) the license applicant provides a
veterinarian’s certification or notarized letter that the dog
has been vaccinated against rabies; or (ii) the dog is
exempted from the vaccination requirement by the Town
of Arlington Board of Health or the Town Clerk in
accordance with Section 145B of Chapter 140 of the
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General Laws. In accordance with M.G.L. ch. 140, section
145B(a), any dog that is 6 months of age or older must
be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian.
The Town Clerk may grant an exemption from this rabies
vaccination requirement if, in accordance with section
145B(d), the Town’s Board of Health declares one or
more of the following: (i) that a dog is medically exempt
from such requirement upon the presentation of a
veterinarian’s certificate stating that because of an
infirmity, other physical condition or therapy regimen,
said vaccination is not advisable for a certain time or
based on certain reasons; (ii) that the dog is in transit; or
(iii) that the dog was brought into Massachusetts
temporarily for the sole purpose of display in a show or
for an exhibition.
2. Control. Any license granted under this section is
granted on the condition that the licensed dog shall be
controlled and restrained from killing, chasing, or
harassing livestock or fowl.
3. Previous conviction of animal cruelty. Town Clerk shall
not grant a license under this section or Section 5, below,
to an applicant who has been convicted of one or more
of the offenses set forth in Section 137D of Chapter 140
of the General Laws within the preceding five years.
C.License Forms.
1. Symptoms of rabies. Every license issued to the owner
of a dog shall have a description of the symptoms of
rabies printed thereon, as supplied by the state
Department of Public Health.
2. Description of dog. The owner of a dog to be licensed
under this section may add to the license application
form up to ten descriptive words indicating the dog’s
color, breed, weight, or any special markings.
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D.Tags.
1. Issuance. Along with the license, the Town Clerk shall
issue a durable tag inscribed with the license number,
designation of the Town of Arlington, and the year of
issue.
2. Affixed to dog. The owner or keeper of the licensed dog
shall keep a collar or harness of leather or other suitable
material affixed around the dog’s neck or body to which
the tag shall be securely attached.
3. Lost tags. If the tag is lost or destroyed, the owner or
keeper shall immediately secure a substitute tag from the
Town Clerk for a fee to be determined by the Town Clerk.
E.Exemptions.
The requirements of this section shall not apply to a dog
housed in a research institution.
F. Fees. (ART. 10, ATM – 04/23/18)
1. Annual license fees. The annual license fees are as
follows:
a. female: $20
b. spayed female: $15
c. male: $20
d. neutered male: $15
To be charged the lower fee for licensing a spayed or neutered
dog, the license applicant must provide proof of spay or neuter in
the form of either: (a) a certificate from the veterinarian who
spayed or neutered the dog; (b) a veterinary bill for performing the
procedure; or (c) a statement signed under the penalties of
perjury by a veterinarian registered and practicing in the
Commonwealth describing the dog and stating that the
veterinarian has examined the dog and that the dog appears to be
spayed or neutered and therefore incapable of propagation.
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2. Failure to comply; penalties.
a. Penalty for failure to comply with licensing
requirements.
Failure to comply with this section shall be punishable
by a fine of $25 said fine to be assessed by the
Town Clerk as part of the fees paid to license a dog.
Under state law, the Animal Control Officer or other
police officer may issue a citation for $50 to any dog
owner without a current license for the animal.
Grace period. Failure to satisfy licensing requirements
before the first Thursday following 45 business
days of the 1
st
of January each year arises will
constitute a failure to comply with licensing
requirements.
b. Additional late fees.
Missed year. An additional $25 fine shall be applied
by the Town Clerk where owners fail to register a
dog for an entire calendar year, due upon
registration the following calendar year, and the
license fee for missed year must be paid in full.
These late fees shall be in addition to any other
applicable penalty provided for in this Bylaw.
Multiple penalties. If the owners fail to register a dog
for an entire calendar year and apply for a
registration outside of the grace period, the fine will
consist of the $25 late fee and the $25 skipped year
fee, due upon registration in the current year.
3. Waiver of fees.
a. Service animal. No fee shall be charged for the
