Ordinance No. 2026-524 – An Ordinance Amending the Municipal Code of Tiffin Amending Chapter 56 – Dog and Cat Licenses Required for the City of Tiffin, Iowa — H.2

AGENDA ITEM # G-1, H-2 AGENDA INFORMATION TIFFIN CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATION DATE: February 27, 2026 AGENDA ITEM: Ordinance No. 2026-524 Amending Chapter 56: Dog and Cat Licenses Required ACTION: Motion Purpose The purpose of this ordinance is to update and modernize the City of Tiffin’s animal licensing requirements by establishing a rolling 365-day licensing system, clarifying requirements for newly acquired or newly eligible animals, and discontinuing the current January–December licensing cycle and early-bird registration period. Background Chapter 56 of the Tiffin Municipal Code currently requires annual dog and cat licensing but uses a fixed calendar-year cycle (January 1–December 31). This system results in: • Inconsistent enforcement periods • Administrative challenges in tracking compliance • Confusion for residents adopting pets mid-year The proposed ordinance amendment replaces the fixed cycle with a 365-day license valid from the date of issuance, improving clarity for pet owners and administrative consistency. Proposed Ordinance Changes The ordinance amendment includes several key updates designed to streamline the program and support compliance: • Establishes a 365-day license period beginning on the date of issuance, replacing the City’s current calendar-year system. • Requires newly acquired, newly relocated, or newly eligible pets to be licensed within 30 days. • Provides for temporary licenses for animals too young to receive vaccinations, with automatic conversion once rabies vaccination documentation is provided. • Clarifies delinquency and delinquency fee procedures. • Officially discontinues the calendar-year expiration and early-bird registration practices. These changes improve administrative efficiency, simplify the licensing process for residents, and support the City’s transition to DocuPet’s modern pet licensing platform. Recommendation Staff recommends that the City Council approve the first reading of Ordinance No. 2026-524, amending Chapter 56 to implement rolling 365-day pet licensing and related updates. ATTACHMENTS: Ordinance Amendment 1