Food and Agricultural Code section 31000
(a)
A person selling, transporting, or importing a dog into the state for the purpose of resale or change of ownership shall obtain, and submit to the department and the buyer, a health certificate for the dog that has been completed by a licensed veterinarian and is dated no more than 10 days before the date on which the dog is brought into the state.(b)
The health certificate shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following information:(1)
The date of the examination.(2)
A statement that the examination revealed no clinical evidence of infectious or communicable disease, including external parasites and fungi, and that, to the best of the licensed veterinarian’s knowledge, the dog has not recently been exposed to such infectious or communicable disease.(3)
Any vaccinations, treatments, or tests, and the results of such administered to the dog.(4)
(A)A statement that the dog has been properly immunized against rabies by a vaccine approved by the United States Department of Agriculture within 12 months before the date of importation into the State of California.(B)
This immunization requirement shall not apply if the dog is under three months old or if a licensed veterinarian certifies in writing that because of old age, or another reason, the life of the dog would be endangered by the administration of the rabies vaccine.(5)
The number of dogs in the shipment.(6)
A description of each dog in the shipment, including breed, age, and sex.(7)
If microchipped, the microchip number for each dog in the shipment.(8)
The physical address for both the origin and destination of the dog in the shipment. A post office box, airport, parking lot, or other public or nonfixed location shall not be used as the physical address. The physical address shall correspond to a verifiable, permanent residence or business location where the animal resides or is housed.(9)
The signature, printed name, physical address, and state license number of the licensed veterinarian who examined the dogs in the shipment.(10)
The full name, physical address, email address, and telephone number of the consignor and the full name, physical address, email address, and telephone number of the buyer.(11)
The United States Department of Agriculture license number associated with the breeder of the dog, if applicable.(c)
Completion of a United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Form 7001, known as the United States Interstate and International Certificate of Health Examination for Small Animals, may be used to satisfy the requirements of subdivision (a) if the minimum requirements described in subdivision (b) are satisfied by the form. A different form of health certificate acceptable to the department may also be used to satisfy the requirements of subdivision (a) if the minimum requirements described in subdivision (b) are satisfied by the form.(d)
The person selling, transporting, or importing the dog into this state for the purpose of resale or change of ownership shall submit the health certificate to the department and the buyer via an electronic transmission.(e)
For purposes of this section, “consignor” means a person, business, or organization that ships or sends goods to another party for sale or storage, retaining ownership until the goods are paid for.
Source:
Section 31000, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=FAC§ionNum=31000. (updated Jan. 1, 2026; accessed Dec. 15, 2025).
