The Maryland State Police is responsible for maintaining a registry and for licensing all publicly owned dogs used by the State or political subdivision for law enforcement work.
Where do I Send Applications
Law Enforcement Canine Registration is handled entirely online. Use the link below to apply. Upon issuance, the handler ID Card and the canine ID Tag will be forwarded to the Department by U.S. Mail.
Who Should Apply
Maryland Code, Public Safety Article, Title 2, Department of State Police, Subtitle 3, Powers and Duties of Department §2-313, provides that publicly owned dogs used for law enforcement work by the State or a local subdivision of the State shall have a license issued by the Department of State Police.
How To Apply
Using the online registration available HERE, handlers, supervisors, or commanders must register the canine and handler prior to being placed in service. Please answer all questions accurately to ensure a seamless process. Allow 14 days for processing.
How Much Does It Cost
There is no cost to the State or a local subdivision of the State to participate in this program.
When Should I Renew
The license issued to a publicly owned dog used for law enforcement work by the State or a local subdivision by the State Police terminate upon the death of the dog, retirement from service or transfer to another agency.
Upon reassignment of a handler and/or the assignment of the canine to a new handler the new handler/Department is required to notify the State Police.
How Long is the Application Process
APPLICANT - The canine registration application can be completed in the Maryland Department of State Police Online Services System (eMDSP) within 10 - 15 minutes.
PROCESSING TIME - Once the Licensing Division electronically receives and accepts the completed canine registration application, it will be processed and the handler ID Card and the canine ID Tag will be forwarded to the registering Department within 14 days.
INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS - Applications received by the Licensing Division will typically be reviewed for completeness within 5-10 business days. Applicants who submitted incomplete applications will be notified of the status of their application via email within 5 business days of the review.
Statutes
The statutes pertaining to Law Enforcement Canine Registration can be found in §2–313 and §3–201 of the Public Safety Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Current versions of any statute can be found at LexisNexis or on the Maryland General Assembly's website.
FAQs
