{"title":"Castlegar dog licences: fees and how to get one","question":"How do I get a dog licence, and what does it cost?","slug":"dog-licence","place":{"path":"ca/bc/castlegar","name":"Castlegar","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of Castlegar","url":"https://www.castlegar.ca"},"short_answer":"Every dog in the City of Castlegar over 12 months old needs a licence each year. A new licence is applied for in person at City Hall. The yearly fee is $25 for a spayed or neutered dog and $75 for one that is not.","aliases":["dog license castlegar","dog tag castlegar","renew dog licence castlegar","how much is a dog licence in castlegar"],"cost":"$25 spayed or neutered (veterinary certificate required); $75 not spayed or neutered; kennel $55; transfer from another BC local government $10; replacement tag $5. Guide, RCMP and service dogs pay no fee. Cats $0.","how_long":"Each licence runs January 1 to December 31 and is renewed every year.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Castlegar City Hall (new licences)","value":"460 Columbia Avenue, Castlegar, BC V1N 1G7","note":"Pay by cash, cheque or debit. City Hall hours are not stated on the pages read."},{"type":"online","label":"Pay a pet licence renewal (OptionPay)","value":"https://www.optionpay.ca/payment/city-of-castlegar/index.php","note":"Credit card, with a third-party processing fee. You need your Pet Licence account number."},{"type":"phone","label":"Finance (renewal account questions)","value":"250-365-8958"},{"type":"email","label":"Finance","value":"finance@castlegar.ca"}],"documents":["Completed Dog or Cat Licence Application","Veterinary certificate of spay or neuter, for the lower fee"],"forms":[{"title":"Dog or Cat Licence Application (PDF)","url":"https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Pet-License-Application-fillable.pdf"},{"title":"Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw 1342 (PDF, scanned copy)","url":"https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Bylaw-1342-Animal-Control-and-Licencing.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-leash-rules","title":"Castlegar dog leash rules and off-leash areas","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/dog-leash-rules/"},{"slug":"dangerous-dogs","title":"Castlegar rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/dangerous-dogs/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/fruitvale","name":"Fruitvale","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/dog-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/trail","name":"Trail","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/dog-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/warfield","name":"Warfield","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/dog-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/rossland","name":"Rossland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/dog-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/montrose","name":"Montrose","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/dog-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nelson","name":"Nelson","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/dog-licence/"}],"topic":{"title":"Dog licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-licence/"},"facts":{"required":{"label":"Licence required","value":"Yes. Every dog (and cat) living in Castlegar over 12 months old must be licenced each year. Guide, RCMP and service dogs are exempt from the fee.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/apply-for-a-pet-licence/","title":"Apply for a Pet Licence, City of Castlegar","section":"City page: Apply for a Pet Licence","quotes":["All dogs and cats residing within Castlegar city limits over the age of 12 months must be licenced annually, from January 1 through to December 31.","Guide Dogs, RCMP Dogs, and Service Dogs are exempt from paying a licence fee."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"issued_by":{"label":"Issued by","value":"The City of Castlegar, at City Hall (460 Columbia Avenue). Animal control itself is contracted to the BC SPCA West Kootenay.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/apply-for-a-pet-licence/","title":"Apply for a Pet Licence, City of Castlegar","section":"City page: Apply for a Pet Licence","quotes":["Register your pet by completing a Dog or Cat Licence Application and submit it in person at City Hall."]},{"url":"https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Castlegar-DogLicense-Brochure-FINAL.pdf","title":"Dog Licence Brochure (PDF), City of Castlegar","section":"City brochure","quotes":["City Hall 460 Columbia Avenue"]},{"url":"https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/animal-control/","title":"Animal Control, City of Castlegar","section":"City page: Animal Control","quotes":["The City of Castlegar contracts out animal control to the BC SPCA’s regional branch, the BC SPCA West Kootenay."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee_altered":{"label":"Fee, spayed or neutered","value":"$25 a year. A veterinary certificate of spay or neuter is required with the application.","short":"$25 a year","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/apply-for-a-pet-licence/","title":"Apply for a Pet Licence, City of Castlegar","section":"Annual Fee Schedule","quotes":["Spayed or Neutered Dog | $25"]},{"url":"https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Pet-License-Application-fillable.pdf","title":"Dog or Cat Licence Application (PDF)","section":"Application form","quotes":["If licencing a spayed or neutered dog a certificate of proof from a registered veterinary surgeon is required with the application submission."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee_unaltered":{"label":"Fee, not spayed or neutered","value":"$75 a year.","short":"$75 a year","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/apply-for-a-pet-licence/","title":"Apply for a Pet Licence, City of Castlegar","section":"Annual Fee Schedule","quotes":["Unspayed or Unneutered Dog | $75"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_fees":{"label":"Other fees and discounts","value":"Kennel licence $55. Transfer of a valid, current licence from another BC local government $10. Replacement lost tag $5. Aggressive dog $100, vicious dog $200, dangerous dog $500. Cat licence $0.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/apply-for-a-pet-licence/","title":"Apply for a Pet Licence, City of Castlegar","section":"Annual Fee Schedule","quotes":["Kennel Licence | $55","Transfer for Owner Holding a Valid & Current Licence from Another BC Local Government | $10","Replace Lost Dog Licence Tag | $5","Aggressive Dog | $100","Vicious Dog | $200","Dangerous Dog | $500","Cat Licence | $0"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"renewal":{"label":"Renewal","value":"Every year; each licence runs from January 1 to December 31.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/apply-for-a-pet-licence/","title":"Apply for a Pet Licence, City of Castlegar","section":"City page: Apply for a Pet Licence","quotes":["must be licenced annually, from January 1 through to December 31."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"how_to_get":{"label":"How to get one","value":"New licence: complete the Dog or Cat Licence Application and submit it in person at City Hall (cash, cheque or debit). Renewals can be paid online by credit card through OptionPay (third-party processing fee) with your Pet Licence account number.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/apply-for-a-pet-licence/","title":"Apply for a Pet Licence, City of Castlegar","section":"City page: Apply for a Pet Licence","quotes":["Register your pet by completing a Dog or Cat Licence Application and submit it in person at City Hall. Payment can be made by cash, cheque or debit."]},{"url":"https://www.castlegar.ca/pay-online/","title":"Pay Online, City of Castlegar","section":"City page: Pay Online","quotes":["You will be asked for the Pet Licence account number.","Through OptionPay, a third-party payment processor, for a nominal processing fee you can make credit card payments"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine_unlicensed":{"label":"Fine, unlicensed dog","value":"Municipal ticket: $60 for an unlicensed dog (s. 2.1, first offence in a 12-month period). Other licence offences (ss. 2.2-2.5): $50, then $100, then $150 for a second and third offence in 12 months.","short":"Ticket $60 (first offence in 12 months)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1179.Municipal-Ticketing-2.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179, consolidated to June 2026 (PDF)","section":"Schedule B-1 (Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw)","quotes":["Unlicensed dog $60 N/A N/A","Dog licences $50 $100 $150"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1342","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/apply-for-a-pet-licence/","title":"Apply for a Pet Licence, City of Castlegar","section":"City page: Related Bylaws","quotes":["Bylaw 1342 – Animal Control and Licencing"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":9,"stated":9,"matched":9,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nCastlegar licenses dogs under [Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw 1342](https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/apply-for-a-pet-licence/). All dogs and cats over 12 months old living in the city must be licensed each year, January 1 to December 31. The City issues licences at City Hall. Animal control itself is contracted to the BC SPCA West Kootenay.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Fill in the Dog or Cat Licence Application.\n2. Take it to City Hall, 460 Columbia Avenue, with a veterinary certificate of spay or neuter if you want the $25 fee, and payment (cash, cheque or debit).\n3. Each year, renew at City Hall or pay online by credit card through OptionPay with your Pet Licence account number.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Guide, RCMP and service dogs pay no licence fee. Cats are licensed too, at $0.\n- Other licence fees: aggressive dog $100, vicious dog $200, dangerous dog $500.\n- The City's fee schedule lists no senior or early-payment discount.\n- An unlicensed dog can bring a $60 municipal ticket. Other licence offences within 12 months are $50, then $100, then $150 (Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179).","sources":[{"url":"https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/apply-for-a-pet-licence/","title":"Apply for a Pet Licence, City of Castlegar","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/animal-control/","title":"Animal Control, City of Castlegar","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Castlegar-DogLicense-Brochure-FINAL.pdf","title":"Dog Licence Brochure (PDF), City of Castlegar","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Pet-License-Application-fillable.pdf","title":"Dog or Cat Licence Application (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.castlegar.ca/pay-online/","title":"Pay Online, City of Castlegar","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1179.Municipal-Ticketing-2.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179, consolidated to June 2026 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 9 of 9 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/dog-licence/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/dog-licence.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/dog-licence.json"}}