---
title: "Castlegar dog licences: fees and how to get one"
question: "How do I get a dog licence, and what does it cost?"
place: Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/castlegar
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Castlegar
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/dog-licence/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/dog-licence.json"
---

# Castlegar dog licences: fees and how to get one

**Question:** How do I get a dog licence, and what does it cost?

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Castlegar, https://www.castlegar.ca)  
**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:**
- In person: Castlegar City Hall (new licences), 460 Columbia Avenue, Castlegar, BC V1N 1G7 (Pay by cash, cheque or debit. City Hall hours are not stated on the pages read.)
- Online: Pay a pet licence renewal (OptionPay), https://www.optionpay.ca/payment/city-of-castlegar/index.php (Credit card, with a third-party processing fee. You need your Pet Licence account number.)
- Phone: Finance (renewal account questions), 250-365-8958
- Email: Finance, finance@castlegar.ca

## Key facts

- **Licence required:** 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.
  - Source: [Apply for a Pet Licence, City page: Apply for a Pet Licence](https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/apply-for-a-pet-licence/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Issued by:** The City of Castlegar, at City Hall (460 Columbia Avenue). Animal control itself is contracted to the BC SPCA West Kootenay.
  - Source: [Apply for a Pet Licence, City page: Apply for a Pet Licence](https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/apply-for-a-pet-licence/)
  - Official wording: "Register your pet by completing a Dog or Cat Licence Application and submit it in person at City Hall."
  - Source: [Dog Licence Brochure, City brochure](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Castlegar-DogLicense-Brochure-FINAL.pdf)
  - Official wording: "City Hall 460 Columbia Avenue"
  - Source: [Animal Control, City page: Animal Control](https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/animal-control/)
  - Official wording: "The City of Castlegar contracts out animal control to the BC SPCA’s regional branch, the BC SPCA West Kootenay."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee, spayed or neutered:** $25 a year. A veterinary certificate of spay or neuter is required with the application.
  - Source: [Apply for a Pet Licence, Annual Fee Schedule](https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/apply-for-a-pet-licence/)
  - Official wording: "Spayed or Neutered Dog | $25"
  - Source: [Dog or Cat Licence Application, Application form](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Pet-License-Application-fillable.pdf)
  - Official wording: "If licencing a spayed or neutered dog a certificate of proof from a registered veterinary surgeon is required with the application submission."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee, not spayed or neutered:** $75 a year.
  - Source: [Apply for a Pet Licence, Annual Fee Schedule](https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/apply-for-a-pet-licence/)
  - Official wording: "Unspayed or Unneutered Dog | $75"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other fees and discounts:** 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.
  - Source: [Apply for a Pet Licence, Annual Fee Schedule](https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/apply-for-a-pet-licence/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Every year; each licence runs from January 1 to December 31.
  - Source: [Apply for a Pet Licence, City page: Apply for a Pet Licence](https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/apply-for-a-pet-licence/)
  - Official wording: "must be licenced annually, from January 1 through to December 31."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to get one:** 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.
  - Source: [Apply for a Pet Licence, City page: Apply for a Pet Licence](https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/apply-for-a-pet-licence/)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Pay Online, City page: Pay Online](https://www.castlegar.ca/pay-online/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, unlicensed dog:** 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.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179, consolidated to June 2026, Schedule B-1 (Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1179.Municipal-Ticketing-2.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Unlicensed dog $60 N/A N/A" … "Dog licences $50 $100 $150"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1342
  - Source: [Apply for a Pet Licence, City page: Related Bylaws](https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/apply-for-a-pet-licence/)
  - Official wording: "Bylaw 1342 – Animal Control and Licencing"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Castlegar 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.

## Steps

1. Fill in the Dog or Cat Licence Application.
2. 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).
3. Each year, renew at City Hall or pay online by credit card through OptionPay with your Pet Licence account number.

## Good to know

- Guide, RCMP and service dogs pay no licence fee. Cats are licensed too, at $0.
- Other licence fees: aggressive dog $100, vicious dog $200, dangerous dog $500.
- The City's fee schedule lists no senior or early-payment discount.
- 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).

## What you'll need

- Completed Dog or Cat Licence Application
- Veterinary certificate of spay or neuter, for the lower fee

## Official forms and pages

- [Dog or Cat Licence Application (PDF)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Pet-License-Application-fillable.pdf)
- [Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw 1342 (PDF, scanned copy)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Bylaw-1342-Animal-Control-and-Licencing.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Castlegar dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Castlegar rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/dangerous-dogs.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-licence.md)
- [Fruitvale](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/dog-licence.md)
- [Trail](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/dog-licence.md)
- [Warfield](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/dog-licence.md)
- [Rossland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/dog-licence.md)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/dog-licence.md)
- [Nelson](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/dog-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Apply for a Pet Licence, City of Castlegar](https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/apply-for-a-pet-licence/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control, City of Castlegar](https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/animal-control/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Dog Licence Brochure (PDF), City of Castlegar](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Castlegar-DogLicense-Brochure-FINAL.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Dog or Cat Licence Application (PDF)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Pet-License-Application-fillable.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Pay Online, City of Castlegar](https://www.castlegar.ca/pay-online/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179, consolidated to June 2026 (PDF)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1179.Municipal-Ticketing-2.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 9 of 9 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Castlegar. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/dog-licence/_