Castlegar dog licences: fees and how to get one
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.
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.Apply for a Pet Licence, City page: Apply for a Pet Licence · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAll 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. |
|---|---|
| Issued by | The City of Castlegar, at City Hall (460 Columbia Avenue). Animal control itself is contracted to the BC SPCA West Kootenay.Apply for a Pet Licence, City page: Apply for a Pet Licence; Dog Licence Brochure, City brochure; Animal Control, City page: Animal Control · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingRegister your pet by completing a Dog or Cat Licence Application and submit it in person at City Hall. City Hall 460 Columbia Avenue The City of Castlegar contracts out animal control to the BC SPCA’s regional branch, the BC SPCA West Kootenay. |
| Fee, spayed or neutered | $25 a year. A veterinary certificate of spay or neuter is required with the application.Apply for a Pet Licence, Annual Fee Schedule; Dog or Cat Licence Application, Application form · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingSpayed or Neutered Dog | $25 If licencing a spayed or neutered dog a certificate of proof from a registered veterinary surgeon is required with the application submission. |
| Fee, not spayed or neutered | $75 a year.Apply for a Pet Licence, Annual Fee Schedule · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingUnspayed or Unneutered Dog | $75 |
| 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.Apply for a Pet Licence, Annual Fee Schedule · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingKennel 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 |
| Renewal | Every year; each licence runs from January 1 to December 31.Apply for a Pet Licence, City page: Apply for a Pet Licence · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingmust be licenced annually, from January 1 through to December 31. |
| 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.Apply for a Pet Licence, City page: Apply for a Pet Licence; Pay Online, City page: Pay Online · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingRegister 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. 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 |
| 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.Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179, consolidated to June 2026, Schedule B-1 (Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingUnlicensed dog $60 N/A N/A Dog licences $50 $100 $150 |
| Bylaw | Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1342Apply for a Pet Licence, City page: Related Bylaws · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBylaw 1342 – Animal Control and Licencing |
How it works
Castlegar licenses dogs under Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw 1342. 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
- Fill in the Dog or Cat Licence Application.
- 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).
- 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
The same question in other places
Sources
- Apply for a Pet Licence, City of Castlegar (read 2026-11-05)
- Animal Control, City of Castlegar (read 2026-11-05)
- Dog Licence Brochure (PDF), City of Castlegar (read 2026-11-05)
- Dog or Cat Licence Application (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Pay Online, City of Castlegar (read 2026-11-05)
- Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179, consolidated to June 2026 (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. How answers are checked.