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

# Colwood 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 four months or older in Colwood needs a licence each calendar year. The Capital Regional District (CRD) issues them under contract. For a spayed or neutered dog the fee is $40 ($35 if bought early, $60 after March 1); the bylaw also says $0 in some cases, so ask the CRD.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** Spayed or neutered $35 early (before December 31), $40 regular, $60 after March 1. Not spayed or neutered $55 early, $60 regular, $80 after March 1. Dangerous dog $100 ($120 after March 1); aggressive dog $75 ($95 after March 1). Replacement tag $5. No fee for guide, service or police dogs. The bylaw (s. 7.4) sets the fee at $0 if the dog was spayed or neutered in the 12 months before applying; confirm with the CRD.  
**How long:** Licences run January 1 to December 31 and must be renewed each year. The regular fee applies up to March 1.  
**Where:**
- Online: CRD dog licence application, https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/licensing-dogs (CRD staff email an account number, then you pay online. Interac e-transfers are not accepted.)
- In person: Colwood City Hall, 3300 Wishart Road, Victoria, BC V9C 1R1
- Phone: CRD Animal Care Services, 250-478-0624
- Email: CRD Animal Care Services, animalservices@crd.bc.ca

## Key facts

- **Licence required:** Yes. No one may own or keep an unlicensed dog, except a guide dog, service dog or police dog. 'Dog' means a canine over four months old. Licences are not issued to anyone under 19.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014 (consolidated to September 4, 2025), s. 7.1, 7.6, 3.0](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/86366)
  - Official wording: "No person shall own or Keep an Unlicensed Dog except for a Guide Dog, Service Dog or Police Dog." … "No Dog License shall be issued to or in the name of any person under the age of nineteen" … "Dog means an animal of the species canine over the age of four months."
  - Source: [Licensing for Dogs, Capital Regional District, Passage containing “Licences are mandatory for all dogs four months or older in the Capital Regional District (CRD).”](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/licensing-dogs)
  - Official wording: "Licences are mandatory for all dogs four months or older in the Capital Regional District (CRD). A licence gives your dog an identity that is connected to you."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Issued by:** Capital Regional District (CRD) Animal Care Services provides Colwood's dog licensing. Licences can also be bought or renewed in person at Colwood City Hall, 3300 Wishart Road.
  - Source: [Licensing for Dogs, Capital Regional District, Passage containing “CRD Animal Care Services provides dog licencing for Langford, Colwood, Sooke”](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/licensing-dogs)
  - Official wording: "CRD Animal Care Services provides dog licencing for Langford, Colwood, Sooke, Metchosin, Highlands, View Royal, Juan de Fuca Electoral Area, Southern Gulf Islands, Salt Spring Island and Songhees First Nation." … "- CRD SSI Electoral Area Office: 108-121 McPhillips Ave, Salt Spring Island - City of Colwood: 3300 Wishart Rd, Colwood - Town of View Royal: 45 View Royal Ave, View Royal"
  - Source: [PETiquette, Dog Licensing](https://www.colwood.ca/parks-recreation-culture/petiquette)
  - Official wording: "You may apply for a new dog license, or renew your dog license in-person at Colwood City Hall (3300 Wishart Road)."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee, spayed or neutered:** $40 a year for a spayed or neutered dog (veterinarian certificate required); $35 if bought before December 31 for the next year; $60 after March 1. Bylaw s. 7.4 sets the fee at $0 for the licence year if the dog was spayed or neutered in the 12 months before applying.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014 (consolidated to September 4, 2025), Schedule A](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/86366)
  - Official wording: "Sterilized male or female dog (veterinarian" … "Sterilized male or female dog (veterinarian $40.00 $60.00" … "A $5.00 discount of the annual Licence Fee" … "If a Dog has been neutered or spayed in the previous twelve (12) months immediately" … "preceding the application for a License, the License Fee for that License Year is zero."
  - Source: [Licensing for Dogs, Capital Regional District, Licensing Fees](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/licensing-dogs)
  - Official wording: "(altered) | $35 | $40 | $60"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee, not spayed or neutered:** $60 a year for a dog that is not spayed or neutered. $55 if bought before December 31 for the next year; $80 after March 1.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014 (consolidated to September 4, 2025), Schedule A](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/86366)
  - Official wording: "Unsterilized male or female dog" … "Unsterilized male or female dog $60.00 $80.00"
  - Source: [Licensing for Dogs, Capital Regional District, Licensing Fees](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/licensing-dogs)
  - Official wording: "(unaltered) | $55 | $60 | $80"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other fees and discounts:** $5 early-payment discount if bought before December 31 for the next licensing year. Replacement tag $5. No fee for guide, service or police dogs. A dog licensed by another local government is exempt from the Colwood fee for that year if the owner gives the City the details.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014 (consolidated to September 4, 2025), Schedule A, s. 7.3, 7.10](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/86366)
  - Official wording: "Replacement Tags $5.00" … "No License Fee under section 7.2 is payable in relation to a Guide Dog, Service Dog or Police Dog." … "Any person taking up residence in the City and owning a Dog bearing a valid current License"
  - Source: [Licensing for Dogs, Capital Regional District, Licensing Fees](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/licensing-dogs)
  - Official wording: "Replacement tags are $5 each."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Licences run for the calendar year, January 1 to December 31, and must be renewed every year. The regular fee applies up to March 1; late fees apply after March 1.
  - Source: [Licensing for Dogs, Capital Regional District, How Often Do I Need to Renew My Licence?](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/licensing-dogs)
  - Official wording: "Your dog's licence is valid for the calendar year, from January 1 to December 31. You must renew your licence once a year."
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014 (consolidated to September 4, 2025), s. 3.0, Schedule A](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/86366)
  - Official wording: "Licensing Year means that time period between January 1st and December 31st inclusive" … "Annual Licence Fee After March 1st"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to get one:** Fill in the CRD dog licence application form online; CRD staff then email an account number to pay online. Also by phone (250-478-0624), email (animalservices@crd.bc.ca), at the CRD Animal Care office in Langford, or in person at Colwood City Hall, 3300 Wishart Road.
  - Source: [Licensing for Dogs, Capital Regional District, How Do I Apply / Where to Get a Licence](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/licensing-dogs)
  - Official wording: "please complete the CRD dog licence application form" … "By phone (250.478.0624 or 1.800.665.7899 extension 0) with a credit card" … "By email at animalservices@crd.bc.ca" … "City of Colwood: 3300 Wishart Rd, Colwood"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, unlicensed dog:** Bylaw notice: $100 ($80 if paid within 14 days; $120 if paid after 28 days). Municipal ticket: $100.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1911, 2021 (consolidated to March 9, 2026), Schedule B, Animal Control Bylaw](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/187475)
  - Official wording: "Keeping unlicensed dog" … "Keeping unlicensed dog 7.1 $100.00 $80.00 $120.00"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1314, 2010 (consolidated to April 8, 2022), Schedule 11](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1091)
  - Official wording: "Keeping unlicensed Dog" … "Keeping unlicensed Dog 7.1 $100.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014 (consolidated to September 4, 2025), s. 1.0](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/86366)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the "Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the City's [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/86366), no one may own or keep an unlicensed dog in Colwood, except a guide dog, service dog or police dog. A "dog" is a canine over four months old. The bylaw says the City issues licences, but the City's PETiquette page and the CRD say the CRD's Animal Care Services handles licensing and enforcement under contract. Licences are not issued to anyone under 19.

## Steps

1. Apply with the CRD's online dog licence form, by phone or email, at the CRD Animal Care office in Langford, or in person at Colwood City Hall.
2. Apply as soon as you become the dog's owner, and renew by March 1 each year.
3. Bring a veterinarian's certificate if the dog is spayed or neutered.
4. Pay the fee. Permanent tags are renewed by paying the account; no new tag is mailed.

## Good to know

- Buy before December 31 for the next year to save $5. The CRD says to renew even if no renewal notice arrives.
- The bylaw (s. 7.4) says the fee is $0 for the licence year if the dog was spayed or neutered in the 12 months before you apply. The fee table shows $40. Ask the CRD which applies.
- A dog already licensed by another local government is exempt from the Colwood fee for that year if you give the City the details.
- No senior discount is stated in the bylaw or on the CRD page.
- An unlicensed dog is a $100 fine: a bylaw notice is $100 ($80 if paid within 14 days, $120 after 28 days), and a municipal ticket is $100.

## What you'll need

- A veterinarian's certificate if the dog is spayed or neutered

## Official forms and pages

- [Licensing for Dogs, CRD](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/licensing-dogs)
- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533 (PDF)](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/86366)
- [PETiquette, City of Colwood](https://www.colwood.ca/parks-recreation-culture/petiquette)

## Related questions

- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/how-many-pets.md)
- [Colwood dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Colwood rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/dangerous-dogs.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-licence.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/dog-licence.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/dog-licence.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/dog-licence.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/dog-licence.md)
- [Metchosin](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/dog-licence.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/dog-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014 (consolidated to September 4, 2025) (PDF), City of Colwood](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/86366) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Licensing for Dogs, Capital Regional District](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/licensing-dogs) (read 2026-11-05)
- [PETiquette, City of Colwood](https://www.colwood.ca/parks-recreation-culture/petiquette) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1314, 2010 (consolidated to April 8, 2022) (PDF), City of Colwood](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1091) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1911, 2021 (consolidated to March 9, 2026) (PDF), City of Colwood](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/187475) (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 any government. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/dog-licence/_