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

# Courtenay 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 over six months old in the City of Courtenay needs a City licence each year. Buy it in person at City Hall or by mailing a cheque. The fee is $5 a year for a spayed or neutered dog and $25 for one that is not. Licences expire on December 31.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Courtenay, https://www.courtenay.ca)  
**Cost:** $25 a year for an unneutered male or unspayed female; $5 a year for a neutered or spayed dog; $2 replacement licence or tag; $1 for the rest of the year for a new resident with a valid current-year licence from another municipality.  
**How long:** Licences expire on December 31 and must be renewed every year.  
**Where:**
- In person: Courtenay City Hall, 830 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay, BC V9N 2J7 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- By mail: Mail a cheque to City Hall, City of Courtenay, 830 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay, BC V9N 2J7
- Phone: City Hall, 250-334-4441

## Key facts

- **Licence required:** Yes. Every dog over six months old kept in Courtenay must be licensed, and must wear its licence tag on a collar or harness at all times.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897 (consolidated July 2021), s. 4, s. 7](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw-no1897-consolidated-version-jul-2021)
  - Official wording: "No person shall keep any dog over the age of six months within the City unless a valid licence has been obtained and is held for the dog under this bylaw."
  - Source: [Dog licensing, Dog licensing page](https://www.courtenay.ca/city-hall/permits-and-licensing/dog-licensing)
  - Official wording: "All dogs over six months old living in Courtenay must have a license." … "Dogs must wear their licence tag on a collar or harness at all times."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Issued by:** The City of Courtenay, at City Hall (830 Cliffe Avenue).
  - Source: [Dog licensing, How to get a dog licence](https://www.courtenay.ca/city-hall/permits-and-licensing/dog-licensing)
  - Official wording: "Visit Courtenay City Hall" … "830 Cliffe Avenue"
  - Source: [Animal control, Dog licensing](https://www.courtenay.ca/services/bylaws/animal-control)
  - Official wording: "Licences are available at City Hall."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee, spayed or neutered:** $5 a year for a neutered male or spayed female dog. A vet certificate is required (proof for a first licence).
  - Source: [Dog licensing, Fees](https://www.courtenay.ca/city-hall/permits-and-licensing/dog-licensing)
  - Official wording: "Neutered male or spayed female | $5 annually" … "If this is your first licence and your dog has been spayed or neutered, please include proof from your veterinarian."
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897 (consolidated July 2021), Sched. A s. 3(b), 3(d)](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw-no1897-consolidated-version-jul-2021)
  - Official wording: "For every neutered male dog, proven to be such by the production of a" … "For every spayed female dog, proven to be such by the production of a"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee, not spayed or neutered:** $25 a year for an unneutered male or unspayed female dog.
  - Source: [Dog licensing, Fees](https://www.courtenay.ca/city-hall/permits-and-licensing/dog-licensing)
  - Official wording: "Unneutered male or unspayed female | $25 annually"
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897 (consolidated July 2021), Sched. A s. 3(a), 3(c)](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw-no1897-consolidated-version-jul-2021)
  - Official wording: "For every unneutered male dog:" … "For every unspayed female dog:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other fees and discounts:** Replacement licence or tag: $2. New resident with a valid current-year licence from another municipality: $1 for the rest of the year. A dog brought into the City on or after August 1 with proof of a licence bought elsewhere pays half the annual fee. A dog unlicensed when impounded pays an extra $50 plus the licence fee.
  - Source: [Dog licensing, Fees](https://www.courtenay.ca/city-hall/permits-and-licensing/dog-licensing)
  - Official wording: "Replacement licence or dog tag | $2" … "New Courtenay residents with a valid dog licence for the current year from another municipality | $1 for the rest of the year"
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897 (consolidated July 2021), Sched. A s. 2(c), 3(e)-(g)](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw-no1897-consolidated-version-jul-2021)
  - Official wording: "The owner of any dog unlicenced at the time of impoundment shall pay an" … "one-half of the annual licence fee." … "For a replacement licence or dog tag:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Licences expire on December 31 each year and must be renewed annually.
  - Source: [Dog licensing, Dog licensing page](https://www.courtenay.ca/city-hall/permits-and-licensing/dog-licensing)
  - Official wording: "Licences expire on December 31 each year and must be renewed annually."
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897 (consolidated July 2021), s. 10](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw-no1897-consolidated-version-jul-2021)
  - Official wording: "shall expire on the thirty-first day of December"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to get one:** In person at City Hall, 830 Cliffe Avenue, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or by mailing a cheque to City of Courtenay, 830 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay, BC V9N 2J7. Include your name, address, phone and the dog's name, breed, colour and gender.
  - Source: [Dog licensing, How to get a dog licence](https://www.courtenay.ca/city-hall/permits-and-licensing/dog-licensing)
  - Official wording: "Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m." … "Mail a cheque:" … "your dog’s name, breed, colour and gender"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, unlicensed dog:** Bylaw notice: $100 for no dog licence ($75 if paid within 14 days; $125 if paid late). Failing to affix the tag is also $100.
  - Source: [Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185, Appendix A, Animal Control Bylaw](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/3185-municipal-enforcement-bylaw-no-3185pdf)
  - Official wording: "No dog licence III.4 $100.00 $75.00 $125.00 Yes" … "Fail to affix dog licence tag III.7 $100.00 $75.00 $125.00 Yes"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897, 1996
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897 (consolidated July 2021), s. 44](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw-no1897-consolidated-version-jul-2021)
  - Official wording: "Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897, 1996"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Courtenay requires every dog over six months old kept in the City to be licensed under its [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw-no1897-consolidated-version-jul-2021). The dog must wear its licence tag on a collar or harness at all times. The licence comes from the City at City Hall.

## Steps

1. Gather your name, address and phone number, and your dog's name, breed, colour and gender.
2. For the $5 fee, get a veterinarian's certificate showing the dog is spayed or neutered (it is needed as proof for a first licence).
3. Go to City Hall, or mail a cheque with those details to City of Courtenay, 830 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay, BC V9N 2J7.
4. Put the tag on your dog's collar or harness.

## Good to know

- Licences expire on December 31. The licensing page says 2027 licences are now available.
- A dog brought into the City on or after August 1 with proof of a licence bought elsewhere pays half the annual fee.
- A dog that is unlicensed when impounded pays an extra $50 plus the licence fee.
- A bylaw notice for no dog licence is $100 ($75 if paid within 14 days; $125 if paid late). Not putting the tag on the dog is also $100. The bylaw also allows a court fine of $50 to $2,000 on conviction.

## What you'll need

- Your name, address and phone number
- Your dog's name, breed, colour and gender
- Veterinarian's certificate showing the dog is spayed or neutered, for the lower fee

## Official forms and pages

- [Dog licensing, City of Courtenay](https://www.courtenay.ca/city-hall/permits-and-licensing/dog-licensing)
- [Animal Control Bylaw 1897 (consolidated PDF)](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw-no1897-consolidated-version-jul-2021)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-licence.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/dog-licence.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/dog-licence.md)
- [Powell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/dog-licence.md)
- [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/dog-licence.md)
- [Port Alberni](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/dog-licence.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/dog-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Dog licensing, City of Courtenay](https://www.courtenay.ca/city-hall/permits-and-licensing/dog-licensing) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897 (consolidated July 2021) (PDF)](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw-no1897-consolidated-version-jul-2021) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185 (PDF)](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/3185-municipal-enforcement-bylaw-no-3185pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal control, City of Courtenay](https://www.courtenay.ca/services/bylaws/animal-control) (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 Courtenay. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/dog-licence/_