---
title: "Cumberland dog licences: fees and how to get one"
question: "How do I get a dog licence in Cumberland, and what does it cost?"
place: Cumberland, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/cumberland
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of Cumberland
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/dog-licence/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/dog-licence.json"
---

# Cumberland dog licences: fees and how to get one

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

**Short answer:** In Cumberland, every dog over three months old needs a Village licence each year. It costs $10 for a spayed or neutered dog and $30 for an unneutered dog one year or older. Buy it at the Village Office or Cumberland Recreation.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Cumberland, https://cumberland.ca)  
**Cost:** $10 per dog per year if spayed or neutered; $30 if not spayed or neutered and one year or older ($10 if the unaltered dog is under one year). Aggressive or biting dog $50. Replacement tag $5. Fines for an unlicensed dog: $50 ($25 if paid early).  
**How long:** A licence runs January 1 to December 31. Licences for the coming year can be bought from November 1.  
**Where:**
- In person: Village Office, 2673 Dunsmuir Avenue, Cumberland, BC (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
- In person: Cumberland Recreation, 250-336-2231
- Email: Send the completed application, info@cumberland.ca
- Online: Pay dog licence fees online by credit card (third-party service), https://cumberland.ca/make-a-payment/

## Key facts

- **Licence required:** Yes. Every dog over three months old must be licensed and wear its tag. Apply by January 1 each year, or within 30 days of the dog entering the Village. Service animals and dogs under three months are exempt.
  - Source: [Dog Licences, Dog Licences page](https://cumberland.ca/dog-licences/)
  - Official wording: "Dogs over three months of age must be licenced and wear their tag."
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (consolidated December 18, 2020), s. 19, 21(a), 35](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bylaw-1061-CONS-Dec-18-2020.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall own, possess or harbour an unlicensed dog within the boundaries of the Village." … "by January 1 each year or within 30 days of the dog entering the Village," … "a service animal," … "a dog under the age of three (3) months."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Issued by:** The Village of Cumberland (Village office and Cumberland Recreation).
  - Source: [Dog Licences, Dog Licences page, Application and Fees](https://cumberland.ca/dog-licences/)
  - Official wording: "You can apply for a dog licence at the Village office and at Cumberland Recreation."
  - Source: [Dogs and Animal Control, Dogs and Animal Control page, Animal Impoundment](https://cumberland.ca/animal-control/)
  - Official wording: "the SPCA will no longer be selling dog licences"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fee, spayed or neutered:** $10 per dog per year.
  - Source: [Dog Licences, Licence Fees](https://cumberland.ca/dog-licences/)
  - Official wording: "Spayed/neutered: $10 per dog"
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (consolidated December 18, 2020), Schedule A, s. 1(a)](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bylaw-1061-CONS-Dec-18-2020.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Altered dogs and unaltered dogs under one year of age"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fee, not spayed or neutered:** $30 per year for an unspayed or unneutered dog one year of age or older; $10 if the unaltered dog is under one year of age.
  - Source: [Dog Licences, Licence Fees](https://cumberland.ca/dog-licences/)
  - Official wording: "Unspayed/unneutered one year of age and older: $30 per dog" … "Dogs under one year of age: $10 per dog"
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (consolidated December 18, 2020), Schedule A, s. 1(b)](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bylaw-1061-CONS-Dec-18-2020.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Unaltered dogs one year of age and older"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Other fees and discounts:** Replacement of a lost or damaged tag: $5. Aggressive/biting dog licence: $50. Licence fees are not pro-rated and not refunded if the dog is altered later.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (consolidated December 18, 2020), Schedule A, s. 1(c)-(d); s. 26-27](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bylaw-1061-CONS-Dec-18-2020.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Replacement of lost or damaged tag" … "Aggressive/biting dogs" … "No refund shall be given if a dog is altered after its owner purchases a dog license." … "Dog licensing fees shall not be pro-rated during the year."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Renewal:** Licences run January 1 to December 31 and expire December 31. Licences for the coming year can be bought from November 1.
  - Source: [Dog Licences, Dog Licences page](https://cumberland.ca/dog-licences/)
  - Official wording: "Dog licences are valid from January 1 to December 31. Licences for the coming year can be purchased starting November 1."
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (consolidated December 18, 2020), s. 29](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bylaw-1061-CONS-Dec-18-2020.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall expire on the 31st day of December in that year."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to get one:** In person at the Village Office or Cumberland Recreation, or complete the application and email it to info@cumberland.ca or drop it with payment at the Village Office drop box or Cumberland Recreation. Staff then contact you to pick up the tag. Dog licence fees can also be paid online by credit card (third-party service).
  - Source: [Dog Licences, Application and Fees](https://cumberland.ca/dog-licences/)
  - Official wording: "You can apply for a dog licence at the Village office and at Cumberland Recreation." … "You can complete the Dog Licence application and submit by email to info@cumberland.ca or drop off at the Village Office drop box or Cumberland Recreation with payment."
  - Source: [Make a Payment, Make A Payment page, Online Credit Card Payment](https://cumberland.ca/make-a-payment/)
  - Official wording: "You can make payment* through the third-party credit card service for the following:" … "dog licence fees"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine, unlicensed dog:** $50 ($25 if paid early) for an unlicensed dog.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1053, 2017 (consolidated August 2025), Schedule B, Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Bylaw-1053-Municipal-Ticket-Info-CONS-Aug-2025.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Unlicensed dog 19 $50 $25" … "Failure to display dog licence 31 $50 $25"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (consolidated December 18, 2020), s. 1](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bylaw-1061-CONS-Dec-18-2020.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw shall be cited as “Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The Village of Cumberland issues dog licences under its [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061](<https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bylaw-1061-CONS-Dec-18-2020.pdf>). Every dog over three months old must be licensed and wear its tag. Apply by January 1 each year, or within 30 days of the dog coming into the Village. Service animals and dogs under three months are exempt. Since January 1, 2025 the SPCA no longer sells Cumberland licences.

## Steps

1. Get the application from the [Dog Licences page](<https://cumberland.ca/dog-licences/>).
2. Bring it with payment to the Village Office or Cumberland Recreation, or email it to info@cumberland.ca and drop the payment at the Village Office drop box or Cumberland Recreation.
3. Staff will contact you to pick up the tag.
4. Put the tag on your dog. A lost or damaged tag is replaced for $5.

## Good to know

- Fees are not pro-rated and are not refunded if the dog is altered later.
- The Village page and bylaw state no senior discount, early-payment discount or late fee.
- An unlicensed dog can bring a $50 ticket ($25 if paid early). An impounded unlicensed dog also carries an extra $100 impoundment fee.
- An aggressive or biting dog licence is $50 a year.

## Official forms and pages

- [Dog Licences, Village of Cumberland](https://cumberland.ca/dog-licences/)
- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (PDF)](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bylaw-1061-CONS-Dec-18-2020.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-licence.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/dog-licence.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/dog-licence.md)
- [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/dog-licence.md)
- [Powell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-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 Licences, Village of Cumberland](https://cumberland.ca/dog-licences/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Dogs and Animal Control, Village of Cumberland](https://cumberland.ca/animal-control/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Make a Payment, Village of Cumberland](https://cumberland.ca/make-a-payment/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (consolidated December 18, 2020) (PDF)](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bylaw-1061-CONS-Dec-18-2020.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1053, 2017 (consolidated August 2025) (PDF)](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Bylaw-1053-Municipal-Ticket-Info-CONS-Aug-2025.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)

_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 Village of Cumberland. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/dog-licence/_