---
title: "Esquimalt dog licences: fees and how to get one"
question: "How do I get a dog licence, and what does it cost in Esquimalt?"
place: Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/esquimalt
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: Township of Esquimalt
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/dog-licence/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/dog-licence.json"
---

# Esquimalt dog licences: fees and how to get one

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

**Short answer:** In Esquimalt, every dog over 4 months old needs a Township dog licence. It costs $30 a year for a sterilized dog and $40 for one that is not. Licences expire December 31. You can buy one online, at Municipal Hall or at several local outlets.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Township of Esquimalt, https://www.esquimalt.ca)  
**Cost:** $30 sterilized; $40 not sterilized. Late purchase fee $20 if bought on or after March 1 (unless the dog was acquired that year). Replacement tag $5. No fee for guide dogs and police dogs. Fine for no licence: $100 bylaw notice ($75 if paid early).  
**How long:** Every licence expires December 31. Licences go on sale at the start of each year, and reminder notices are mailed to owners licensed the year before.  
**Where:**
- Online: Apply or pay online (Dog Licences page; MyEsquimalt), https://www.esquimalt.ca/government-bylaws/animal-control/dog-licences
- In person: Esquimalt Municipal Hall (also has a drop box), 1229 Esquimalt Rd, Esquimalt, BC V9A 3P1 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Phone: Dog licences, Municipal Hall, 250-414-7136
- Email: Dog licence email, dogs@esquimalt.ca

## Key facts

- **Licence required:** Yes. No one may keep a dog over 4 months old without a licence from the Township. Visiting dogs (non-residents, up to 30 consecutive days) need none if licensed where the owner lives.
  - Source: [Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021), s. 46(1), s. 48](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2021-02-bylaw-2841-animal-management-bylaw-consolidation)
  - Official wording: "No person shall keep a dog over the age of 4 months unless a licence has been" … "obtained from the Township for the dog."
  - Source: [Dog Licences, Dog Licences page](https://www.esquimalt.ca/government-bylaws/animal-control/dog-licences)
  - Official wording: "all dogs over the age of four months must be licensed"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Issued by:** The Township of Esquimalt (Municipal Hall, dogs@esquimalt.ca, 250-414-7136). Victoria Animal Control Services is the pound and also sells licences.
  - Source: [Dog Licences, Dog Licences page](https://www.esquimalt.ca/government-bylaws/animal-control/dog-licences)
  - Official wording: "Call us at 250-414-7136" … "email dogs@esquimalt.ca" … "Victoria Animal Control Services at 564 David Street"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee, spayed or neutered:** $30 a year.
  - Source: [Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021), Schedule A, item 1](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2021-02-bylaw-2841-animal-management-bylaw-consolidation)
  - Official wording: "Sterilized Dog licence $30.00"
  - Source: [Dog Licences, Dog Licence Fees](https://www.esquimalt.ca/government-bylaws/animal-control/dog-licences)
  - Official wording: "Sterilized dog licence: $30"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee, not spayed or neutered:** $40 a year.
  - Source: [Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021), Schedule A, item 2](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2021-02-bylaw-2841-animal-management-bylaw-consolidation)
  - Official wording: "Unsterilized Dog licence $40.00"
  - Source: [Dog Licences, Dog Licence Fees](https://www.esquimalt.ca/government-bylaws/animal-control/dog-licences)
  - Official wording: "Unsterilized dog licence: $40"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other fees and discounts:** Late purchase fee $20 (licence bought on or after March 1, unless the dog was acquired that year). Replacement tag $5. No fee for guide dogs and police dogs. A licence is free for a dog licensed in another jurisdiction (surrender that tag), or for a dog sterilized in the past 12 months (proof needed, once only). (Sources differ: The web page says the $20 late penalty applies after 30 days from when the licence was due and mentions a February 28, 2025 deadline; the bylaw says on or after March 1. Followed the bylaw. The page says new residents with a current licence from elsewhere in Canada get a licence for the rest of the year at no charge.)
  - Source: [Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021), s. 46(4)-(7), s. 49, Schedule A](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2021-02-bylaw-2841-animal-management-bylaw-consolidation)
  - Official wording: "A person who obtains a licence on or after March 1st must pay the late purchase" … "fee prescribed in Schedule" … "Late purchase $20.00" … "Replacement licence tag $5.00" … "No dog licence fee, late licensing penalty or replacement dog licence tag fee shall be" … "holds a valid licence for the dog issued in another jurisdiction"
  - Source: [Dog Licences, Fees](https://www.esquimalt.ca/government-bylaws/animal-control/dog-licences)
  - Official wording: "A $20 late dog penalty is added when an owner fails to license a dog within 30 days of the date on which the dog was required to be licensed."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Every licence expires December 31. Licences go on sale at the start of each year; reminder notices are mailed to owners licensed the year before.
  - Source: [Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021), s. 46(2)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2021-02-bylaw-2841-animal-management-bylaw-consolidation)
  - Official wording: "Every licence expires on December 31 of the calendar year for which the licence"
  - Source: [Dog Licences, Dog Licences page](https://www.esquimalt.ca/government-bylaws/animal-control/dog-licences)
  - Official wording: "Dog licences go on sale at the beginning of each year and are valid until December 31."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to get one:** Online (apply form, or pay through MyEsquimalt); in person at Esquimalt Municipal Hall (1229 Esquimalt Road), Shoppers Drug Mart (870 Esquimalt Road), Bay Street Castle Building Centre (220 Bay Street) or Victoria Animal Control Services (564 David Street); by mail; or via the Municipal Hall drop box. Animal Control Officers also sell licences from their vans.
  - Source: [Dog Licences, Dog Licences page](https://www.esquimalt.ca/government-bylaws/animal-control/dog-licences)
  - Official wording: "Pay online with MyEsquimalt" … "Shoppers Drug Mart - 870 Esquimalt Road" … "Mail your remittance slip and payment to the Esquimalt Municipal Hall" … "Animal Control Officers also sell licences from their vans"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, unlicensed dog:** Bylaw notice: $100 ($75 if paid early, $125 late payment) for failing to licence a dog. Not wearing the tag is $60 ($45 early, $75 late).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2014, No. 2839 (consolidated September 2026), Schedule N, s. 46 and s. 47(2)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2026-09-bylaw-2839-bylaw-notice-enforcement-consolidation)
  - Official wording: "Failure to licence dog 100.00 75.00 125.00" … "Failure to attach dog licence tag to collar or 60.00 45.00 75.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Management Bylaw, 2015, No. 2841 (licensing is Part 6, fees in Schedule A)
  - Source: [Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021), Title, s. 1](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2021-02-bylaw-2841-animal-management-bylaw-consolidation)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as the "Animal Management Bylaw, 2015, No. 2841"."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the Township's [Animal Management Bylaw No. 2841](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2021-02-bylaw-2841-animal-management-bylaw-consolidation), no one may keep a dog over 4 months old without a licence from the Township of Esquimalt. Licences run by calendar year and expire December 31. The Township issues them; Victoria Animal Control Services, the pound, also sells them.

## Steps

1. Apply and pay online on the Township's [Dog Licences page](https://www.esquimalt.ca/government-bylaws/animal-control/dog-licences) or through MyEsquimalt.
2. Or buy one in person at Municipal Hall (1229 Esquimalt Road), Shoppers Drug Mart (870 Esquimalt Road), Bay Street Castle Building Centre (220 Bay Street) or Victoria Animal Control Services (564 David Street). You can also mail the form or use the Municipal Hall drop box. Animal Control Officers also sell licences from their vans.
3. Bring proof if you want a free first licence for a dog sterilized in the past 12 months.

## Good to know

- Fees: $30 sterilized, $40 not sterilized. Replacement tag $5.
- A licence bought on or after March 1 carries a $20 late purchase fee, unless the dog was acquired that year. The Township's web page describes the late penalty differently (after 30 days from when the licence was due), so confirm with the Township.
- No fee for guide dogs and police dogs. A dog sterilized in the past 12 months can be licensed free once, with proof. A dog already licensed in another jurisdiction is licensed free if you surrender that tag.
- Visiting dogs of non-residents need no licence for up to 30 consecutive days if licensed where the owner lives.
- Not licensing a dog is a $100 bylaw notice ($75 if paid early). Not wearing the tag is $60 ($45 early). An unlicensed dog may also be impounded.

## Official forms and pages

- [Dog Licences, Township of Esquimalt](https://www.esquimalt.ca/government-bylaws/animal-control/dog-licences)
- [Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021) (PDF)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2021-02-bylaw-2841-animal-management-bylaw-consolidation)

## Related questions

- [Esquimalt dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/how-many-pets.md)
- [Esquimalt rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Esquimalt bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/bylaw-fines.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)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/dog-licence.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/dog-licence.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/dog-licence.md)
- [Oak Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/dog-licence.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/dog-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Dog Licences, Township of Esquimalt](https://www.esquimalt.ca/government-bylaws/animal-control/dog-licences) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021) (PDF)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2021-02-bylaw-2841-animal-management-bylaw-consolidation) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2014, No. 2839 (consolidated September 2026) (PDF)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2026-09-bylaw-2839-bylaw-notice-enforcement-consolidation) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 Township of Esquimalt. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/dog-licence/_