{"title":"Fernie dog licences: fees and how to get one","question":"How do I get a dog licence in Fernie, and what does it cost?","slug":"dog-licence","place":{"path":"ca/bc/fernie","name":"Fernie","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of Fernie","url":"https://www.fernie.ca"},"short_answer":"Every dog over four months old in the City of Fernie needs a City licence for the calendar year. Buy it at City Hall, 501-3rd Avenue. The fee is $15 for a neutered or spayed dog and $35 for one that is not.","aliases":["dog license fernie","dog tag fernie","how much is a dog licence in fernie"],"cost":"$15 neutered male or spayed female; $35 unneutered male or open female; replacement tag $1. Aggressive dog $150, vicious dog $227, dangerous dog $567. No early-payment discount, late fee or seniors discount was found.","how_long":"Licences run January 1 to December 31 each year and expire on December 31.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Fernie City Hall","value":"501-3rd Avenue, Fernie, BC"},{"type":"phone","label":"City Hall","value":"250-423-6817"},{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Services","value":"250-423-2244"},{"type":"email","label":"Bylaw Services","value":"bylawservices@fernie.ca"}],"documents":["Owner's name and address, where the dog is kept, and a description of each dog (name, sex, colouring, age, breed, and whether spayed or neutered)"],"forms":[{"title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF)","url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927"},{"title":"Animal Responsibility, City of Fernie","url":"https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/animal-responsibility.html"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-leash-rules","title":"Fernie dog leash rules and off-leash areas","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/dog-leash-rules/"},{"slug":"dangerous-dogs","title":"Fernie rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/dangerous-dogs/"},{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Fernie","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/how-many-pets/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/sparwood","name":"Sparwood","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/dog-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cranbrook","name":"Cranbrook","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/dog-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/elkford","name":"Elkford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/dog-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kimberley","name":"Kimberley","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/dog-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/canal-flats","name":"Canal Flats","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/dog-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/creston","name":"Creston","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/dog-licence/"}],"topic":{"title":"Dog licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-licence/"},"facts":{"required":{"label":"Licence required","value":"Yes. Every dog over four months old kept on a parcel needs a valid licence for the current calendar year, and the licence tag must be worn on the dog's collar or harness at all times.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"s. 4.1, 4.4","quotes":["No person shall keep or permit to be kept on a parcel a Dog over the age of four","(4) months unless a valid and subsisting Dog Licence for the current calendar year","a valid Dog Licence tag is displayed on the Dog"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"issued_by":{"label":"Issued by","value":"The City of Fernie. Applications go to the City's Corporate Officer, and licences are sold at City Hall.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"s. 4.3","quotes":["Every application for a Dog Licence shall be made to the Corporate Officer"]},{"url":"https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/animal-responsibility.html","title":"Animal Responsibility, City of Fernie","section":"Licensing your Dog","quotes":["For sale at City Hall (501-3rd Avenue)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee_altered":{"label":"Fee, spayed or neutered","value":"$15 a year for one neutered male or spayed female dog.","short":"$15 a year","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["One neutered male or spayed female dog; $15.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee_unaltered":{"label":"Fee, not spayed or neutered","value":"$35 a year for one unneutered male or open female dog.","short":"$35 a year","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["One unneutered male or open female dog; $35.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_fees":{"label":"Other fees and discounts","value":"Replacement tag $1. Aggressive Dog licence $150, Vicious Dog licence $227, Dangerous Dog licence $567. Impoundment: $50 first, $75 second, $100 third and later, plus $10 a day board.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["Replacement tag. $1.00","Aggressive Dog $150.00","Vicious Dog $227.00","Dangerous Dog $567.00","first impoundment: $50.00","second impoundment: $75.00","third and subsequent impoundments: $100.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"renewal":{"label":"Renewal","value":"Every licence runs from January 1 to December 31 and expires on December 31.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"s. 4.2","quotes":["Every Dog Licence issued under this Bylaw shall expire on the thirty-first day of","December next following the date on which the licence was issued"]},{"url":"https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/animal-responsibility.html","title":"Animal Responsibility, City of Fernie","section":"Licensing your Dog","quotes":["Valid from January 1 to December 31 each year"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"how_to_get":{"label":"How to get one","value":"Buy at City Hall, 501-3rd Avenue. The application needs the owner's name and address, where the dog is kept, and a description of each dog (name, sex, colouring, age, breed, spayed or neutered).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/animal-responsibility.html","title":"Animal Responsibility, City of Fernie","section":"Licensing your Dog","quotes":["Visit City Hall to purchase your Dog Licence."]},{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"s. 4.3","quotes":["a full description of each Dog that must be licensed, including name, sex,"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine_unlicensed":{"label":"Fine, unlicensed dog","value":"Municipal ticket $200 for an unlicensed dog over four months, and $200 for not having the licence tag on the dog.","short":"Ticket $200","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/55199","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2041 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"Appendix 7 of Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2041, s. 4.1 and 4.4","quotes":["Unlicensed dog over four (4) months 4.1 $200.00","Failure to affix dog license tag 4.4 $200.00"]},{"url":"https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/animal-responsibility.html","title":"Animal Responsibility, City of Fernie","section":"Licensing your Dog","quotes":["The fine for not having a dog license is $50.00 for the first impoundment, $75.00 for the second and $100.00 for the third"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":"The City web page calls $50, $75 and $100 the \"fine\" for not having a licence. Those match the impoundment fees in Schedule A of the bylaw, not the ticket schedule. The ticket schedule (Bylaw 2041) sets $200. The ticket schedule heading says \"Animal Control Bylaw No. 2436, 2021\" but Schedule 1 of the same bylaw still lists \"Animal Control Bylaw No. 2346, 2018\" (repealed); the appendix sections match Bylaw 2436."},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"Title and Part 4","quotes":["This Bylaw may be cited as","ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW NO. 2436, 2021"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":9,"stated":9,"matched":9,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder the [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927), no one may keep a dog over four months old in the City of Fernie without a valid licence for the current calendar year. The tag must be on the dog at all times.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Go to City Hall, 501-3rd Avenue, to buy the licence.\n2. Give the owner's name and address, where the dog is kept, and a description of the dog, including whether it is spayed or neutered.\n3. Pay the fee ($15 or $35) and take the tag.\n4. Put the tag on the dog.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- A municipal ticket for an unlicensed dog is $200, and so is a ticket for not having the tag on the dog. The City page calls $50, $75 and $100 a \"fine\"; those amounts match the bylaw's impoundment fees.\n- Impoundment fees are $50 the first time, $75 the second and $100 the third and after, plus $10 a day for board. An impounded unlicensed dog also needs its licence fee paid.\n- Lost tags are replaced on application to the Bylaw Enforcement Officer.\n- The City's page names City Hall only. Ask City Hall whether you can pay online or by card.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/animal-responsibility.html","title":"Animal Responsibility, City of Fernie","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/55199","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2041 (PDF), City of Fernie","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 9 of 9 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/dog-licence/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/dog-licence.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/dog-licence.json"}}