--- title: "Fort St James dog licences: fees and how to get one" question: "How do I get a dog licence in Fort St James, and what does it cost?" place: Fort St James, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/fort-st-james category: Pets, animals and wildlife owner: municipal owner_body: District of Fort St James sources_read: 2026-11-08 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/dog-licence/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/dog-licence.json" --- # Fort St James dog licences: fees and how to get one **Question:** How do I get a dog licence in Fort St James, and what does it cost? **Short answer:** In Fort St James, the District issues dog licences at the District office. Every dog six months or older needs one each calendar year. The fee is $15 for a spayed or neutered dog and $25 for one that is not. **Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Fort St James, https://www.fortstjames.ca) **Cost:** $15 a year spayed or neutered; $25 a year not spayed or neutered; assistance dogs $0. Late penalty $10; replacement tag $5; kennel licence $50. **How long:** A licence is valid for the calendar year. Fees are payable on January 31 each year. **Where:** - In person: Municipal Hall, 477 Stuart Drive West, Fort St. James, BC V0J 1P0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) - Phone: District Office, 250-996-8233 ## Key facts - **Licence required:** Yes. Every owner of a dog must hold a valid licence for each dog owned. A dog is one that is six months or older. - Source: [Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025, s. 4.2.2](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf) - Official wording: "Every owner of a dog shall hold a valid and subsisting licence for each dog" … "owned" - Source: [Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025, s. 2.17](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf) - Official wording: "Dog means any member of the canine species which is six (6) or more months" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Issued by:** The District of Fort St. James, through its Administrator; licences are bought at the District office. - Source: [Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025, s. 4.2.2](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf) - Official wording: "making application to the Administrator" - Source: [Licences and Permits, Annual Dog Licenses](https://www.fortstjames.ca/government/licences-permits) - Official wording: "Annual dog licenses can be purchased at the District office" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Fee, spayed or neutered:** $15 a year (neutered male or spayed female dog). Assistance dogs $0. - Source: [Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025, Sched. C, s. 1](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf) - Official wording: "The following licence fees shall be payable on the 31st day of January in each year: (a) Neutered Male Dog $15.00 (b) Un-neutered Male Dog $25.00" … "(a) Neutered Male Dog $15.00 (b) Un-neutered Male Dog $25.00 (c) Spayed Female Dog $15.00 (d) Unspayed Female Dog $25.00 (e) Assistance Dog $0.00" … "(c) Spayed Female Dog $15.00 (d) Unspayed Female Dog $25.00 (e) Assistance Dog $0.00 (f) Late Penalty $10.00 (g) Replacement Licence Tag $5.00" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Fee, not spayed or neutered:** $25 a year (un-neutered male or unspayed female dog). - Source: [Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025, Sched. C, s. 1](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf) - Official wording: "The following licence fees shall be payable on the 31st day of January in each year: (a) Neutered Male Dog $15.00 (b) Un-neutered Male Dog $25.00 (c) Spayed Female Dog $15.00 (d) Unspayed Female Dog $25.00" … "(b) Un-neutered Male Dog $25.00 (c) Spayed Female Dog $15.00 (d) Unspayed Female Dog $25.00 (e) Assistance Dog $0.00 (f) Late Penalty $10.00" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Other fees and discounts:** Late penalty $10. Replacement tag $5. Kennel licence $50 (needed for four or more dogs). Assistance dog $0. - Source: [Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025, Sched. C, s. 1](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf) - Official wording: "(d) Unspayed Female Dog $25.00 (e) Assistance Dog $0.00 (f) Late Penalty $10.00 (g) Replacement Licence Tag $5.00 (h) Kennel Licence $50.00" … "(e) Assistance Dog $0.00 (f) Late Penalty $10.00 (g) Replacement Licence Tag $5.00 (h) Kennel Licence $50.00 Upon payment of the annual licence fee the Administrator shall issue to the owner a numbered metal tag stamped" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Renewal:** Fees are payable on January 31 each year; licences must be renewed every year in January. - Source: [Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025, Sched. C, s. 1](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf) - Official wording: "The following licence fees shall be payable on the 31st day of January in each year" - Source: [Licences and Permits, Annual Dog Licenses](https://www.fortstjames.ca/government/licences-permits) - Official wording: "Licenses must be renewed every year in January" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **How to get one:** In person at the District office. Bring the dog's name, breed, colour, size and sex, and whether it is spayed or neutered, plus owner name, addresses and phone number. - Source: [Licences and Permits, Annual Dog Licenses](https://www.fortstjames.ca/government/licences-permits) - Official wording: "Annual dog licenses can be purchased at the District office" … "We will need to know your pet's name, breed, colour and size" - Source: [Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025, Sched. B](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf) - Official wording: "Whether or not the dog is spayed or neutered" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Fine, unlicensed dog:** Schedule D sets no dollar amount: the fine for failing to licence a dog is 'Applicable Licence Fees' (the licence fee and any late penalty). - Source: [Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025, Sched. D, s. 4.2.2](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf) - Official wording: "Failure to licence dog" … "Licence Fees" - Source: [Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025, Sched. A, s. 1.3](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf) - Official wording: "Where an impounded dog is not currently licenced" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Bylaw:** Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006 (office consolidation March 27, 2025, amended by Bylaw No. 1081, 2025) - Source: [Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025, s. 1.1](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf) - Official wording: "“District of Fort St. James Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006”" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 ## How it works The District of Fort St James licenses dogs under its [Animal Regulation Bylaw 833](), through its Administrator. Every owner must hold a valid licence for each dog, and a dog here is one aged six months or older. A licence is good for the current calendar year. ## Steps 1. Go to the District office at Municipal Hall, 477 Stuart Drive West. 2. Give the dog's name, breed, colour, size and sex, and say whether it is spayed or neutered. Also give your name, addresses and phone number. 3. Pay the fee and collect the tag. 4. Renew every January. The District's page says licences must be renewed in January. ## Good to know - The pages read do not offer an online or mail option. Call 250-996-8233 to ask. - A first licence is due by January 31, within six months of the dog's birth, or within one month of getting the dog. A $10 late penalty may be charged after that. - Keeping four or more dogs needs a $50 kennel licence. See the how-many-pets answer. - The bylaw sets no seniors or early-payment discount. - The bylaw's fine for an unlicensed dog is the applicable licence fee, including any late penalty, not a set dollar amount. ## Official forms and pages - [Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025 (PDF), District of Fort St James](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf) - [Licences and Permits, District of Fort St James](https://www.fortstjames.ca/government/licences-permits) ## Related questions - [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Fort St James](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/how-many-pets.md) - [Fort St James dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/dog-leash-rules.md) - [Fort St James rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/dangerous-dogs.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Dog licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-licence.md) - [Vanderhoof](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/dog-licence.md) - [Fraser Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fraser-lake/dog-licence.md) - [Burns Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burns-lake/dog-licence.md) - [Prince George](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/dog-licence.md) - [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/dog-licence.md) - [Granisle](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/dog-licence.md) ## Sources - [Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025 (PDF), District of Fort St James](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf) (read 2026-11-08) - [Licences and Permits, District of Fort St James](https://www.fortstjames.ca/government/licences-permits) (read 2026-11-08) - [Contact Us, District of Fort St James](https://www.fortstjames.ca/contact-us) (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 District of Fort St James. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/dog-licence/_