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

# Fort St. John dog licences: fees and how to get one

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

**Short answer:** In Fort St. John, every dog over three months old needs a City of Fort St. John licence tag. The fee is $20 a year, the same for every dog, or $100 for a biting or aggressive dog. Buy it online through DocuPet, at City Hall or at the North Peace SPCA.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Fort St. John, https://www.fortstjohn.ca)  
**Cost:** $20 a year for each dog (no different amount for spayed or neutered dogs); $100 for a biting or aggressive dog; $5 replacement tag. Service dogs and other exempt dogs pay nothing. Licence fees are non-refundable. DocuPet designer tags cost extra (price not stated).  
**How long:** Each licence is valid for 365 days from the day you buy it, so your renewal date depends on when you bought it.  
**Where:**
- Online: DocuPet (the City's licensing partner), https://fortstjohn.docupet.com/
- In person: City Hall (reception helps with the DocuPet process), 10631 100 Street, Fort St. John, BC V1J 3Z5 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; closed statutory holidays.)
- In person: North Peace SPCA, 9311 81 Avenue, Fort St. John, BC
- Phone: DocuPet licensing line, 1-855-249-1370
- Phone: Bylaw Services (licensing questions), 250-787-8150

## Key facts

- **Licence required:** Yes. All dogs over three months old living in Fort St. John must have and wear a current dog tag. Service dogs, RCMP dogs and dogs in school or research facilities (with documentation) are exempt. Visitors for up to two consecutive weeks, or 30 days in a calendar year, are exempt.
  - Source: [Animal Control, Dog Licensing](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/animal-control)
  - Official wording: "All dogs over the age of three (3) months living in the City of Fort St. John are required to have and wear a current dog tag"
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023), ss. 5, 15, 17](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "as soon as his or her Dog is three months of age" … "not exceeding thirty days in a calendar year" … "Service Dogs as defined under this Bylaw"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Issued by:** The City of Fort St. John, through DocuPet. Tags are sold online, at City Hall or at the North Peace SPCA.
  - Source: [Animal Control, Dog Licensing](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/animal-control)
  - Official wording: "The City of Fort St. John has partnered with DocuPet" … "Dog licences may be purchased online, at City Hall or the North Peace SPCA"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee, spayed or neutered:** $20 a year. The City does not charge a different amount for spayed or neutered dogs.
  - Source: [Animal Control, Dog Licensing, License Fees](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/animal-control)
  - Official wording: "$20 for each dog licence"
  - Source: [Animal Control brochure (revised January 2024), Schedule of Fees](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-brochure)
  - Official wording: "for responsible pet ownership. All Dogs $20 Licensing Pick up after your dog Replacement tag $5"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee, not spayed or neutered:** $20 a year, the same as for a spayed or neutered dog.
  - Source: [Animal Control, Dog Licensing, License Fees](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/animal-control)
  - Official wording: "$20 for each dog licence"
  - Source: [Animal Control brochure (revised January 2024), Schedule of Fees](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-brochure)
  - Official wording: "for responsible pet ownership. All Dogs $20 Licensing Pick up after your dog Replacement tag $5"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other fees and discounts:** Replacement tag $5. Biting or aggressive dog licence $100. Service dogs and other exempt dogs pay no fee. Designer tags cost extra. Licence fees are non-refundable.
  - Source: [Animal Control, Dog Licensing, License Fees](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/animal-control)
  - Official wording: "$100 for each biting or aggressive dog licence" … "$5 replacement tag" … "upgrade to one of DocuPet’s colourful designer tag styles for an additional fee"
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023), s. 14](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "Licence fees are non-refundable"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Each licence is valid for a full 365 days after purchase, so the renewal date depends on when you bought it.
  - Source: [Animal Control, Dog Licensing](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/animal-control)
  - Official wording: "all licences valid for a full 365 days after purchase"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to get one:** Online through DocuPet (fortstjohn.DocuPet.com), in person at City Hall (reception helps with the DocuPet process), at the North Peace SPCA, or by phone at 1-855-249-1370.
  - Source: [Animal Control, Dog Licensing](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/animal-control)
  - Official wording: "Dog licences may be purchased online, at City Hall or the North Peace SPCA, or by calling 1-855-249-1370."
  - Source: [Animal Control brochure (revised January 2024), Licensing](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-brochure)
  - Official wording: "Dog licenses can be conveniently acquired"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, unlicensed dog:** An unlicensed dog carries a $200 bylaw notice. The amount is $150 on days 1–14 and $250 on days 31–60. A compliance agreement is available.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023), Schedule C](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "OFFENCE SECTION PENALTY EARLY LATE COMPLIANCE PAYMENT PAYMENT AGREEMENT AVAILABLE (15 - 30 (1 - 14 (31 - 60 Days (50% of Penalty) Days) Days) Collections 60+) Unlicensed Dog 5 $200.00 $150.00 $250.00 Yes"
  - Source: [Animal Control brochure (revised January 2024), Bylaw Infractions](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-brochure)
  - Official wording: "• Dog licenses can be conveniently acquired online via Docupet. To license your dog, please Number of dogs Unlicensed dog $200 visit www.fortstjohn.DocuPet.com. Alternatively, • You are allowed to have a maximum of three (3) Failure to affix licence $200"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to include Bylaw 2584, 2023)
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023), s. 1](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as “Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Every dog over three months old living in Fort St. John must have and wear a current tag under the [Animal Control Bylaw 2556](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw). Licence a dog when it turns three months old. If you take on a dog that is already three months or older, the bylaw gives you one week. The City licenses dogs through DocuPet.

## Steps

1. Go to the DocuPet page for Fort St. John, visit City Hall or the North Peace SPCA, or call 1-855-249-1370.
2. Create a profile for your dog and pay $20, or $100 for a biting or aggressive dog.
3. Choose the standard tag, or a designer tag for an extra fee.
4. Fasten the tag to your dog's collar or harness. The dog must wear it.

## Good to know

- A licence runs 365 days from purchase, so note your own renewal date.
- Exempt: service dogs, RCMP dogs, and dogs in school or research facilities (with documentation). Visitors for up to two consecutive weeks, or 30 days in a calendar year, are also exempt.
- A replacement tag costs $5. Licence fees are not refunded.
- No dog licence is a bylaw notice of $200 ($150 if paid within 14 days; $250 on days 31 to 60). Not fastening the licence to the collar is also $200. A compliance agreement may be available.

## What you'll need

- Documentation showing your dog is a service dog, RCMP dog or similar, if you are claiming an exemption

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control page, City of Fort St. John](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/animal-control)
- [Animal Control Bylaw 2556, 2021 (consolidated PDF)](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw)
- [Animal Control Brochure (PDF)](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-brochure)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-licence.md)
- [Dawson Creek](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/dog-licence.md)
- [Pouce Coupe](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/dog-licence.md)
- [Hudson's Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hudsons-hope/dog-licence.md)
- [Chetwynd](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/dog-licence.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/dog-licence.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/dog-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control, City of Fort St. John](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/animal-control) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023) (PDF)](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control brochure (revised January 2024) (PDF)](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-brochure) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Pet Licensing in Fort St. John, DocuPet](https://fortstjohn.docupet.com/) (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 Fort St. John. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/dog-licence/_