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

# Gibsons dog licences: fees and how to get one

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

**Short answer:** In Gibsons, every dog over six months old needs a Town licence tag, renewed each year. Under Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw 1328 the fee is $25 for a spayed or neutered dog and $50 for one that is not. Apply in person at Town Hall. The Town's web pages still show older fees.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Gibsons, https://www.gibsons.ca)  
**Cost:** $25 a year for a spayed or neutered dog; $50 for a dog that is not. Replacement licence or tag $7.50. Free for guide and service dogs and for dogs under six months old. Fine for an unlicensed dog: bylaw notice $125.  
**How long:** Every licence and tag expires on December 31 of the year it was issued, so renew each year.  
**Where:**
- In person: Town Hall, Town of Gibsons, 474 South Fletcher Road, Gibsons, BC
- Phone: Town Hall, 604-886-2274

## Key facts

- **Licence required:** Yes. Every dog over six months old must have a valid Town licence tag and wear it on a collar or harness. Guide and service dogs are licensed free.
  - Source: [Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328, 2025, s. 6.1, 6.1.1, 6.1.2](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/166385/)
  - Official wording: "No person shall keep or have in their possession a dog unless the dog has" … "An owner of a dog over six (6) months old must make application to" … "the corresponding dog tag to a collar or harness worn at all times by"
  - Source: [Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328, 2025, s. 6.1.8(c)](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/166385/)
  - Official wording: "A dog licence and corresponding dog tag will be issued at no"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Issued by:** The Town of Gibsons (Town Hall, 474 South Fletcher Road).
  - Source: [Animal control, Licensing page](https://gibsons.ca/services/animal-control/)
  - Official wording: "Purchase your licence for dogs in the Town of Gibsons at Town Hall during regular business hours."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee, spayed or neutered:** $25 a year for a spayed female or neutered male dog (proof of spay or neuter may be required). (Sources differ: CONFLICT: the Town's Dog Licences page and a Dec 2025 news post say $22.50 regular ($15 early bird). Bylaw 1328 Schedule A (adopted March 17, 2026) sets $25 and has no early-bird rate. Bylaw followed. The Town's Dog Licences page still describes the old Dog Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 930 (linked to a 2002 bylaw) and 2025-26 fees; Bylaw No. 1328 was adopted March 17, 2026 and replaces Bylaw 930.)
  - Source: [Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328, 2025, Schedule A, s. 1](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/166385/)
  - Official wording: "For each neutered male dog (may" … "$25.00" … "For each spayed female dog (may"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee, not spayed or neutered:** $50 a year for an un-neutered male or un-spayed female dog. (Sources differ: CONFLICT: the Town's Dog Licences page says $45 regular ($30 early bird); the Dec 2025 news post says early bird $35. Bylaw 1328 Schedule A says $50. Bylaw followed.)
  - Source: [Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328, 2025, Schedule A, s. 1](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/166385/)
  - Official wording: "For each un-neutered male dog" … "For each un-spayed female dog" … "$50.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other fees and discounts:** Replacement licence or tag: $7.50. Schedule A has no early-payment, late or seniors discount (Town pages still mention them; ask the Town). No charge for guide or service dogs, dogs under 6 months, or a dog licensed elsewhere in B.C. that moves here (apply within 14 days). (Sources differ: CONFLICT: the Town's Dog Licences page offers a 50% discount for owners over 65, an early-bird rate (Dec 1 to Jan 31) and a $5 lost-tag fee. None of these are in Bylaw 1328 Schedule A. Bylaw followed; ask the Town whether the seniors discount still applies.)
  - Source: [Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328, 2025, Schedule A, s. 1; s. 6.1.5, 6.1.6](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/166385/)
  - Official wording: "Replacement of licence or tag" … "$7.50" … "Guide Dogs/Service Dogs or Dogs" … "the owner must within 14 days" … "apply to the Town for a licence at no cost." … "must transfer the licence within 14 days at no cost." … "under the age of 6 months."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Every licence and tag expires on December 31 of the year it was issued, so it must be renewed each year.
  - Source: [Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328, 2025, s. 6.1.8(a)](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/166385/)
  - Official wording: "Expires on the 31st day of December in the year in which it was" … "issued; and"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to get one:** In person at Town Hall (474 South Fletcher Road) during regular business hours. Bring name, address, phone, and the dog's name, breed, colour and sex, plus proof of spay or neuter for a first licence.
  - Source: [Animal control, How to Purchase or Renew](https://gibsons.ca/services/animal-control/)
  - Official wording: "Purchase your licence for dogs in the Town of Gibsons at Town Hall during regular business hours."
  - Source: [2026 dog licences are available, 2026 dog licence news post (Dec 11, 2025)](https://gibsons.ca/2026-dog-licences-are-available/)
  - Official wording: "Visit Gibsons Town Hall (474 South Fletcher Road) during regular business hours. Please bring:" … "Proof of spay/neuter (for first-time licences)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, unlicensed dog:** Bylaw notice: $125 (penalty), $100 if paid early, $150 if paid late.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1125, Schedule A, Bylaw 1328 s. 6.1](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/104779/)
  - Official wording: "1328 5.7.2 Fail to leash dog in heat $125 $100 $150 Y 1328 6.1 No dog licence $125 $100 $150 Y 1328 6.1.1 Fail to display licence $80 $60 $100 Y"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328, 2025
  - Source: [Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328, 2025, Title](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/166385/)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as "Town of Gibsons Animal Care and"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The Town of Gibsons licenses dogs under its [Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328](<https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/166385/>), adopted March 17, 2026. Every dog over six months old must have a valid Town licence tag, and the tag must be attached to a collar or harness the dog wears at all times.

The fee is $25 a year for a spayed or neutered dog and $50 a year for a dog that is not. No fee is charged for guide or service dogs, dogs under six months old, or a dog already licensed elsewhere in B.C. that moves to Gibsons (apply within 14 days). A replacement licence or tag is $7.50.

## Steps

1. Go to Town Hall, 474 South Fletcher Road, during regular business hours.
2. Bring your name, address and phone number, and the dog's name, breed, colour and sex. For a first licence, bring proof of spay or neuter if you want the lower fee.
3. Pay the fee and attach the tag to your dog's collar or harness.
4. Renew every year. Licences expire December 31.

## Good to know

- The Town's Dog Licences page and news post still describe the old bylaw, with different fees, an early-bird rate and a seniors discount. Bylaw 1328 Schedule A has none of those. Ask the Town (604-886-2274) which applies to you.
- No online or mail option is described on the Town's pages.
- An unlicensed dog can bring a bylaw notice of $125 ($100 if paid early, $150 if paid late). Failing to display the licence is $80 ($60 early, $100 late).
- Leash and pet-limit rules are in the related answers.

## What you'll need

- Proof of spay or neuter for a first licence (may be required for the lower fee)

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328 (Town of Gibsons)](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/166385/)
- [Animal control, Town of Gibsons](https://gibsons.ca/services/animal-control/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-licence.md)
- [Bowen Island](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/dog-licence.md)
- [West Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/dog-licence.md)
- [Lions Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/dog-licence.md)
- [Sechelt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/dog-licence.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/dog-licence.md)
- [North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/dog-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328, 2025, Town of Gibsons](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/166385/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1125, Town of Gibsons (consolidated)](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/104779/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Animal control, Town of Gibsons](https://gibsons.ca/services/animal-control/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [2026 dog licences are available, Town of Gibsons](https://gibsons.ca/2026-dog-licences-are-available/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Contact us, Town of Gibsons](https://gibsons.ca/contact-us/) (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 Town of Gibsons. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/dog-licence/_