Lake Cowichan dog licences: fees and how to get one

How do I get a dog licence in Lake Cowichan, and what does it cost?

Lake Cowichan, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

In Lake Cowichan, every dog over four months old needs a Town dog licence. The fee is $15 a year if paid before the end of February and $30 after, plus $10 more for a dog that is not spayed or neutered.

Key facts

Licence required	Yes. No one may keep a dog in the Town without a dog licence. A dog is any canine over four months old.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019, s. 2.1, s. 6.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording DOG shall mean any animal of the canine species over the age of four months, regardless of sex; unless a dog licence under this bylaw has been obtained
Issued by	The Town of Lake Cowichan (the bylaw's Collector is the Town's collector; animal control is run through the Town office).Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019, s. 2.1; Animal Control, Animal Control page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording COLLECTOR shall mean the Collector of the Town of Lake Cowichan The enforcement of the Town's animal control bylaws is now run through the Town office.
Fee, spayed or neutered	$15 a year if paid before the end of February (Schedule A); $30 after the end of February. Section 6.4 says the fee is due on or before January 31, so the bylaw text and schedule differ.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019, Schedule A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording Annual Dog Licence Fee before the end of February $ 15.00 Annual Dog Licence Fee after the end of February 30.00 The annual licence fee shall be payable on or before January 31st of
Fee, not spayed or neutered	Base fee plus an additional $10 for an unspayed or unneutered dog (so $25 before the end of February, $40 after). The owner must prove the dog is spayed or neutered in writing.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019, s. 6.6, Schedule A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording Additional Licence Fee for unspayed/unneutered Dogs 10.00 Establishing written proof of the claim that the dog has been spayed or neutered will be the responsibility of the owner.
Other fees and discounts	Late licence fee: $30 after the end of February (the bylaw says a late fee applies after January 31). Replacement tag: $5. No senior discount found.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019, s. 6.5, s. 6.10, Schedule A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording After January 31st of each year the late licence fee Replacement tag 5.00
Renewal	Licence tags expire December 31 each year. The annual fee is payable on or before January 31 each year, or within the first month of getting a dog.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019, s. 6.4, s. 6.8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording The annual licence fee shall be payable on or before January 31st of Every licence tag issued under this bylaw shall expire on December 31st of each year.
How to get one	Not confirmed. The bylaw and the Town's Animal Control page do not say where or how to buy a licence.
Fine, unlicensed dog	$35 ticketed fine for no dog licence. $25 if the licence tag is not affixed.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019, Schedule A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording No dog license 35.00 License tag not affixed 25.00
Bylaw	Town of Lake Cowichan Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019 (as amended by Bylaw No. 1052-2021)Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019, s. 1; Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021, Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as “Town of Lake Cowichan Animal Animal Control Bylaw Amendment Bylaw No.1052-2021

How it works

The Town of Lake Cowichan requires a licence for every dog kept in the Town. Under its Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019, a dog is any canine over four months old. The Town runs animal control through Town Hall.

Steps

Call Town Hall at 250-749-6681 or visit 39 South Shore Road to ask how to buy or renew a licence. The bylaw and the Town's Animal Control page do not say where or how to buy one.
If the dog is spayed or neutered, be ready to show proof in writing, or the extra $10 applies.
Pay within the first month of getting the dog, and renew each year.

Good to know

Licence tags expire December 31 each year.
The fee is $15 if paid before the end of February and $30 after. The bylaw text (s. 6.4) says the fee is due on or before January 31, so the bylaw and its fee schedule differ. Confirm the date with Town Hall.
A dog that is not spayed or neutered costs an extra $10: $25 before the end of February, $40 after.
A replacement tag is $5.
No licence is a $35 ticket. A tag that is not attached is a $25 ticket.
No senior discount was found.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Ladysmith · Duncan · North Cowichan · Nanaimo · North Saanich · Highlands

Dog licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Animal Control, Town of Lake Cowichan (read 2026-11-08)
Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan (read 2026-11-08)
Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan (read 2026-11-08)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 8 of 9 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.