Nelson dog licences: fees and how to get one

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

Nelson, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

Every dog in Nelson needs a City licence. It costs $30 a year for a spayed or neutered dog and $70 for one that is not. Buy it online through Docupet or in person at City Hall, Suite 101, 310 Ward Street. A vicious or pit bull terrier-type dog is $300.

Key facts

Licence required	Yes. Every dog must be licensed; the bylaw states no minimum age. A person under 17 needs a parent's or guardian's written consent, and the parent is then treated as owner.Animal Regulation and Control Bylaw 2333 (consolidation revised December 5, 2016), s. 2, 6; Pet Licences, Dog Licences · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No person shall own a dog on or after the commencement of the licence year without obtaining forthwith from the Municipality and holding a licence for the dog. A licence may be issued to a person under the age of seventeen (17) years if the application for the licence is accompanied by a written consent by the parent or all dogs are required to be licensed within the City of Nelson
Issued by	The City of Nelson, online through Docupet or in person at City Hall.Pet Licences, Dog Licences; Animal Regulation and Control Bylaw 2333 (consolidation revised December 5, 2016), s. 3(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Dog owners in Nelson can purchase their licence online through Docupet, or in person at City Hall. the Municipality shall issue to the owner a dog licence tag
Fee, spayed or neutered	$30 a year for a spayed or neutered dog. A veterinarian's certificate is required as proof.Fees and Charges Bylaw 3092, Schedule M, Schedule M, Licence fees; Pet Licences, Dog Licences · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Neutered Male Dog $ 30.00 Spayed Female Dog $ 30.00 A certificate from a qualified veterinarian is required as proof that the dog has been neutered or spayed. Dogs spayed or neutered: $30.00/year
Fee, not spayed or neutered	$70 a year for a dog that is not spayed or neutered.Fees and Charges Bylaw 3092, Schedule M, Schedule M, Licence fees; Pet Licences, Dog Licences · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Unneutered Male Dog $ 70.00 Unspayed Female Dog $ 70.00 Dogs not spayed or neutered $70.00/year
Other fees and discounts	Replacement tag $15. Kennel licence $95. Vicious/Pit Bull Terrier dog licence $300. If an unaltered dog is neutered or spayed during the year, the difference in fee is refunded with a vet certificate. Licences are not transferable. No senior or early-payment discount found.Fees and Charges Bylaw 3092, Schedule M; Animal Regulation and Control Bylaw 2333 (consolidation revised December 5, 2016), s. 3(b), 4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Replacement License $ 15.00 Kennel License $ 95.00 Vicious/Pit Bull Terrier Dog $ 300.00 shall be eligible for a refund equal to the difference between the licence fee paid and that of a neutered or spayed dog licence fee is not transferable to another dog, or to an owner other than the person to whom was
Renewal	The bylaw defines the licence year as January 1 to December 31. The City's Pet Licences page says licence fees are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.Sources differ: The bylaw requires a licence on or after the start of each licence year (s. 2) but does not state an expiry date; the web page says 12 months from purchase. Confirm with City Hall (250-352-5511).Animal Regulation and Control Bylaw 2333 (consolidation revised December 5, 2016), s. 1 definition of License Year; Pet Licences, Dog Licences · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording means the period from January 1st to December 31st, both inclusive, in any year. License fees are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.
How to get one	Online through Docupet (nelson.docupet.com), or in person at City Hall, Suite 101, 310 Ward Street, from the cashier. Phone 250-352-5511.Pet Licences, Dog Licences; Domestic Animals · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Dog owners in Nelson can purchase their licence online through Docupet, or in person at City Hall. Phone: 250-352-5511 can be purchased from the cashier at City Hall
Fine, unlicensed dog	Bylaw notice: dog not licensed $100 ($75 if paid within 14 days; $125 if paid after 28 days). Licence tag not displayed: the same amounts.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 3195, Schedule A, Schedule A, Animal Regulation and Control, s. 2 and 3(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Dog not licensed 100 75 125 Dog Licence not displayed 100 75 125
Bylaw	Animal Regulation and Control Bylaw No. 2333, 1989. Fees are in Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3092, 2008, Schedule M.Animal Regulation and Control Bylaw 2333 (consolidation revised December 5, 2016), s. 39; Fees and Charges Bylaw 3092, Schedule M · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Animal Regulation and Control Bylaw No. 2333, 1989 SCHEDULE "M" to FEES AND CHARGES BYLAW NO. 3092, 2008

How it works

Under the Animal Regulation and Control Bylaw 2333, every dog in Nelson must be licensed with the City. The bylaw states no minimum age. A licence is not transferable. If you pay the higher fee and the dog is then spayed or neutered during the year, the difference is refunded with a veterinarian's certificate. Fees are set in Fees and Charges Bylaw 3092, Schedule M.

Steps

Gather the dog's details and, for the $30 rate, a veterinarian's certificate that it is spayed or neutered.
Licence the dog online through Docupet, or in person at the cashier at City Hall (Suite 101, 310 Ward Street). Phone 250-352-5511 with questions.
If you are under 17, bring a parent's or guardian's written consent. The parent is then treated as the owner.
Keep the tag on the dog as the bylaw requires.

Good to know

Licence period: the bylaw's licence year is January 1 to December 31, but the City's Pet Licences page says 12 months from the date of purchase. Confirm with City Hall before you buy late in the year.
A replacement tag is $15. A kennel licence is $95. The City's pages show no senior or early-payment discount.
A bylaw notice for an unlicensed dog is $100 ($75 if paid within 14 days, $125 after 28 days). A tag not displayed carries the same amounts. Nelson uses bylaw notices only; no municipal ticket for this was found.
Vicious or pit bull terrier-type dogs have their own rules; see the dangerous dogs answer.

What you'll need

Veterinarian's certificate showing the dog is spayed or neutered (for the $30 rate)
Written parent or guardian consent if the owner is under 17

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Castlegar · Slocan · Salmo · Fruitvale · Montrose · Trail

Dog licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Pet Licences, City of Nelson (read 2026-11-05)
Domestic Animals, City of Nelson (read 2026-11-05)
Animal Regulation and Control Bylaw 2333 (consolidation revised December 5, 2016) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Fees and Charges Bylaw 3092, Schedule M (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 3195, Schedule A (PDF) (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. How answers are checked.