---
title: "Port Hardy dog licences: fees and how to get one"
question: "How do I get a dog licence in Port Hardy, and what does it cost?"
place: Port Hardy, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/port-hardy
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Port Hardy
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/dog-licence/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/dog-licence.json"
---

# Port Hardy dog licences: fees and how to get one

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

**Short answer:** In Port Hardy, the District licenses dogs. Every dog aged eight months or more needs a licence each year: $19 for a spayed or neutered dog, $60.50 for one that is not. The District's pages do not say how to buy or renew one, so call the District Office or Animal Control Officer.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Port Hardy, https://porthardy.ca)  
**Cost:** $19 spayed or neutered; $60.50 not spayed or neutered. Half the fee after June 30 for a dog newly moved in or acquired after that date. Replacement tag $11.50. Dangerous dog licence $89.50. Breeder's licence $121.50. Fine for an unlicensed dog: $100.  
**How long:** Licences and tags expire on December 31 each year. The annual licence is due on or before January 1, or when the dog reaches eight months.  
**Where:**
- Phone: District Office, 250-949-6665
- Phone: Animal Control Officer, 250-949-6113 (After hours, leave a message.)
- In person: District of Port Hardy Municipal Hall, 7360 Columbia St., Port Hardy, BC V0N 2P0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (excluding statutory holidays))

## Key facts

- **Licence required:** Yes. Every dog aged eight months or more must be licensed. A dog staying in the District less than one month needs no licence; guide and assistance dogs must be licensed but the fee is waived.
  - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012, consolidated March 2023, s. 3.1, 3.5, 3.6](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/11-2012-Animal-Care-and-Control-consolidated-March-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall own or keep any dog aged eight months or more within the municipality unless such dog is licensed as provided by this bylaw." … "the licence fee shall be waived for such dogs" … "No licence is required for a dog sojourning in the District for a period of less than one (1) month."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Issued by:** The District of Port Hardy (municipality). The bylaw has the municipality keep the registry of licensed dogs and appoint a Licensing Officer to issue licences.
  - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012, consolidated March 2023, s. 2.1, 3.7](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/11-2012-Animal-Care-and-Control-consolidated-March-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Licensing Officer means a person appointed by the municipality for the purpose of processing and issuing licences under this bylaw." … "The municipality shall keep a complete registry of all licensed dogs"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fee, spayed or neutered:** $19 a year for a spayed or neutered dog over eight months old. Written proof of neutering is required.
  - Source: [User Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 1187-2026, Schedule L, Animal Control Rates 2026](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1187-2026-User-Rates-and-Fees-for-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Spayed/Neutered over eight (8) months old" … "$19.00"
  - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012, consolidated March 2023, s. 3.2](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/11-2012-Animal-Care-and-Control-consolidated-March-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Written proof of neutering is required in order to qualify for the neutered animal rate."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fee, not spayed or neutered:** $60.50 a year for a dog over eight months old that is not spayed or neutered.
  - Source: [User Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 1187-2026, Schedule L, Animal Control Rates 2026](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1187-2026-User-Rates-and-Fees-for-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Not Spayed/Neutered Over eight (8) months old" … "$60.50"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Other fees and discounts:** Half the fee after June 30 for a dog newly moved into the District or newly acquired after that date. Replacement tag $11.50. Dangerous dog licence $89.50. Breeder's licence $121.50.
  - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012, consolidated March 2023, s. 3.4](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/11-2012-Animal-Care-and-Control-consolidated-March-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The licence fee will be fifty (50) percent after June 30th"
  - Source: [User Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 1187-2026, Schedule L, Animal Control Rates 2026](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1187-2026-User-Rates-and-Fees-for-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Not Spayed/Neutered Over eight (8) months old $60.50 Dangerous Dog $89.50 Replacement tag $11.50 Impoundment - LICENCED AND ALTERED (Dogs & Cats) First impoundment $60.50" … "Spayed/Neutered over eight (8) months old $19.00 Not Spayed/Neutered Over eight (8) months old $60.50 Dangerous Dog $89.50 Replacement tag $11.50 Impoundment - LICENCED AND ALTERED (Dogs & Cats)" … "Care & Feed per day $32.00 Care & Feed Livestock per day cost plus 20% Breeders Licence $121.50 Drop off Fee Drop off Fee - per adult animal (non-resident) $117.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Renewal:** Licences and tags expire on December 31 each year. The annual licence is due on or before January 1, or when the dog reaches eight months.
  - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012, consolidated March 2023, s. 3.2, 3.10](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/11-2012-Animal-Care-and-Control-consolidated-March-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "on or before the first day of January in each year or upon their dog reaching the age of eight (8) months" … "Every dog licence and tag issued under this bylaw expires on the 31st day of December of each year."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to get one:** Not confirmed. No official page read says how to buy or renew a licence.
- **Fine, unlicensed dog:** $100 (Municipal ticket, 'Unlicensed dog', s. 3.1). The same $100 applies to failing to purchase the annual licence (s. 3.2) and failing to apply for a licence (s. 3.9).
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 01-2010, consolidated August 2014, Schedule B, Animal Care and Control Bylaw](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/01-2010_mti_consolidated_august_2014.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Unlicensed dog" … "Failure to purchase annual licence"
  - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012, consolidated March 2023, s. 22](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/11-2012-Animal-Care-and-Control-consolidated-March-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "subject to a minimum fine of $100.00 and a maximum fine of $2,000.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** District of Port Hardy Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012 (consolidated March 2023). Fees are in User Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 1187-2026, Schedule L.
  - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012, consolidated March 2023, s. 1.1, title](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/11-2012-Animal-Care-and-Control-consolidated-March-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A Bylaw to Provide for the Care and Control of Animals" … "Consolidated for Convenience only"
  - Source: [User Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 1187-2026, s. 1](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1187-2026-User-Rates-and-Fees-for-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "2026 User Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 1187-2026"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The District of Port Hardy keeps the registry of licensed dogs and issues licences under its [Animal Care and Control Bylaw 11-2012](<https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/11-2012-Animal-Care-and-Control-consolidated-March-2023.pdf>). Every dog aged eight months or more must be licensed. A dog staying in the District less than one month needs no licence. Guide and assistance dogs must be licensed, but the fee is waived. Fees are in the [User Rates and Fees Bylaw 1187-2026](<https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1187-2026-User-Rates-and-Fees-for-2026.pdf>).

## Steps

1. Call the District Office at 250-949-6665 or the Animal Control Officer at 250-949-6113 to ask how to buy or renew a licence. No official page read says whether this is done online, in person or by mail.
2. For the $19 fee, have written proof that the dog is spayed or neutered.
3. Pay the fee on or before January 1, or when the dog reaches eight months.
4. A new owner must transfer the licence or apply for one immediately. The fee schedule lists no transfer fee.

## Good to know

- A dog newly moved into the District, or newly acquired after June 30, pays half the fee.
- The bylaw requires dogs and cats over eight months old to be spayed or neutered, unless they belong to a breeder with a business licence or are registered show animals.
- No senior discount, early-payment discount or late fee was found for dog licences.
- An unlicensed dog can bring a $100 municipal ticket. The same amount applies to not buying the annual licence or not applying for one ([Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw 01-2010](<https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/01-2010_mti_consolidated_august_2014.pdf>)).

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012, consolidated March 2023 (PDF), District of Port Hardy](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/11-2012-Animal-Care-and-Control-consolidated-March-2023.pdf)
- [User Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 1187-2026 (PDF), District of Port Hardy](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1187-2026-User-Rates-and-Fees-for-2026.pdf)
- [Animal Control, District of Port Hardy](https://porthardy.ca/community/bylaws/animal-control/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-licence.md)
- [Port McNeill](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/dog-licence.md)
- [Alert Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/alert-bay/dog-licence.md)
- [Tahsis](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/dog-licence.md)
- [Sayward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/dog-licence.md)
- [Gold River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/dog-licence.md)
- [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/dog-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012, consolidated March 2023 (PDF), District of Port Hardy](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/11-2012-Animal-Care-and-Control-consolidated-March-2023.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [User Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 1187-2026 (PDF), District of Port Hardy](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1187-2026-User-Rates-and-Fees-for-2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 01-2010, consolidated August 2014 (PDF), District of Port Hardy](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/01-2010_mti_consolidated_august_2014.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Animal Control, District of Port Hardy](https://porthardy.ca/community/bylaws/animal-control/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact Us, District of Port Hardy](https://porthardy.ca/contact-us/) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Port Hardy. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/dog-licence/_