Port Hardy dog licences: fees and how to get one
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.
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.Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012, consolidated March 2023, s. 3.1, 3.5, 3.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNo 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. |
|---|---|
| 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.Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012, consolidated March 2023, s. 2.1, 3.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingLicensing 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 |
| Fee, spayed or neutered | $19 a year for a spayed or neutered dog over eight months old. Written proof of neutering is required.User Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 1187-2026, Schedule L, Animal Control Rates 2026; Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012, consolidated March 2023, s. 3.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingSpayed/Neutered over eight (8) months old $19.00 Written proof of neutering is required in order to qualify for the neutered animal rate. |
| Fee, not spayed or neutered | $60.50 a year for a dog over eight months old that is not spayed or neutered.User Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 1187-2026, Schedule L, Animal Control Rates 2026 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNot Spayed/Neutered Over eight (8) months old $60.50 |
| 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.Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012, consolidated March 2023, s. 3.4; User Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 1187-2026, Schedule L, Animal Control Rates 2026 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThe licence fee will be fifty (50) percent after June 30th 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 |
| 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.Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012, consolidated March 2023, s. 3.2, 3.10 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingon 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. |
| 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).Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 01-2010, consolidated August 2014, Schedule B, Animal Care and Control Bylaw; Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012, consolidated March 2023, s. 22 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingUnlicensed dog Failure to purchase annual licence subject to a minimum fine of $100.00 and a maximum fine of $2,000.00 |
| 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.Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012, consolidated March 2023, s. 1.1, title; User Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 1187-2026, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingA Bylaw to Provide for the Care and Control of Animals Consolidated for Convenience only 2026 User Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 1187-2026 |
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. 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.
Steps
- 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.
- For the $19 fee, have written proof that the dog is spayed or neutered.
- Pay the fee on or before January 1, or when the dog reaches eight months.
- 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).
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Port McNeill · Alert Bay · Tahsis · Sayward · Gold River · Campbell River
Sources
- Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012, consolidated March 2023 (PDF), District of Port Hardy (read 2026-11-08)
- User Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 1187-2026 (PDF), District of Port Hardy (read 2026-11-08)
- Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 01-2010, consolidated August 2014 (PDF), District of Port Hardy (read 2026-11-08)
- Animal Control, District of Port Hardy (read 2026-11-08)
- Contact Us, District of Port Hardy (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.