---
title: "Rossland dog licences: fees and how to get one"
question: "How do I get a dog licence, and what does it cost?"
place: Rossland, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/rossland
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Rossland
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/dog-licence/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/dog-licence.json"
---

# Rossland dog licences: fees and how to get one

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

**Short answer:** Every dog over four months old in the City of Rossland needs a City dog licence each calendar year. Under the Fees and Charges Bylaw it costs $20 for a spayed or neutered dog and $50 for one that is not. Buy it at City Hall or online through Make a Payment.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Rossland, https://rossland.ca)  
**Cost:** $20 sterilized dog (veterinarian's certificate required); $50 non-sterilized dog; $5 replacement licence (Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2863). Service dogs approved by the Animal Control Officer are exempt from the fee. The fee schedule lists no senior, early-payment, late or transfer fee, and no fee for an aggressive or vicious dog licence.  
**How long:** Licences expire on December 31 of the year they are issued.  
**Where:**
- In person: City Hall, 1920 Third Avenue, Rossland, BC (P.O. Box 1179, V0G 1Y0) (Regular office hours)
- Online: Make a Payment (choose "I Want To", then "Make a Payment"), https://rossland.ca/make-a-payment/
- Phone: City Hall, 250-362-7396

## Key facts

- **Licence required:** Yes. Every dog in Rossland needs a valid licence for the current calendar year. A licence is not required for a dog under 4 months old.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2862, 2025, s. 6.1-6.2](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/51764)
  - Official wording: "A Person shall not own, keep, possess or harbour any Dog in the City of Rossland" … "A licence is not required for a dog less" … "4 months in age"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Issued by:** The City of Rossland issues dog licences.
  - Source: [Licenses & Permits, Dog Licence](https://rossland.ca/licences-and-permits/)
  - Official wording: "must be licenced by the City of Rossland" … "Dog licences can be purchased at City Hall during regular office hours or online"
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2862, 2025, s. 4.4](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/51764)
  - Official wording: "The Shelter Manager is hereby authorized to collect any fees or charges due under"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee, spayed or neutered:** $20 a year for a spayed or neutered dog. A veterinarian's certificate is required.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2863, 2025, Schedule E, Animal Control Licence Fees](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/31480)
  - Official wording: "ANIMAL CONTROL LICENCE FEES" … "$20.00" … "(A certificate from a qualified veterinarian is required)"
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2862, 2025, s. 6.3](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/51764)
  - Official wording: "application shall be accompanied by a certificate signed by a Veterinarian"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee, not spayed or neutered:** $50 a year for a dog that is not spayed or neutered.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2863, 2025, Schedule E, Animal Control Licence Fees](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/31480)
  - Official wording: "ANIMAL CONTROL LICENCE FEES" … "$50.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other fees and discounts:** Replacement licence: $5. Service dogs (as approved by the Animal Control Officer on application) are exempt from licence fees. The fee schedule lists no senior, early-payment or late fee, and no transfer fee; a licence is not transferable to another dog.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2863, 2025, Schedule E, Animal Control Licence Fees](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/31480)
  - Official wording: "Non-st erilized M ale or Female Dog $50.00 Replacem ent License $ 5.00 Schedule E: Animal Cont ro l Lice nce Fees Page 10 of 10"
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2862, 2025, s. 6.12 and 6.9](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/51764)
  - Official wording: "The Owner of a Service Dog is exempt from the Dog Licence fees in respect of that Dog" … "the Dog Licence is not transferable to another Dog"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Every licence expires on December 31 of the year it was issued; the licensing year runs January 1 to December 31. A new licence is needed each calendar year.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2862, 2025, s. 6.10](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/51764)
  - Official wording: "Every Dog Licence issued under this Bylaw shall expire on the 31st day of December in the licence year"
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2862, 2025, s. 3 "Licensing Year"](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/51764)
  - Official wording: ""Licensing Year" means that time period between January 1st and December 31st inclusive"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to get one:** In person at City Hall (1920 Third Avenue) during regular office hours, or online by choosing 'I Want To...' then 'Make a Payment' on the City website. A Dog Licence Application form is linked from the City's pages.
  - Source: [Licenses & Permits, Dog Licence](https://rossland.ca/licences-and-permits/)
  - Official wording: "Dog licences can be purchased at City Hall during regular office hours or online" … "Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-4pm" … "1920 Third Avenue"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, unlicensed dog:** Bylaw notice: $50 early payment (1-14 days); $100 penalty.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2862, 2025, Schedule B (Bylaw Notice Enforcement offences)](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/51764)
  - Official wording: "SCHEDULE B- BYLAW ENFORCEMENT NOTICE OFFENCES" … "EARLY PAYMENT" … "(1-14 Days)" … "Unlicensed dog 6.1 $50.00 $100.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control Bylaw No. 2862, 2025 (licence required, s. 6.1); fees are set in the Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2863, 2025 (Schedule E).
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2862, 2025, Citation](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/51764)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as the "Animal Control Bylaw" No. 2862, 2025"
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2862, 2025, s. 5.1](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/51764)
  - Official wording: "The fees payable under this bylaw are set out in the City of Rossland Fees and Charges Bylaw."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2862](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/51764), no one in the City of Rossland may keep a dog over four months old without a valid licence for the current calendar year. The tag must be kept on the dog's collar, harness or similar device. A licence is for one dog and cannot be transferred to another. A dog under four months old does not need one, and the licence holder must be 18 or older.

## Steps

1. Fill in the Dog Licence Application, or go to City Hall during office hours.
2. If you want the $20 rate, bring a veterinarian's signed certificate that the dog is spayed or neutered.
3. Pay at City Hall or online through Make a Payment.
4. Attach the tag to your dog's collar.

## Good to know

- If you move within the City, tell the City within 30 days. A dog licensed elsewhere that moves to Rossland needs a Rossland licence within 30 days.
- A replacement licence is $5. The fee schedule lists no late fee, and a licence cannot be transferred to another dog.
- The bylaw notice schedule lists a ticket for an unlicensed dog of $50 if paid in 1 to 14 days, and $100 after that. The City's municipal ticket bylaw is a scan we could not read, so a municipal ticket amount is not available.
- The City's Animal Control page still names an older bylaw (No. 2797). This answer follows the current Animal Control Bylaw No. 2862.
- The City says the Bylaw Officer will try to return a licensed dog that is found loose free of charge.

## What you'll need

- Veterinarian's signed certificate that the dog is spayed or neutered, for the lower fee
- Application for a Service Dog designation, if claiming the fee exemption

## Official forms and pages

- [Dog Licence Application](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/9082)
- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2862, 2025 (PDF)](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/51764)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2863, 2025 (PDF)](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/31480)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-licence.md)
- [Warfield](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/dog-licence.md)
- [Trail](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/dog-licence.md)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/dog-licence.md)
- [Fruitvale](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/dog-licence.md)
- [Castlegar](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/dog-licence.md)
- [Salmo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmo/dog-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Licenses & Permits, City of Rossland](https://rossland.ca/licences-and-permits/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control, City of Rossland](https://rossland.ca/bylaw-enforcement/animal-control/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2862, 2025 (PDF), City of Rossland](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/51764) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2863, 2025 (PDF), City of Rossland](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/31480) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Rossland. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/dog-licence/_