---
title: "Sidney dog licences: fees and how to get one"
question: "How do I get a dog licence, and what does it cost?"
place: Sidney, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/sidney
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: Town of Sidney
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/dog-licence/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/dog-licence.json"
---

# Sidney dog licences: fees and how to get one

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

**Short answer:** In Sidney, the Town issues dog licences; the Capital Regional District (CRD) handles animal control. A licence runs for the calendar year. It costs $35 for a spayed or neutered dog and $45 for one that is not, each $5 less if paid by the last working day in February.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Sidney, https://www.sidney.ca)  
**Cost:** $35 a year spayed or neutered; $45 not ($30 and $40 if paid by the last working day in February). Moved into Sidney March 1 to June 30: $30 or $45; after June 30: $15 or $25. Aggressive dog $75 extra; dangerous dog $100 extra. No fee for guide dogs or police dogs. Replacement tag fee: not found.  
**How long:** Licences expire December 31 each year and must be renewed annually.  
**Where:**
- In person: Town Hall, Finance Department, 2440 Sidney Avenue, Sidney, BC V8L 1Y7 (Visa, MasterCard, debit, cheque or cash at Town Hall)
- Phone: Town Hall (ask for a dog account to be set up), 250-656-1184
- Email: Finance, finance@sidney.ca

## Key facts

- **Licence required:** Yes. No one may own, possess or harbour an unlicensed dog in Sidney. The Town says dogs over six months of age must be licensed. No licence is needed for a trained guide dog used by a blind person or an RCMP or municipal police service dog.
  - Source: [Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, s. 4.3(a), 4.3(k)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/1965-Animal-Control.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall own, possess or harbour an unlicenced dog within the boundaries of the Town" … "A trained guide Dog owned or utilized by a blind person" … "A Dog owned and utilized as an R.C.M.P. or municipal police service dog"
  - Source: [Dogs, Dog Licenses](https://www.sidney.ca/services/dogs)
  - Official wording: "All dogs over the age of six months must be licensed in the Town of Sidney."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Issued by:** The Town of Sidney. The Finance Department sets up dog accounts at Town Hall (2440 Sidney Ave) or by email at finance@sidney.ca. Animal control itself is handled by the Capital Regional District (CRD).
  - Source: [Dogs, Dog Licenses; Animal Control Issues](https://www.sidney.ca/services/dogs)
  - Official wording: "submit it to the Finance Department, in person at Sidney Town Hall or by email to finance@sidney.ca" … "All issues regarding animals should be brought to the attention of CRD Animal Control"
  - Source: [Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, s. 4.3(f)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/1965-Animal-Control.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Application for and the issuance of a Dog Licence shall be the responsibility of the Collector"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee, spayed or neutered:** $35 a year for a spayed or neutered dog. It is $30 if paid by the last working day in February.
  - Source: [Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, Schedule A, ss. 1(a) and 2](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/1965-Animal-Control.pdf)
  - Official wording: "1. The owner of every dog shall pay an annual licence fee for that dog assessed as follows:" … "(a) Neutered or spayed dog …..……………………………………………………………… $35.00" … "2. Discount to be applied to each licence fee if paid by the last working day in February"
  - Source: [Dogs, Dog Licenses (fee table)](https://www.sidney.ca/services/dogs)
  - Official wording: "Renewal, before last working day in February | $30.00 | $40.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee, not spayed or neutered:** $45 a year for a dog that is not spayed or neutered. It is $40 if paid by the last working day in February.
  - Source: [Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, Schedule A, ss. 1(b) and 2](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/1965-Animal-Control.pdf)
  - Official wording: "(b) Dog that is not either neutered or spayed ..……………………………………………... $45.00" … "2. Discount to be applied to each licence fee if paid by the last working day in February"
  - Source: [Dogs, Dog Licenses (fee table)](https://www.sidney.ca/services/dogs)
  - Official wording: "Renewal, before last working day in February | $30.00 | $40.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other fees and discounts:** $5 off if paid by the last working day in February. A dog moved into Sidney March 1 to June 30 pays $30 (spayed or neutered) or $45; after June 30, $15 or $25. Aggressive dog: $75 extra. Dangerous dog: $100 extra. No fee for guide dogs or police dogs.
  - Source: [Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, Schedule A, ss. 1(c), 1(d), 3, 4, 5](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/1965-Animal-Control.pdf)
  - Official wording: "(c) Aggressive dog, additional to the fee outlined in either (a) or (b) above ……………... $75.00" … "(d) Dangerous dog, additional to the fee outlined in either (a) or (b) above ……………... $100.00" … "3. No licence fee shall be charged for guide dogs or police dogs;" … "4. Where a dog has been moved into the Town between the first (1st) day of March and the thirtieth (30th) day of June, the licence fee shall be as follows" … "5. Where a dog has been moved into the Town after the thirtieth (30th) day of June, the licence fee shall be as follows:"
  - Source: [Dogs, Dog Licenses (fee table)](https://www.sidney.ca/services/dogs)
  - Official wording: "New Licence, issued January 1 to June 30" … "New Licence, issued July 1 to December 31"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Licences are valid for the calendar year and expire December 31. Renew each year; renewing before the last working day in February saves $5.
  - Source: [Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, s. 4.3(e)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/1965-Animal-Control.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall expire on the 31st day of December in that licence year"
  - Source: [Dogs, Dog Licenses](https://www.sidney.ca/services/dogs)
  - Official wording: "Dog licenses must be renewed annually, and are valid for the calendar year from January to December." … "You will receive a $5.00 discount when you renew before the last working day in February."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to get one:** New licence: fill in the Dog Licence Form and give it to Finance at Town Hall (2440 Sidney Ave) or email finance@sidney.ca; call 250-656-1184 to have an account set up, then pay online. Renewal: pay online with the account number and access code on your renewal notice, by mail, or in person.
  - Source: [Dogs, Dog Licenses; Dog License Payment Options](https://www.sidney.ca/services/dogs)
  - Official wording: "To register for a new dog license, please complete the Town’s Dog Licence Form and submit it to the Finance Department" … "please telephone the Finance Department at 250-656-1184 to have an account set up" … "When paying for a dog license renewal, you will need the account number and access code, which can be found on your renewal notice." … "At Municipal Hall – 2440 Sidney Ave, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, unlicensed dog:** Bylaw notice: $130 ($100 if paid within 14 days; $160 if paid after 28 days). Municipal ticket: $130 ($100 if paid within 30 days).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2239, Schedule C, Animal Licence & Control Bylaw, s. 4.3(a)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2239-Bylaw-Notice-Enforcement-CON.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Unlicenced Dog Part IV, Section $130.00 $100.00 $160.00"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2180, Schedule 2, s. 4.3(a)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2180-MTI-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Unlicensed Dog Part IV, Section 4.3 (a) $130.00 $100.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010
  - Source: [Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, s. 1.0](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/1965-Animal-Control.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The Town of Sidney issues dog licences under the [Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/1965-Animal-Control.pdf). No one may own, possess or harbour an unlicensed dog in Sidney. The Town says dogs over six months of age must be licensed. Animal control itself is run by the CRD.

## Steps

1. New licence: fill in the Dog Licence Form from the Town's Dogs page and give it to Finance at Town Hall (2440 Sidney Avenue) or email it to finance@sidney.ca.
2. Call 250-656-1184 to have an account set up, then pay online.
3. Renewal: pay online with the account number and access code on your renewal notice, by mail, or in person.

## Good to know

- No licence is needed for a trained guide dog used by a blind person, or for an RCMP or municipal police service dog.
- Payment can also be a cheque in the mail or in the Town Hall drop-box (no cash in the drop-box).
- Part-year fees apply if a dog moves to Sidney during the year (see the cost line above).
- An unlicensed dog: a bylaw notice is $130 ($100 if paid within 14 days; $160 after 28 days); a municipal ticket is $130 ($100 if paid within 30 days).

## Official forms and pages

- [Dogs and dog licences, Town of Sidney](https://www.sidney.ca/services/dogs)
- [Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965 (PDF)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/1965-Animal-Control.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-licence.md)
- [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/dog-licence.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/dog-licence.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/dog-licence.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/dog-licence.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/dog-licence.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/dog-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Dogs, Town of Sidney](https://www.sidney.ca/services/dogs) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010 (PDF)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/1965-Animal-Control.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2239 (PDF)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2239-Bylaw-Notice-Enforcement-CON.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2180 (PDF)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2180-MTI-consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 Town of Sidney. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/dog-licence/_