{"title":"Smithers dog licences: fees and how to get one","question":"How do I get a dog licence in Smithers, and what does it cost?","slug":"dog-licence","place":{"path":"ca/bc/smithers","name":"Smithers","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Town of Smithers","url":"https://www.smithers.ca"},"short_answer":"In Smithers, every dog over four months old needs a licence from the Town. It costs $15 a year for a spayed or neutered dog and $50 for one that is not. Buy it in person at the Town Office, 1027 Aldous Street. Licences expire December 31.","aliases":["dog licence smithers","dog license smithers","dog tag smithers","renew dog licence smithers"],"cost":"$15 a year spayed or neutered (vet certificate needed); $50 a year not spayed or neutered. Replacement or transfer $5. Fees include taxes. Fine for an unlicensed dog: $100.","how_long":"Every licence and tag expires December 31 of the year it was issued.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Town Hall","value":"1027 Aldous Street, Smithers, BC","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."},{"type":"phone","label":"Town Hall (bylaw enforcement)","value":"250-847-1600","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Dog Licensing & Control","url":"https://www.smithers.ca/bylaw-enforcement-animal-control/dog-licensing-control"},{"title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020)","url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/"}],"related":[{"slug":"dangerous-dogs","title":"Smithers rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/dangerous-dogs/"},{"slug":"dog-leash-rules","title":"Smithers dog leash rules and off-leash areas","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/dog-leash-rules/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Smithers bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/telkwa","name":"Telkwa","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/dog-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/houston","name":"Houston","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/dog-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-hazelton","name":"New Hazelton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/dog-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/hazelton","name":"Hazelton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hazelton/dog-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/granisle","name":"Granisle","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/dog-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/terrace","name":"Terrace","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/dog-licence/"}],"topic":{"title":"Dog licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-licence/"},"facts":{"required":{"label":"Licence required","value":"Yes. No one may keep a dog over 4 months old unless a valid licence has been issued for that dog.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), Town of Smithers","section":"s. 3.1","quotes":["No person shall keep any dog over the age of four (4) months unless a valid licence has been issued in respect of that dog under this bylaw."]},{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/bylaw-enforcement-animal-control/dog-licensing-control","title":"Dog Licensing & Control, Town of Smithers","section":"Dog Licensing & Control","quotes":["All dogs over 4 months of age in the Town of Smithers are required to be licensed."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"issued_by":{"label":"Issued by","value":"The Town of Smithers, at the Town Office, 1027 Aldous Street.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/bylaw-enforcement-animal-control/dog-licensing-control","title":"Dog Licensing & Control, Town of Smithers","section":"Dog Licensing & Control","quotes":["Dog licenses can be purchased at the Town of Smithers Office (1027 Aldous Street)"]},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), Town of Smithers","section":"s. 3.3","quotes":["the Town shall issue a licence and corresponding licence tag for the dog."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee_altered":{"label":"Fee, spayed or neutered","value":"$15 a year for a spayed or neutered dog; a veterinarian's signed certificate is required. Fees include applicable taxes.","short":"$15 a year","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Town of Smithers","section":"Schedule O, Animal Licensing Fees","quotes":["Neutered male dog, in respect of which the applicant produces a certificate of","(All fees INCLUDE applicable taxes)"]},{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/bylaw-enforcement-animal-control/dog-licensing-control","title":"Dog Licensing & Control, Town of Smithers","section":"Dog Licensing & Control","quotes":["$15 for a spayed or neutered dog (certificate signed by a veterinarian required)."]},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), Town of Smithers","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["Animal Licence fees will be charges in accordance with the Town"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee_unaltered":{"label":"Fee, not spayed or neutered","value":"$50 a year for a dog that is not spayed or neutered. Fees include applicable taxes.","short":"$50 a year","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Town of Smithers","section":"Schedule O, Animal Licensing Fees","quotes":["Male dog, not neutered","Female dog, not spayed"]},{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/bylaw-enforcement-animal-control/dog-licensing-control","title":"Dog Licensing & Control, Town of Smithers","section":"Dog Licensing & Control","quotes":["$50 for a dog that is NOT spayed or neutered."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_fees":{"label":"Other fees and discounts","value":"Replacement licence or licence tag: $5 (includes taxes). The same fee is paid when a tag is lost or ownership of a licensed dog is transferred.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Town of Smithers","section":"Schedule O","quotes":["Replacement license or license tag"]},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), Town of Smithers","section":"s. 3.6","quotes":["Where a licence tag is lost or destroyed, or where ownership of a validly licensed"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"renewal":{"label":"Renewal","value":"Every licence and tag expires on December 31 of the year it was issued.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), Town of Smithers","section":"s. 3.4(a)","quotes":["expires on the 31st day of December of the year in which it was issued"]},{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/bylaw-enforcement-animal-control/dog-licensing-control","title":"Dog Licensing & Control, Town of Smithers","section":"Dog Licensing & Control","quotes":["expire on December 31st of each year"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"how_to_get":{"label":"How to get one","value":"In person at the Town Office, 1027 Aldous Street (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), by paying the fee and filling in an application signed by the owner. A vet's certificate is needed for the spayed or neutered rate.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/bylaw-enforcement-animal-control/dog-licensing-control","title":"Dog Licensing & Control, Town of Smithers","section":"Dog Licensing & Control","quotes":["Dog licenses can be purchased at the Town of Smithers Office (1027 Aldous Street)"]},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), Town of Smithers","section":"s. 3.2-3.3","quotes":["Upon receipt of the prescribed fee and a completed application form signed by the"]},{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/contact-us","title":"Contact Us, Town of Smithers","section":"Town Hall hours","quotes":["Monday to Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine_unlicensed":{"label":"Fine, unlicensed dog","value":"Bylaw notice: $100 for an unlicensed dog (s. 3.1) or a dog without its tag (s. 3.5). The schedule also shows $50 early and $200 late, but s. 8.1 of the notice bylaw describes the columns differently, so the timing is unconfirmed.","short":"Notice $100 (timing of early rate unconfirmed)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/290948/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2011, Town of Smithers","section":"Schedule A, Bylaw 1780 table","quotes":["Penalty Early Late Compliance","Unlicensed dog 3.1 100.00 50.00 200.00 NO","No license on dog 3.5 100.00 50.00 200.00 NO","amount set out in Column 3 of \"Schedule A\"; or"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":"Amounts are from the Schedule A table of Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2011 (adopted Aug. 25, 2026). The table headings read Penalty / Early Payment (within 14 days) / Late Payment (after 28 days), but s. 8.1 of the same bylaw says the Column 3 amount is payable within 14 days, Column 4 between 14 and 28 days and Column 5 after 28 days, so which figure is the 'full' amount is unclear; confirm with the Town. No Municipal Ticket Information bylaw was found in the bylaw library. Bylaw 1780 s. 9.1 also allows a court fine of $100 to $5,000."},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Bylaw No. 1780 - Animal Control and Licensing (consolidated to January 23, 2020). Fees are set in Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule O.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), Town of Smithers","section":"Title and s. 1.1","quotes":["Consolidated to January 23, 2020","This bylaw may be cited as","Animal Control and Licensing"]},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), Town of Smithers","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["Animal Licence fees will be charges in accordance with the Town"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":9,"stated":9,"matched":9,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe Town of Smithers issues dog licences under its [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23](<https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/>). No one may keep a dog over four months old without a valid licence for that dog. Fees are set in the [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003](<https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/>) and include taxes.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Go to the Town Office at 1027 Aldous Street, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.\n2. Fill in the application, signed by the owner, and pay the fee.\n3. For the $15 spayed or neutered rate, bring a veterinarian's signed certificate.\n4. Put the tag on your dog.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Replacement licence or tag, a lost tag, or a transfer of a licensed dog to a new owner: $5.\n- An unlicensed dog (or a dog without its tag) can bring a $100 bylaw notice. The early and late amounts and their timing should be confirmed with the Town.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/bylaw-enforcement-animal-control/dog-licensing-control","title":"Dog Licensing & Control, Town of Smithers","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), Town of Smithers","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Town of Smithers","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/290948/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2011, Town of Smithers","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/contact-us","title":"Contact Us, Town of Smithers","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 9 of 9 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/dog-licence/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/dog-licence.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/dog-licence.json"}}