---
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?"
place: Smithers, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/smithers
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: Town of Smithers
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/dog-licence/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/dog-licence.json"
---

# Smithers dog licences: fees and how to get one

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Smithers, https://www.smithers.ca)  
**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:**
- In person: Town Hall, 1027 Aldous Street, Smithers, BC (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Phone: Town Hall (bylaw enforcement), 250-847-1600 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Licence required:** Yes. No one may keep a dog over 4 months old unless a valid licence has been issued for that dog.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 3.1](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Dog Licensing & Control](https://www.smithers.ca/bylaw-enforcement-animal-control/dog-licensing-control)
  - Official wording: "All dogs over 4 months of age in the Town of Smithers are required to be licensed."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Issued by:** The Town of Smithers, at the Town Office, 1027 Aldous Street.
  - Source: [Dog Licensing & Control](https://www.smithers.ca/bylaw-enforcement-animal-control/dog-licensing-control)
  - Official wording: "Dog licenses can be purchased at the Town of Smithers Office (1027 Aldous Street)"
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 3.3](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/)
  - Official wording: "the Town shall issue a licence and corresponding licence tag for the dog."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee, spayed or neutered:** $15 a year for a spayed or neutered dog; a veterinarian's signed certificate is required. Fees include applicable taxes.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule O, Animal Licensing Fees](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/)
  - Official wording: "Neutered male dog, in respect of which the applicant produces a certificate of" … "(All fees INCLUDE applicable taxes)"
  - Source: [Dog Licensing & Control](https://www.smithers.ca/bylaw-enforcement-animal-control/dog-licensing-control)
  - Official wording: "$15 for a spayed or neutered dog (certificate signed by a veterinarian required)."
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), Schedule A](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/)
  - Official wording: "Animal Licence fees will be charges in accordance with the Town"
  - 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. Fees include applicable taxes.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule O, Animal Licensing Fees](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/)
  - Official wording: "Male dog, not neutered" … "Female dog, not spayed"
  - Source: [Dog Licensing & Control](https://www.smithers.ca/bylaw-enforcement-animal-control/dog-licensing-control)
  - Official wording: "$50 for a dog that is NOT spayed or neutered."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other fees and discounts:** 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.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule O](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/)
  - Official wording: "Replacement license or license tag"
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 3.6](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/)
  - Official wording: "Where a licence tag is lost or destroyed, or where ownership of a validly licensed"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Every licence and tag expires on December 31 of the year it was issued.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 3.4(a)](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/)
  - Official wording: "expires on the 31st day of December of the year in which it was issued"
  - Source: [Dog Licensing & Control](https://www.smithers.ca/bylaw-enforcement-animal-control/dog-licensing-control)
  - Official wording: "expire on December 31st of each year"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to get one:** 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.
  - Source: [Dog Licensing & Control](https://www.smithers.ca/bylaw-enforcement-animal-control/dog-licensing-control)
  - Official wording: "Dog licenses can be purchased at the Town of Smithers Office (1027 Aldous Street)"
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 3.2-3.3](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/)
  - Official wording: "Upon receipt of the prescribed fee and a completed application form signed by the"
  - Source: [Contact Us, Town Hall hours](https://www.smithers.ca/contact-us)
  - Official wording: "Monday to Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, unlicensed dog:** 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. (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.)
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2011, Schedule A, Bylaw 1780 table](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/290948/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Bylaw No. 1780 - Animal Control and Licensing (consolidated to January 23, 2020). Fees are set in Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule O.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), Title and s. 1.1](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/)
  - Official wording: "Consolidated to January 23, 2020" … "This bylaw may be cited as" … "Animal Control and Licensing"
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), Schedule A](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/)
  - Official wording: "Animal Licence fees will be charges in accordance with the Town"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The 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.

## Steps

1. Go to the Town Office at 1027 Aldous Street, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
2. Fill in the application, signed by the owner, and pay the fee.
3. For the $15 spayed or neutered rate, bring a veterinarian's signed certificate.
4. Put the tag on your dog.

## Good to know

- Replacement licence or tag, a lost tag, or a transfer of a licensed dog to a new owner: $5.
- 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.

## Official forms and pages

- [Dog Licensing & Control](https://www.smithers.ca/bylaw-enforcement-animal-control/dog-licensing-control)
- [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020)](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/)

## Related questions

- [Smithers rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Smithers dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Smithers bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-licence.md)
- [Telkwa](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/dog-licence.md)
- [Houston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/dog-licence.md)
- [New Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/dog-licence.md)
- [Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hazelton/dog-licence.md)
- [Granisle](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/dog-licence.md)
- [Terrace](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/dog-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Dog Licensing & Control, Town of Smithers](https://www.smithers.ca/bylaw-enforcement-animal-control/dog-licensing-control) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), Town of Smithers](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Town of Smithers](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2011, Town of Smithers](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/290948/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Contact Us, Town of Smithers](https://www.smithers.ca/contact-us) (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 Smithers. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/dog-licence/_