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

# Terrace 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 six months old in Terrace needs a City licence each calendar year. Buy it in person at the Animal Shelter or City Hall. The bylaw sets $20 a year for a spayed or neutered dog and $50 for one that is not; seniors pay half.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Terrace, https://www.terrace.ca)  
**Cost:** $20 spayed or neutered; $50 not spayed or neutered; seniors $10 and $25. A new licence issued July 1 to December 31 costs 50% of the fee. Guide dogs and police services dogs $0. Replacement or transfer $5. Hobby kennel licence $100. Fine for no licence: $100.  
**How long:** Licences run January 1 to December 31 of the year issued (or the rest of that year).  
**Where:**
- In person: Animal Shelter, 5003 Graham Avenue, 5003 Graham Avenue, Terrace, BC (Monday to Saturday, 12:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.)
- Phone: Animal Control, 250-615-4031
- Email: Animal Control, shelter@terrace.ca
- In person: City Hall, 3215 Eby Street, Terrace, BC

## Key facts

- **Licence required:** Yes. Every dog over six months old kept in the City needs a valid licence. A person under 19 needs a parent or guardian's written consent.
  - Source: [Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023), s. 6.1, 6.2](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3998)
  - Official wording: "No person shall own, possess or harbour any dog that is over the age of six (6) months within the boundaries of the City unless a valid and subsisting licence has been issued" … "provides the Animal Control Officer with written consent, in the prescribed form, of his or her parent or guardian"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Issued by:** The City of Terrace, through the Animal Shelter (5003 Graham Ave) and City Hall (3215 Eby Street).
  - Source: [Animal Control, Animal Control page](https://www.terrace.ca/city-services/animal-control)
  - Official wording: "Dog licences may be purchased at the Animal Shelter or at City Hall (3215 Eby Street)."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee, spayed or neutered:** $20 a year ($10 for seniors).
  - Source: [Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023), Schedule A](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3998)
  - Official wording: "Neutered male or spayed female" … "$20.00" … "$10.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee, not spayed or neutered:** $50 a year ($25 for seniors).
  - Source: [Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023), Schedule A](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3998)
  - Official wording: "Non-neutered male or non-spayed female $50.00" … "$25.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other fees and discounts:** Seniors pay half price. A new licence issued July 1 to Dec. 31 costs 50% of the fee (not renewals, and not seniors already at the reduced rate). Replacement or transfer of a licence $5. Guide dogs and police services dogs $0. Hobby kennel licence $100.
  - Source: [Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023), Schedule A](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3998)
  - Official wording: "shall be subject to a fee equal to 50% of the above noted fees" … "Replacement or transfer of licence" … "$5.00" … "Guide Dog" … "Police Services Dog" … "Hobby Kennel" … "$100.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Licences run January 1 to December 31 of the year issued (or the rest of that year).
  - Source: [Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023), s. 6.3](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3998)
  - Official wording: "shall be for the period January 1st to December 31st of the year issued or the remaining portion thereof"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to get one:** In person at the Animal Shelter (5003 Graham Ave, 250-615-4031) or at City Hall (3215 Eby Street).
  - Source: [Animal Control, Animal Control page](https://www.terrace.ca/city-services/animal-control)
  - Official wording: "Dog licences may be purchased at the Animal Shelter or at City Hall (3215 Eby Street)." … "250-615-4031"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, unlicensed dog:** $100 (municipal ticket, for failing to obtain a dog licence).
  - Source: [Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw 1827 (consolidated to 2334-2025), Schedule 3](https://www.terrace.ca/media/4139)
  - Official wording: "Failing to Obtain Dog Licence" … "$100.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control Bylaw No. 2159-2019 (consolidated to Bylaw No. 2284-2023)
  - Source: [Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023), title](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3998)
  - Official wording: "BYLAW NO. 2159-2019/2284-2023" … "LICENCING, AND CONTROL OF"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under [Animal Control Bylaw 2159](<https://www.terrace.ca/media/3998>), no one in Terrace may own, keep or harbour a dog over six months old without a valid licence. Each licence is for one dog, and the tag must stay fastened to the dog's collar or harness. A person under 19 needs a parent or guardian's written consent.

## Steps

1. Bring the dog's name, breed and age, and the address where it is kept.
2. Go to the Animal Shelter (5003 Graham Avenue) or City Hall (3215 Eby Street). The City page lists only these two in-person options; it does not mention online or mail.
3. Pay the fee for your dog's status. Say if you qualify for the senior rate.
4. Put the tag on the dog's collar or harness. A lost licence is replaced for $5.

## Good to know

- A licence expires on December 31. A new licence bought from July 1 to December 31 costs half the fee (this does not apply to renewals, or to seniors already paying the reduced rate).
- Failing to get a dog licence is a $100 municipal ticket.
- Keeping more than three dogs needs a $100 hobby kennel licence (up to five dogs).
- Aggressive and dangerous dogs have their own licence fees; see the dangerous dogs answer.

## What you'll need

- Dog's name, breed and age, and the address where it is kept
- Written parent or guardian consent if the owner is under 19

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (PDF)](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3998)
- [Animal Control page](https://www.terrace.ca/city-services/animal-control)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-licence.md)
- [Kitimat](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/dog-licence.md)
- [New Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/dog-licence.md)
- [Smithers](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/dog-licence.md)
- [Telkwa](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/dog-licence.md)
- [Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hazelton/dog-licence.md)
- [Port Edward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/dog-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control, City of Terrace](https://www.terrace.ca/city-services/animal-control) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023) (PDF)](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3998) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw 1827 (consolidated to 2334-2025) (PDF)](https://www.terrace.ca/media/4139) (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 Terrace. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/dog-licence/_