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

# Trail 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 four months or older in the City of Trail needs a City licence each calendar year, sold in person at City Hall. A spayed or neutered dog costs $25 a year (veterinarian's certificate required). A dog that is not spayed or neutered costs $75 under the bylaw.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Trail, https://www.trail.ca)  
**Cost:** $25 for a neutered male or spayed female (veterinarian's certificate required). $75 for a dog that is not neutered or spayed (bylaw; the City's web page still lists $100). Half fee if a dog not previously licensed in Trail is licensed after July 1. Transfer of a valid licence from another jurisdiction $10. Replacement tag $5. Approved service dogs are exempt.  
**How long:** Every licence expires December 31 of the year it was issued; the licensing year is January 1 to December 31.  
**Where:**
- In person: City Hall, 1394 Pine Avenue, Trail, BC V1R 4E6
- Phone: Bylaw Enforcement, 250-364-0833

## Key facts

- **Licence required:** Yes. Every dog aged 4 months or older needs a valid licence for the current calendar year. Dogs under 4 months need none.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, s. 6.1, 6.2](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "unless a valid and subsisting Dog Licence for the current calendar year has been obtained for the Dog" … "A licence is not required for a dog less than 4 months in age."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Issued by:** The City of Trail. Licences are sold at City Hall, 1394 Pine Avenue.
  - Source: [Dog Licensing, Dog Licensing page](https://www.trail.ca/services/animal-control/dog-licensing/)
  - Official wording: "Licences are available at City Hall at the following rates:" … "City of Trail, 1394 Pine Avenue, Trail, BC, V1R 4E6"
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, s. 3 definitions](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a Dog licence issued by the municipality"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee, spayed or neutered:** $25 a year for a neutered male or spayed female. A veterinarian's certificate is required.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, Schedule A](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "For each neutered male dog" … "For each spayed female dog" … "(A certificate from a qualified veterinarian is required)" … "$25.00 (A certificate from a qualified veterinarian is required)"
  - Source: [Dog Licensing, Dog Licensing page](https://www.trail.ca/services/animal-control/dog-licensing/)
  - Official wording: "Neutered Male/Spayed Female: $25"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee, not spayed or neutered:** $75 a year for each male or female dog that is not neutered or spayed (Animal Control Bylaw Schedule A). (Sources differ: The City's Dog Licensing web page still says $100 for an unneutered male or unspayed female and $300 for a 'Pit Bull'. Bylaw No. 2970 (adopted Feb. 23, 2026, repealing Bylaw 2436) sets $75 and has no breed fee, so the web page looks out of date. The bylaw value is used.)
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, Schedule A](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "For each male dog – per year $75.00" … "For each female dog – per year $75.00"
  - Source: [Dog Licensing, Dog Licensing page](https://www.trail.ca/services/animal-control/dog-licensing/)
  - Official wording: "Unneutered Male/Unspayed Female: $100"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other fees and discounts:** Half fee if a dog not previously licensed in Trail is licensed after July 1. Transfer of a valid licence from another jurisdiction $10. Replacement tag $5. Service dogs exempt if approved. No senior discount found.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, Schedule A](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the licence fee shall be reduced by one-half (1/2)" … "Transfer for owner holding a valid and current licence $10.00 from another jurisdiction" … "Replacement of a lost/stolen dog licence tag $5.00"
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, s. 6.13](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The Owner of a Service Dog is exempt from the Dog Licence fees in respect of that Dog"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Every licence expires December 31 of the year it was issued; the licensing year is January 1 to December 31.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, s. 6.10, s. 3](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Every Dog Licence issued under this Bylaw shall expire on the 31st day of December in the licence year it was issued." … "“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, 1394 Pine Avenue. For the lower fee, bring a veterinarian's certificate showing the dog is spayed or neutered.
  - Source: [Dog Licensing, Dog Licensing page](https://www.trail.ca/services/animal-control/dog-licensing/)
  - Official wording: "Licences are available at City Hall at the following rates:"
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, s. 6.3](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the application shall be accompanied by a certificate signed by a Veterinarian indicating that the Dog has been Neutered or Spayed"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, unlicensed dog:** Bylaw notice: $50 if paid within 14 days, $100 after that.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, Schedule B](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "EARLY PAYMENT OFFENCE SECTION PENALTY (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. 2970, 2026
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, s. 1](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as the “Animal Control Bylaw” No. 2970, 2026"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf), every dog aged four months or older in the City of Trail needs a licence for the current calendar year. Dogs under four months need none. The City sells licences at City Hall, 1394 Pine Avenue.

## Steps

1. For the $25 fee, get a veterinarian's certificate showing your dog is spayed or neutered.
2. Go to City Hall and buy the licence. Neither the City's page nor the bylaw mentions an online or mail option; call Bylaw Enforcement at 250-364-0833 to ask.
3. Renew each year. Every licence expires on December 31.

## Good to know

- The City's web page lists $100 for a dog that is not spayed or neutered, but the bylaw says $75. The bylaw is followed here, so confirm the amount with City Hall.
- A dog licensed elsewhere that moves to Trail must be licensed within 30 days.
- Aggressive, vicious and dangerous dogs have higher annual fees (see the dangerous dogs answer). A kennel licence is $55.
- An unlicensed dog is a bylaw notice of $50 if paid within 14 days, $100 after that.
- I found no senior discount, early-payment discount or late fee.

## What you'll need

- Veterinarian's certificate showing the dog is spayed or neutered, for the $25 fee

## Official forms and pages

- [Dog Licensing (City of Trail)](https://www.trail.ca/services/animal-control/dog-licensing/)
- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026 (PDF)](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)

## Related questions

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

- [Dog Licensing, City of Trail](https://www.trail.ca/services/animal-control/dog-licensing/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, City of Trail (PDF)](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.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 City of Trail. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/dog-licence/_