--- title: "Vancouver dog licences: fees and how to get one" question: "How do I get a dog licence in Vancouver, and what does it cost?" place: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/vancouver category: Pets, animals and wildlife owner: municipal owner_body: City of Vancouver sources_read: 2026-11-09 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/dog-licence/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/dog-licence.json" --- # Vancouver dog licences: fees and how to get one **Question:** How do I get a dog licence in Vancouver, and what does it cost? **Short answer:** In Vancouver, dogs over three months old, including service dogs, must be licensed annually. The standard fee is $68 per dog. Qualifying service dogs can be licensed free. Apply through the City’s dog licensing page. **Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Vancouver, https://vancouver.ca) **Cost:** Spayed or neutered — $68 per year at the standard rate. Unaltered — $68 per year at the standard rate. Other rates — Qualifying service dogs can be licensed at no charge. **How long:** Annual renewal. **Where:** - Phone: City Hall, 311 - Online: City dog licence application and renewal, https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/licensing-your-dog.aspx ## Key facts - **Licence required:** In Vancouver, dogs over three months old, including service dogs, must be licensed annually. - Source: [Dog licences and tags, Image: City of Vancouver logoDog licences and tags](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/licensing-your-dog.aspx) - Official wording: "All dog owners must make sure they have a licence and renew it annually. In Vancouver, all dogs and service dogs over 3 months of age must have a dog licence. Review the benefits" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 - **Issued by:** City of Vancouver, Animal Services. - Source: [Dog licences and tags, Dog licences and tags, Animal Services and licence fees](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/licensing-your-dog.aspx) - Official wording: "If you find a dog tag, drop it off at Animal Services, Vancouver City Hall, or any community centre or public library branch in Vancouver. It will be returned to the owner." … "## Contact Animal Services iframe 1280 Raymur Ave Vancouver, BC V6A 3L8 Phone: 604-873-7000 Fax: 604-871-6862" - Source: [Vancouver Animal Services fees | City of Vancouver, Dog licences and tags, Animal Services and licence fees](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/fines-and-fees.aspx) - Official wording: "* ## Dog licence fees Type of licence | Fee --- | --- Standard licence | $68 Aggressive dog licence | $222" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 - **Fee, spayed or neutered:** $68 per year at the standard rate. - Source: [Dog licences and tags, Buy a new licence](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/licensing-your-dog.aspx) - Official wording: "* $68 (no tax) per dog, per year" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 - **Fee, not spayed or neutered:** $68 per year at the standard rate. - Source: [Dog licences and tags, Buy a new licence](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/licensing-your-dog.aspx) - Official wording: "* $68 (no tax) per dog, per year" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 - **Other fees and discounts:** Qualifying service dogs can be licensed at no charge. - Source: [Dog licences and tags, Buy a new licence](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/licensing-your-dog.aspx) - Official wording: "Buy a new dog licence Get details on licensing a service dog for free" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 - **Renewal:** Annual renewal. - Source: [Dog licences and tags, Image: City of Vancouver logoDog licences and tags](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/licensing-your-dog.aspx) - Official wording: "All dog owners must make sure they have a licence and renew it annually." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 - **How to get one:** Use the City’s dog licence application. Visa, Mastercard and American Express are accepted. - Source: [Dog licences and tags, Buy a new licence](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/licensing-your-dog.aspx) - Official wording: "### Buy a new licence * $68 (no tax) per dog, per year * Pay with Visa, Mastercard, or American Express Buy a new dog licence" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 - **Fine, unlicensed dog:** Not confirmed. Checked Dog licences and tags, Animal Control By-law No. 9150; not found there. - **Bylaw:** Animal Control By-law No. 9150. - Source: [Animal Control By-law No. 9150, PDF p. 1](https://bylaws.vancouver.ca/9150c.pdf) - Official wording: "CITY OF VANCOUVER BRITISH COLUMBIA ANIMAL CONTROL BY-LAW NO. 9150 This By-law is printed under and by authority of the Council of the City of Vancouver" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 ## How it works Before applying, work out which fee category fits your dog. If you have recently moved or acquired the dog, compare the date you moved or took ownership with the licensing and renewal dates. Use the City’s dog licence application. Visa, Mastercard and American Express are accepted. ## Steps 1. Start with [Dog licences and tags](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/licensing-your-dog.aspx). Check the age requirement and the fee for your dog's circumstances before paying. 2. If you are claiming a reduced rate, check what proof the licensing office accepts and whether the reduction applies to a first licence, a renewal or both. ## Good to know - Spayed or neutered dogs — $68 per year at the standard rate. - Annual renewal. - Save the licence number and the renewal information together. If you lose the tag, ask about a replacement before paying for a second licence. - For a question about a licence, a change of owner or a replacement tag, call City Hall at 311. Say whether this is a first application, an annual renewal or a change to an existing record. - Read the applicable provisions in [Animal Control By-law No. 9150 (PDF)](https://bylaws.vancouver.ca/9150c.pdf). ## Official forms and pages - [City dog licence application and renewal](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/licensing-your-dog.aspx) ## Related questions - [Vancouver dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/dog-leash-rules.md) - [Vancouver rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/dangerous-dogs.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Dog licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-licence.md) - [Richmond](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/dog-licence.md) - [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/dog-licence.md) - [North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/dog-licence.md) - [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/dog-licence.md) - [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/dog-licence.md) - [Delta](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/dog-licence.md) ## Sources - [Dog licences and tags](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/licensing-your-dog.aspx) (read 2026-11-09) - [Animal Control By-law No. 9150 (PDF)](https://bylaws.vancouver.ca/9150c.pdf) (read 2026-11-09) - [Vancouver Animal Services fees | City of Vancouver](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/fines-and-fees.aspx) (read 2026-11-09) - [Vancouver municipal office contact information](https://vancouver.ca/your-government/contact-the-city-of-vancouver.aspx) (read 2026-11-09) _Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 8 of 9 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Vancouver. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/dog-licence/_