---
title: "Vanderhoof dog licences: fees and how to get one"
question: "How do I get a dog licence, and what does it cost in Vanderhoof?"
place: Vanderhoof, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/vanderhoof
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Vanderhoof
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/dog-licence/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/dog-licence.json"
---

# Vanderhoof dog licences: fees and how to get one

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

**Short answer:** In Vanderhoof, the District licenses dogs aged six months or older who live in the District. The licence is $10 a year for a spayed or neutered dog and $30 for an unaltered dog. It expires every December 31. The fee may be waived if you register in January.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Vanderhoof, https://vanderhoof.ca)  
**Cost:** $10 a year (neutered or spayed); $30 a year (unaltered). The fee may be waived if the dog is registered in January. Replacement tag $10, with proof of purchase.  
**How long:** Every licence and tag expires on December 31 and must be renewed each year.  
**Where:**
- Online: Online form on the District's Dog Tags page (one form per dog; the District mails the tag), https://vanderhoof.ca/residents/dog-tags/
- In person: Municipal Office (a December 2023 District notice offered in-person applications; the current Dog Tags page describes only the online form), 160 Connaught Street, Vanderhoof, BC V0J 3A0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Phone: Municipal Office, 250-567-4711

## Key facts

- **Licence required:** Yes. No one may own or keep a dog aged six months or older in the District unless it is licensed. Dogs staying in the District less than 14 days do not need a licence. Only people who reside in the District qualify for a District licence.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018, Part 2, Dog Licensing s. 1, 3, 6](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/)
  - Official wording: "No person shall own or keep any dog, aged six (6) months or older, within the Municipality unless it is licensed as provided by this bylaw." … "Dog(s) that stay within the Municipality for less than 14 days do not require a license." … "Only those that reside within the Municipality qualify for a municipal license."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Issued by:** The District of Vanderhoof (Municipal office, 160 Connaught Street). Owners can apply online and the District mails the tag.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018, Part 2, Applying for License s. 7](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/)
  - Official wording: "The dog owner must apply for an annual license at the Municipal office"
  - Source: [Dog Tags, Dog Tags page](https://vanderhoof.ca/residents/dog-tags/)
  - Official wording: "Please fill out the form below and we will mail you a tag."
  - Source: [2024 dog licences available in January (District notice), 2024 licence notice](https://vanderhoof.ca/2024-dog-licences-available-january-2/)
  - Official wording: "come to the Municipal Office at 160 Connaught and get it in person"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fee, spayed or neutered:** $10 a year for a neutered male or spayed female dog. The fee may be waived if the dog is registered in January.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018, Schedule A](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/)
  - Official wording: "Neutered Male or Spayed Female Dogs $ 10.00" … "Dog License Fees may be waived in the month of January."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fee, not spayed or neutered:** $30 a year for an unaltered (not spayed or neutered) dog. The fee may be waived if the dog is registered in January.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018, Schedule A](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/)
  - Official wording: "Male or Female Unaltered Dogs $ 30.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Other fees and discounts:** Fee may be waived if the dog is registered in the first calendar month (January) of the licence year. Guide dogs must be licensed but the fee may be waived. Replacement tag: $10, with proof of purchase. A licence cannot be moved from one dog to another.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018, Part 2 s. 5, 8, 9, 11; Schedule A](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/)
  - Official wording: "Guide Dogs, as defined, are required to be licensed by the Municipality but the license fee may be waived for such dogs." … "The license fee may be waived if the owner of the dog registers their dog in the first calendar month of that license year." … "Replacement Tag $ 10.00" … "A license issued under this bylaw is not transferable from one dog to another."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Renewal:** Every dog licence and tag expires on December 31 each year and must be renewed annually.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018, Part 2 s. 2, 7](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/)
  - Official wording: "Every dog license and corresponding tag under this bylaw expires on December 31st each year." … "must renew the license by paying the fee outlines in Schedule"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to get one:** Fill out the online form on the District's Dog Tags page and the District mails you a tag (one form per dog), or apply in person at the Municipal Office, 160 Connaught Street.
  - Source: [Dog Tags, Dog Tags page](https://vanderhoof.ca/residents/dog-tags/)
  - Official wording: "Please fill out the form below and we will mail you a tag." … "Please fill out the form multiple times if you have multiple dogs."
  - Source: [2024 dog licences available in January (District notice), 2024 licence notice](https://vanderhoof.ca/2024-dog-licences-available-january-2/)
  - Official wording: "come to the Municipal Office at 160 Connaught and get it in person"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine, unlicensed dog:** Bylaw notice: $25 for failing to license ($15 if paid within 14 days; $40 if paid after 30 days). A conviction in court carries a fine of not less than $250.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1288, 2025, Schedule A, A.1 Animal Control Bylaw, s. 2.1](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/94033/)
  - Official wording: "Fail to license 25 15 40"
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018, Part 7 s. 3](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/)
  - Official wording: "Every person who commits an offence against this bylaw is punishable on conviction by a fine of not less than $250.00 for each offense."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** District of Vanderhoof Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018, s. 1 (Citation)](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/)
  - Official wording: "District of Vanderhoof Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

No one may own or keep a dog aged six months or older in Vanderhoof unless it is licensed under the [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/). Only people who live in the District qualify for a District licence. Dogs staying in the District less than 14 days do not need one.

## Steps

1. Fill out the online form on the District's [Dog Tags page](https://vanderhoof.ca/residents/dog-tags/), one form per dog. The District mails you the tag.
2. Or ask at the Municipal Office, 160 Connaught Street, or call 250-567-4711, to confirm you can apply in person.
3. Renew every year before the licence expires on December 31.

## Good to know

- A licence cannot be moved from one dog to another.
- Guide dogs must be licensed, but the fee may be waived.
- Not licensing a dog is a $25 bylaw notice ($15 if paid within 14 days; $40 if paid after 30 days). A court conviction carries a fine of not less than $250.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018 (PDF)](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/)
- [Dog Tags, District of Vanderhoof](https://vanderhoof.ca/residents/dog-tags/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-licence.md)
- [Fraser Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fraser-lake/dog-licence.md)
- [Fort St James](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/dog-licence.md)
- [Prince George](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/dog-licence.md)
- [Burns Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burns-lake/dog-licence.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/dog-licence.md)
- [Quesnel](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/dog-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018 (PDF), District of Vanderhoof](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Dog Tags, District of Vanderhoof](https://vanderhoof.ca/residents/dog-tags/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [2024 dog licences available in January (District notice)](https://vanderhoof.ca/2024-dog-licences-available-january-2/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1288, 2025 (PDF), District of Vanderhoof](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/94033/) (read 2026-11-08)

_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 District of Vanderhoof. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/dog-licence/_