{"title":"Victoria dog licences: fees and how to get one","question":"How do I get a dog licence, and what does it cost?","slug":"dog-licence","place":{"path":"ca/bc/victoria","name":"Victoria","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of Victoria","url":"https://www.victoria.ca"},"short_answer":"In the City of Victoria, every dog over four months old needs a City licence each year. A spayed or neutered dog costs $30 in January or February and $50 from March 1; a dog that is not costs $40, then $60. Renew online; a first licence must be bought in person.","aliases":["dog license victoria","dog tag victoria","renew dog licence victoria","how much is a dog licence in victoria"],"cost":"Spayed or neutered dog: $30 in January or February, $50 from March 1 to December. Dog not spayed or neutered: $40, then $60. A dog sterilized in the past 12 months can get a free licence for one year. Replacement tag $5. Fine for no licence: bylaw notice $125, municipal ticket $125.","how_long":"Every licence expires on December 31 of the year it was issued for.","where":[{"type":"online","label":"Renew online (tag mailed to you)","value":"https://tender.victoria.ca/WebApps/ecom/SelectPayableItem.aspx"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Victoria Animal Control Services","value":"564 David St., Victoria, BC"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Victoria City Hall","value":"1 Centennial Square, Victoria, BC"},{"type":"phone","label":"Victoria Animal Control Services","value":"250-414-0233"}],"documents":["Proof that your dog is spayed or neutered, for the lower rate or the free year"],"forms":[{"title":"Animal Control and Licences (City of Victoria)","url":"https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/community-safety-bylaw-services/animal-control-licences"},{"title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044 (PDF)","url":"https://www.victoria.ca/media/554"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-leash-rules","title":"Victoria dog leash rules and off-leash areas","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/dog-leash-rules/"},{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Victoria","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/how-many-pets/"},{"slug":"dangerous-dogs","title":"Victoria rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/dangerous-dogs/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/oak-bay","name":"Oak Bay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/dog-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/esquimalt","name":"Esquimalt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/dog-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/view-royal","name":"View Royal","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/dog-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/saanich","name":"Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/dog-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/colwood","name":"Colwood","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/dog-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langford","name":"Langford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/dog-licence/"}],"topic":{"title":"Dog licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-licence/"},"facts":{"required":{"label":"Licence required","value":"Yes. The owner of a dog over the age of 4 months must hold a valid City of Victoria licence for it.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/media/554","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044 (consolidated to July 2022) (PDF)","section":"s. 32(1)","quotes":["The owner of a dog over the age of 4 months must hold a valid licence issued by the City for the dog."]},{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/community-safety-bylaw-services/animal-control-licences","title":"Animal Control & Licences, City of Victoria","section":"Dog Licences","quotes":["All dogs over the age of four months must be licensed in the City of Victoria."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"issued_by":{"label":"Issued by","value":"The City of Victoria. Licences are sold at City Hall, at Victoria Animal Control Services (564 David St.) and at listed vendors; renewals can be paid online.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/media/554","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044 (consolidated to July 2022) (PDF)","section":"s. 32(1)","quotes":["must hold a valid licence issued by the City for the dog."]},{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/community-safety-bylaw-services/animal-control-licences","title":"Animal Control & Licences, City of Victoria","section":"Dog Licence Vendors","quotes":["Victoria City Hall | 1 Centennial Square | 250.385.5711","Victoria Animal Control Services | 564 David St. | 250.414.0233"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee_altered":{"label":"Fee, spayed or neutered","value":"$30 if bought in January or February; $50 from March 1 to December (the $30 fee plus a $20 late purchase fee). A dog sterilized in the past 12 months can get a free licence for one year.","short":"$30 in January or February ($50 from March 1)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/media/554","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044 (consolidated to July 2022) (PDF)","section":"Schedule D, s. 32(5)","quotes":["1. Sterilized dog licence $30.00","3. Late purchase $20.00","A person who obtains a licence on or after March 1 must pay the late purchase fee prescribed in Schedule D in addition to the licence fee."]},{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/community-safety-bylaw-services/animal-control-licences","title":"Animal Control & Licences, City of Victoria","section":"Licence Fees","quotes":["If purchased March to December","Neutered or spayed dog | $50"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee_unaltered":{"label":"Fee, not spayed or neutered","value":"$40 if bought in January or February; $60 from March 1 to December (the $40 fee plus a $20 late purchase fee).","short":"$40 in January or February ($60 from March 1)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/media/554","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044 (consolidated to July 2022) (PDF)","section":"Schedule D, s. 32(5)","quotes":["2. Unsterilized dog licence $40.00","3. Late purchase $20.00"]},{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/community-safety-bylaw-services/animal-control-licences","title":"Animal Control & Licences, City of Victoria","section":"Licence Fees","quotes":["| If purchased in January or February | Neutered or spayed dog | $30 | Unaltered dog | $40 | If purchased March to December | Neutered or spayed dog | $50","| If purchased March to December | Neutered or spayed dog | $50 | Unaltered dog | $60 ## Victoria Dog Data"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_fees":{"label":"Other fees and discounts","value":"Replacement tag $5. Late purchase fee $20 from March 1 (not charged for a dog acquired that year). Free licence if the dog was sterilized in the past 12 months (proof needed, once per dog) or the owner holds a valid licence from another jurisdiction and surrenders that tag.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/media/554","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044 (consolidated to July 2022) (PDF)","section":"Schedule D; s. 32(4), (6), (7)","quotes":["4. Replacement licence tag $5.00","The late purchase fee provided for in subsection (5) does not apply to a person who obtains a licence for a dog that was purchased or acquired in the calendar year for which the licence is issued.","the person holds a valid licence for the dog issued in another jurisdiction and surrenders the licence tag from the other jurisdiction."]},{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/community-safety-bylaw-services/animal-control-licences","title":"Animal Control & Licences, City of Victoria","section":"Licence Fees","quotes":["dogs spayed or neutered in the past 12 months will receive a free licence for one year."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"renewal":{"label":"Renewal","value":"Every licence expires on December 31 of the year it was issued for, so it must be renewed each year; the lower fee applies if bought in January or February.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/media/554","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044 (consolidated to July 2022) (PDF)","section":"s. 32(2)","quotes":["Every licence expires on December 31 of the calendar year for which the licence is issued."]},{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/community-safety-bylaw-services/animal-control-licences","title":"Animal Control & Licences, City of Victoria","section":"Licence Fees","quotes":["If purchased in January or February"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"how_to_get":{"label":"How to get one","value":"Renew online (a new tag is mailed) or in person at City Hall or a listed vendor. A first-time licence must be bought in person; bring proof if the dog is spayed or neutered.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/community-safety-bylaw-services/animal-control-licences","title":"Animal Control & Licences, City of Victoria","section":"How to Licence Your Dog","quotes":["You can renew your dog licence online or at various locations around the city.","If you renew online, a new dog tag will be mailed to you.","If you are licensing your dog for the first time, you must visit one of the locations below in person to purchase a licence.","If your dog is neutered or spayed, please provide documentation to receive a reduced rate."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine_unlicensed":{"label":"Fine, unlicensed dog","value":"Bylaw notice (Bylaw 16-017): $125 ($93.75 if paid within 14 days; $156.25 if unpaid 15 days after receipt). Municipal ticket (Bylaw 10-071): $125 ($100 if paid within 30 days). Each day is a separate offence.","short":"Notice $125 ($93.75 if paid in 14 days); ticket $125","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/media/635","title":"Ticket Bylaw 10-071 (consolidated June 18, 2026), Schedule C (PDF)","section":"Schedule C","quotes":["No dog licence 32(1) $125.00 $100.00"]},{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/media/2923","title":"Bylaw Notice Adjudication Bylaw 16-017, Schedule B (PDF)","section":"Schedule B","quotes":["32(1) No dog licence $125.00 $31.25 $31.25"]},{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/community-safety-bylaw-services/animal-control-licences","title":"Animal Control & Licences, City of Victoria","section":"Dog Licences","quotes":["Owners of unlicensed dogs can be fined up to $125 per day for non-compliance."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 11-044","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/media/554","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044 (consolidated to July 2022) (PDF)","section":"Title","quotes":["This Bylaw may be cited as the \"ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW\".","BYLAW NO. 11-044"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":9,"stated":9,"matched":9,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder the [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044](<https://www.victoria.ca/media/554>), the owner of a dog over four months old must hold a valid City of Victoria licence for it. Licences are sold at City Hall, at Victoria Animal Control Services (564 David St.) and at vendors listed on the City's page. Every licence expires on December 31, so you renew each year.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. First licence for a dog: buy it in person at one of the places above. If the dog is spayed or neutered, bring proof.\n2. Renewal: pay online, or in person. If you renew online, a new tag is mailed to you.\n3. Buy in January or February for the lower fee. From March 1 a $20 late purchase fee is added, except for a dog you bought or acquired that calendar year.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- A dog sterilized in the past 12 months can get a free licence for one year (proof needed, once per dog). It is also free if you hold a valid licence for the dog from another jurisdiction and hand in that tag.\n- A replacement tag is $5.\n- Not having a licence is an offence, and each day is a separate offence. A bylaw notice (Bylaw 16-017) is $125 ($93.75 if paid within 14 days; $156.25 if unpaid 15 days after receipt). A municipal ticket (Bylaw 10-071) is $125 ($100 if paid within 30 days).\n- The City's fee table is headed \"2025 Licence Fees\", so confirm the current amounts with the City.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/community-safety-bylaw-services/animal-control-licences","title":"Animal Control & Licences, City of Victoria","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/media/554","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044 (consolidated to July 2022) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/media/635","title":"Ticket Bylaw 10-071 (consolidated June 18, 2026), Schedule C (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/media/2923","title":"Bylaw Notice Adjudication Bylaw 16-017, Schedule B (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 9 of 9 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/dog-licence/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/dog-licence.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/dog-licence.json"}}