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

# Victoria dog licences: fees and how to get one

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Victoria, https://www.victoria.ca)  
**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:**
- Online: Renew online (tag mailed to you), https://tender.victoria.ca/WebApps/ecom/SelectPayableItem.aspx
- In person: Victoria Animal Control Services, 564 David St., Victoria, BC
- In person: Victoria City Hall, 1 Centennial Square, Victoria, BC
- Phone: Victoria Animal Control Services, 250-414-0233

## Key facts

- **Licence required:** Yes. The owner of a dog over the age of 4 months must hold a valid City of Victoria licence for it.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044 (consolidated to July 2022), s. 32(1)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/554)
  - Official wording: "The owner of a dog over the age of 4 months must hold a valid licence issued by the City for the dog."
  - Source: [Animal Control & Licences, Dog Licences](https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/community-safety-bylaw-services/animal-control-licences)
  - Official wording: "All dogs over the age of four months must be licensed in the City of Victoria."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Issued by:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044 (consolidated to July 2022), s. 32(1)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/554)
  - Official wording: "must hold a valid licence issued by the City for the dog."
  - Source: [Animal Control & Licences, Dog Licence Vendors](https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/community-safety-bylaw-services/animal-control-licences)
  - Official wording: "Victoria City Hall | 1 Centennial Square | 250.385.5711" … "Victoria Animal Control Services | 564 David St. | 250.414.0233"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee, spayed or neutered:** $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.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044 (consolidated to July 2022), Schedule D, s. 32(5)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/554)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Animal Control & Licences, Licence Fees](https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/community-safety-bylaw-services/animal-control-licences)
  - Official wording: "If purchased March to December" … "Neutered or spayed dog | $50"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee, not spayed or neutered:** $40 if bought in January or February; $60 from March 1 to December (the $40 fee plus a $20 late purchase fee).
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044 (consolidated to July 2022), Schedule D, s. 32(5)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/554)
  - Official wording: "2. Unsterilized dog licence $40.00" … "3. Late purchase $20.00"
  - Source: [Animal Control & Licences, Licence Fees](https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/community-safety-bylaw-services/animal-control-licences)
  - Official wording: "| 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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other fees and discounts:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044 (consolidated to July 2022), Schedule D; s. 32(4), (6), (7)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/554)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Animal Control & Licences, Licence Fees](https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/community-safety-bylaw-services/animal-control-licences)
  - Official wording: "dogs spayed or neutered in the past 12 months will receive a free licence for one year."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044 (consolidated to July 2022), s. 32(2)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/554)
  - Official wording: "Every licence expires on December 31 of the calendar year for which the licence is issued."
  - Source: [Animal Control & Licences, Licence Fees](https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/community-safety-bylaw-services/animal-control-licences)
  - Official wording: "If purchased in January or February"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to get one:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Control & Licences, How to Licence Your Dog](https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/community-safety-bylaw-services/animal-control-licences)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, unlicensed dog:** 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.
  - Source: [Ticket Bylaw 10-071 (consolidated June 18, 2026), Schedule C](https://www.victoria.ca/media/635)
  - Official wording: "No dog licence 32(1) $125.00 $100.00"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Adjudication Bylaw 16-017, Schedule B](https://www.victoria.ca/media/2923)
  - Official wording: "32(1) No dog licence $125.00 $31.25 $31.25"
  - Source: [Animal Control & Licences, Dog Licences](https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/community-safety-bylaw-services/animal-control-licences)
  - Official wording: "Owners of unlicensed dogs can be fined up to $125 per day for non-compliance."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 11-044
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044 (consolidated to July 2022), Title](https://www.victoria.ca/media/554)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as the "ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW"." … "BYLAW NO. 11-044"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under 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.

## Steps

1. First licence for a dog: buy it in person at one of the places above. If the dog is spayed or neutered, bring proof.
2. Renewal: pay online, or in person. If you renew online, a new tag is mailed to you.
3. 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.

## Good to know

- 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.
- A replacement tag is $5.
- 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).
- The City's fee table is headed "2025 Licence Fees", so confirm the current amounts with the City.

## What you'll need

- Proof that your dog is spayed or neutered, for the lower rate or the free year

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control and Licences (City of Victoria)](https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/community-safety-bylaw-services/animal-control-licences)
- [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044 (PDF)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/554)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-licence.md)
- [Oak Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/dog-licence.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/dog-licence.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/dog-licence.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/dog-licence.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/dog-licence.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/dog-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control & Licences, City of Victoria](https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/community-safety-bylaw-services/animal-control-licences) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044 (consolidated to July 2022) (PDF)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/554) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Ticket Bylaw 10-071 (consolidated June 18, 2026), Schedule C (PDF)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/635) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Adjudication Bylaw 16-017, Schedule B (PDF)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/2923) (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 Victoria. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/dog-licence/_