{"title":"Williams Lake 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/williams-lake","name":"Williams Lake","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 Williams Lake","url":"https://www.williamslake.ca"},"short_answer":"Every dog over 2 months old in Williams Lake needs a City licence for each licence year (January 1 to December 31). The fee is $10 a year for a spayed or neutered dog and $20 for one that is not. Guide dogs, police dogs and dogs of owners 65 or older are free.","aliases":["dog license williams lake","dog tag williams lake","how much is a dog licence","renew dog licence williams lake"],"cost":"$10 a year if spayed or neutered; $20 if not. Free for guide dogs, police dogs and owners 65 or older (with proof of age). Late fee if applied for after March 31: $10 plus the regular fee. Replacement tag $5. Aggressive-dog licence $200.","how_long":"Valid January 1 to December 31; renew every year.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"City Hall (Finance Department)","value":"450 Mart Street, Williams Lake, BC V2G 1N3","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Cash, cheque or Interac."},{"type":"mail","label":"Mail a cheque, or leave payment in the drop box at the front door of City Hall","value":"450 Mart Street, Williams Lake, BC V2G 1N3"},{"type":"phone","label":"City Hall","value":"250-392-2311"}],"documents":["Proof of age if you are 65 or older and claiming the no-fee licence","Proof of spay or neuter for the lower fee"],"forms":[{"title":"Dog Licences page","url":"https://www.williamslake.ca/659/Dog-Licences"},{"title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (PDF)","url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375"}],"related":[{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Williams Lake","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/how-many-pets/"},{"slug":"dog-leash-rules","title":"Williams Lake dog leash rules and off-leash areas","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/dog-leash-rules/"},{"slug":"dangerous-dogs","title":"Williams Lake rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/dangerous-dogs/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/100-mile-house","name":"100 Mile House","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/dog-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/quesnel","name":"Quesnel","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/dog-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lillooet","name":"Lillooet","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lillooet/dog-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/ashcroft","name":"Ashcroft","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/dog-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/barriere","name":"Barriere","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/dog-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/mcbride","name":"McBride","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mcbride/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. Every dog over 2 months old must have a current licence for the licence year (January 1 to December 31).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (consolidated)","section":"s. 3","quotes":["No person shall own, keep, possess or harbour any dog actually or apparently over the age of two (2) months in the City unless a valid and subsisting license for the current License year has first been obtained"]},{"url":"https://www.williamslake.ca/659/Dog-Licences","title":"Dog Licences, City of Williams Lake","section":"page","quotes":["every dog over the age of 2 months must have a current licence"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"issued_by":{"label":"Issued by","value":"The City of Williams Lake (Finance Department, City Hall). The BC SPCA Williams Lake branch is the City's poundkeeper.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (consolidated)","section":"s. 4","quotes":["the owner of the dog shall apply to the City for a license"]},{"url":"https://www.williamslake.ca/659/Dog-Licences","title":"Dog Licences, City of Williams Lake","section":"page","quotes":["direct any inquiries to the Finance Department at City Hall, 250-392-2311"]},{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (consolidated)","section":"s. 33","quotes":["The SPCA is hereby appointed as the Poundkeeper"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee_altered":{"label":"Fee, spayed or neutered","value":"$10 a year for a spayed or neutered dog.","short":"$10 a year","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (consolidated)","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["Spayed or neutered dog","$10.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee_unaltered":{"label":"Fee, not spayed or neutered","value":"$20 a year for a dog that is not spayed or neutered.","short":"$20 a year","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (consolidated)","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["Unspayed or unneutered dog","$20.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_fees":{"label":"Other fees and discounts","value":"Free for guide dogs, police dogs and dogs whose owners are 65 or older (with proof of age). Late fee if applied for after March 31: $10 plus the regular fee. Replacement tag: $5. Aggressive-dog licence: $200.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (consolidated)","section":"s. 7","quotes":["No license fees shall be charged for Police Dogs, Guide Dogs, or dogs whose owners are 65 years of age and older"]},{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (consolidated)","section":"s. 5","quotes":["If an owner applies for a license after March 31st, that owner shall pay the late fee set out in Schedule \"A\""]},{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (consolidated)","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["Late application fee","$10.00 plus regular license fee","Replacement license tag","$5.00","Aggressive dog","$200.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"renewal":{"label":"Renewal","value":"Every year. A licence is valid only for the licence year, January 1 to December 31, whether or not a renewal notice arrives.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (consolidated)","section":"s. 8","quotes":["Every license and corresponding license tag issued under this Bylaw is valid only for the License Year for which it was issued."]},{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (consolidated)","section":"definitions","quotes":["\"LICENSE YEAR\" means the period from January 1st to December 31st in any year"]},{"url":"https://www.williamslake.ca/Faq.aspx","title":"Frequently Asked Questions (Lost and Found Animals), City of Williams Lake","section":"Lost and Found Animals FAQ","quotes":["are responsible for purchasing whether or not you receive a renewal notice"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"how_to_get":{"label":"How to get one","value":"In person at City Hall, 450 Mart Street, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (cash, cheque or Interac), or by mailing a cheque or leaving payment in the drop box at the front door. Phone 250-392-2311.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.williamslake.ca/659/Dog-Licences","title":"Dog Licences, City of Williams Lake","section":"page","quotes":["Payment can be made at City Hall Monday-Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm, by mailing a cheque or leaving payment in the drop box located at the front door. We accept cash, cheque or interact."]},{"url":"https://www.williamslake.ca/Faq.aspx","title":"Frequently Asked Questions (Lost and Found Animals), City of Williams Lake","section":"Lost and Found Animals FAQ","quotes":["City Hall 450 Mart Street Williams Lake 250-392-2311"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine_unlicensed":{"label":"Fine, unlicensed dog","value":"Bylaw notice: $100 ($75 if paid within 14 days; $125 if paid late).","short":"Notice $100 ($75 if paid in 14 days)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/61839","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2196, 2013 (consolidated), Schedule A-1","section":"Schedule A-1","quotes":["Penalty Penalty Available Unlicensed Dog 3 $100.00 $75.00 $125.00 Yes Fail to Affix License 9 $100.00 $75.00 $125.00 Yes"]},{"url":"https://www.williamslake.ca/Faq.aspx","title":"Frequently Asked Questions (Lost and Found Animals), City of Williams Lake","section":"Lost and Found Animals FAQ","quotes":["you could receive a $50.00 fine"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":"The City's Lost and Found Animals FAQ says an unlicensed dog could receive a '$50.00 fine'; the bylaw schedule says $100 and is followed here. Impound fee for an unlicensed dog starts at $75 (Animal Control Bylaw Schedule B). Early payment is within 14 days of receiving the notice (BNE s. 6(b))."},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 2102, 2009","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (consolidated)","section":"s. 1","quotes":["This Bylaw shall be cited as the Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 2102, 2009."]}],"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 Control and Licensing Bylaw](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375), nobody in Williams Lake may keep a dog over 2 months old without a valid licence for the current licence year, which runs January 1 to December 31. You apply to the City. The City's Finance Department at City Hall issues licences.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Go to City Hall, 450 Mart Street, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (cash, cheque or Interac), or mail a cheque or leave payment in the drop box at the front door. No online purchase option was found on the City pages.\n2. Pay $10 for a spayed or neutered dog or $20 for a dog that is not.\n3. If you apply after March 31, add the $10 late fee.\n4. Renew every year, whether or not a notice arrives.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Free: guide dogs, police dogs and dogs whose owners are 65 or older (bring proof of age). The bylaw also lets the City issue a free licence for a dog spayed or neutered in the 12 months before you apply, with proof.\n- A replacement tag is $5.\n- An unlicensed dog is a $100 bylaw notice ($75 if paid within 14 days; $125 if paid late). The City's FAQ says $50; the bylaw schedule says $100, so confirm with the City. Impound fees for an unlicensed dog start at $75.\n- The City's page says a new permanent tag system means the tag need not be replaced each year; the bylaw says each licence and tag is valid only for its licence year. Ask the City which applies to you.\n- The BC SPCA Williams Lake branch is the City's poundkeeper.\n- The City's copy of the bylaw is dated 2019; later changes, if any, were not seen.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.williamslake.ca/659/Dog-Licences","title":"Dog Licences, City of Williams Lake","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.williamslake.ca/Faq.aspx","title":"Frequently Asked Questions (Lost and Found Animals), City of Williams Lake","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (consolidated)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/61839","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2196, 2013 (consolidated), Schedule A-1","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/williams-lake/dog-licence/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/dog-licence.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/dog-licence.json"}}