Dog licences

All dogs three months or older living in the Central Okanagan must have a licence and wear a valid licence tag. Dog control staff use the dog licence tag to quickly and easily reunite you with your dog, in many cases saving you (and your pet) a trip to the pound. 

Purchase or renew a dog licence 

Dog licences

• All dogs over three months old must have a licence and wear a tag.
• Licences are good for a calendar year and expire December 31.
• Maximum of three dogs allowed per single family dwelling.
• You must provide proof of spay/neuter for that fee category.
• Licence fees are non-refundable and vary based on a number of factors, see fee structures below.
• If you rehome your dog, the existing licence can be transferred to the new owner.
• Licences purchased for new dogs after September 30  are valid for the remainder of the year and the next calendar year. 

Dog licence fees

Excludes nuisance, aggressive or dangerous dogs. 

Nuisance, aggressive and dangerous dog licence fees

 Definitions:

• Nuisance dogs: Any dog that has been at large or impounded three times in the last 12 months or whose owner has been issued a Bylaw Offence Notice or Municipal Ticket three times in the last 12 months, or a dog that is menacing by repeatedly charging or lunging at a fence.
• Aggressive dogs: Any dog that has attacked, bitten, or caused injury or attempted to attack, bite, or cause injury to a person or domestic animal as determined by an Animal Control Officer.
• Dangerous dogs: Any dog that has seriously injured or killed a person or domestic animal as determined by an Animal Control Officer in accordance with section 49 of the Community Charter and its amendments.

Where to get a dog licence

You can register, renew, update information and pay for dog licences online or at several locations, listed below. It is your responsibility to keep your personal information up-to-date. If your information is inaccurate, you will likely not receive a dog licence renewal notice and it could be difficult to reunite you with your dog.

Replacement tags are not available online, they must be purchased in-person at one of the locations listed below.

Cancel a dog licence

You can cancel a dog licence if: 

• Your dog has passed away
• You re-homed your dog
• You have moved out of the Central Okanagan

Please contact us to cancel.

Reasons to get a dog licence 

• It is easier to be reunited with your dog if they are lost.
• Accurate dog licence data supports planning for future service needs, like leashed and unleashed dog parks.
• Public safety (e.g. dog attack investigations and protection from dangerous dogs). 
• There is a $300 fine for unlicensed dogs - Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343
• Fees support the Central Okanagan SPCA's spay and neuter program, public education initiatives and dog adoption services.
• Fees also support the operation of the local dog pound: food, shelter and veterinary care for lost and homeless dogs.

Dog kennel licences

All dog kennels require a licence. Kennels are classified as either hobby or service. Land use bylaws for each local government state whether or not a kennel is permitted and any other conditions that must be met. For more information and to apply online see the kennel licence application form. 

Kennel licence fees

 Definitions:

• Hobby kennels: a house or property where 4 to 20 dogs over the age of three months are kept.
• Service kennels: a facility or property where more than 20 dogs over the age of 3 months are kept, trained, cared for, bred, treated, or boarded for remuneration or purposes of sale.