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. 

• 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.
• You must provide a Guide Dog and Service Dog Certificate for that category. Please contact by phone or email to register or renew.
• Licence fees are non-refundable and vary based on a number of factors, see fee categories 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. 

You must provide proof of spay/neuter for that fee category. Your registration will be rejected if you do not include documents from your vet.

Register/renew a dog licence 

How to register/renew and pay for a dog licence

Please read these instructions and gather your necessary documents. If you see an error message, please email us with the details.

Login for online services

The button above takes you to our online services, where you will complete registration/renewal and pay online.  Already have an account? Login with your email and password. Forgot your password? Click the "reset password" button. Don't have an account? Click the "register" button and complete the short form.

Provide dog information

When you are logged-in, select "Dog licence" and follow the prompts to provide information on your dog(s).  More than one dog? For new registrations, you must register and pay for each dog licence one at a time. If you are renewing you can select "renewal all" and pay in one transaction. Renewing? You will need your account number and access code, which are on your renewal form.  Newly spayed/neutered? You will need the vet receipt to verify your dog has been spayed/neutered for the discounted rate.

Pay online

Next you will be taken to the payment page. Complete payment details and click "Pay now". Once the payment is processed you will see your transaction record. Need a copy? Select "print" on the transaction record or take a screenshot for your records.

Dog licence reward program

This program provides a digital reward card to dog owners for discounts to local businesses. Click the yellow "reward" button to access your card and it can be saved to your mobile device or printed.

Add the tag to your dog's collar/harness

If this is a new registration, we will send your dog tag by mail. If this is a renewal ensure your dog is wearing their current tag. Note: Once your payment is processed your dog licence is valid, even if you are waiting for the tag in the mail.

For more detailed instructions, including screenshots of the steps see: How to register or renew your dog licence. 

 

Fee categories

General dog licence fees

Before March 1 On or after March 1 Dogs - spayed/neutered (Must provide proof) $20 $40 Dogs - not spayed/neutered $60 $80 Registered service dogs (Must show valid Guide Dog and Service Dog Certificate - contact us for more info) $0 $0 Valid out of area licence transfer (A current licence from another local government can be transferred free of charge - contact us for more info) $0 $0 Replacement tags $5 $5

Nuisance, aggressive and dangerous dog licence fees

Spayed/neutered Not spayed/neutered Nuisance dogs $40 $80 Aggressive dogs $100 $150 Dangerous dogs $500 $500 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 do fees go?

When you licence your dog with the RDCO, you are contributing to a community that supports Responsible Dog Ownership.

• The tag you receive with each dog licence makes it easy to find a dog’s owner if it gets loose. The tag also provides a one-time free ride home.
• The licence fee helps support the Dog Pound and ensures there is food, shelter and veterinary care for dogs 365 days a year.
• The licence fee also helps to keep the public and their dogs safe from aggressive and dangerous dogs by ensuring Dog Control officers can monitor and investigate complaints.
• The RDCO sends a large portion of licence fees to the Central Okanagan BC SPCA as part of a partnership to support their initiatives,
• like the Spay, Neuter & Microchip Program. This relationship has been maintained for over 30 years.
• Additionally, dog licence holders have access to exclusive discounts and services offered by participating local businesses through the Dog Licence Rewards Program.

 

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.

Online

Register your dog(s) and pay through our online services portal.

Kelowna

Regional District of Central Okanagan 1450 KLO Road  250-763-4918   Dog pound 890 Weddell Place  250-469-6284   City of Kelowna 1435 Water Street 250-469-8500   Kelowna SPCA (by appointment only) 3785 Casorso Road 250-861-7722

West Kelowna

City of West Kelowna 2760 Cameron Road  778-797-1000

Peachland

District of Peachland 5806 Beach Avenue  250-767-2647

Lake Country

District of Lake Country 10150 Bottom Wood Lake Road 250-766-5650   Residents on Okanagan Indian Band IR#7 in the Lake Country area are not required to purchase a dog licence. There is no program in place to get your dog home safely should it become lost.

Westbank First Nation

Westbank First Nation (WFN) 515 Highway 97 South, West Kelowna  250-769-4999   Dog licences through WFN are not part of the RDCO dog licensing program. However, should your dog be lost/found on RDCO land, we will work together to get your dog home safely to you.

Okanagan Indian Band IR #7

Residents on Okanagan Indian Band IR#7 in the Lake Country area are not required to purchase a dog licence. There is no program in place to get your dog home safely should it become lost.

 

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.

 

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

Annual fee Hobby kennels $125 Services kennels $125 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.