Dogs need ID too! If your dog is over 4 months old, your furry friend needs to be licensed every year and wear the valid licence tag. A tag helps identify your dog if they go missing and is the fastest way to get reunited, in many cases saving you and your pet a trip to Coastal Animal Services.
Dog licences expire on December 31 each year and should be renewed right away.
How to register/renew and pay for a dog licence
- If your dog has not previously been registered in North Cowichan, complete the new dog licence application form. You can register up to three dogs on the form (which is the maximum number of dogs allowed over the age of 8 weeks under the Animal Responsibility Bylaw).
- If your dog has been previously registered in North Cowichan, you do not need to complete a licence application! North Cowichan will send you a renewal reminder in December every year, and you simply need to pay the annual dog licence fee and ensure that your dog’s tag remains on their collar. See the table below for a list of licencing fees. The payment options page lists all the ways that you can pay your annual dog licencing fee.
- If you have received written notice by an Animal Control Officer that your dog meets the definition of an ‘Aggressive Dog’ pursuant to Part 7 of Animal Responsibility Bylaw, you must apply for an aggressive dog licence within 14 days.
If your dog passes away or you move out of North Cowichan, please let us know at finance@northcowichan.ca so that you do not continue to receive licence renewal letters.
Get renewal notices by email
Each December, North Cowichan sends dog licence renewal reminders to everyone with a dog licence. You can help reduce waste by signing up to receive your bills by email at North Cowichan’s online self-service platform, MyMuni. To change your preferences to email billing, you will need to create a MyMuni account and then add your dog licence information using your account number and access code, which can be found in the top right corner of a previous renewal invoice. Instructions for how to create a MyMuni account can be found on the E-billing page.
Dog licence fees
| Licences purchased during the months of January and February (including new dogs) | $35.00 |
| Licences purchased after February (renewals only) | $45.00 |
| Replacement tags | $5.00 |
| Kennel licences purchased during the month of January and February | $125.00 |
| Kennel licences purchased after February | $150.00 |
| Aggressive dog licence | $100.00 |
| Aggressive dog licence purchased after February | $125.00 |
Where do dog licence fees go?
When you licence your dog with North Cowichan, 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 licence fee helps support Coastal Animal Services, which is contracted by North Cowichan to provide animal control services. Through Coastal Animal Services, you have access to:
- 24 hour emergency on-call staff
- A safe place for a lost dog to be taken if an owner cannot be found
- A safe place for your pet to come if you have an emergency such as a car accident, fire or other unexpected crisis
- Information hub where you can get advice on pet behaviour issues
- A safe place for unwanted animals to go until they can be re-homed