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City guide · Vancouver, British Columbia

Dogs in Vancouver: licence, off-leash parks, vets and dog services

What the City of Vancouver requires of dog owners, what B.C. law says about breeders, and where to find a vet, a groomer or a daycare.

The short answer

Every dog over 3 months needs a City licence, renewed every year. In 2026 the fee is a flat $68, whether or not the dog is spayed or neutered. Keep your dog on a leash no longer than 2.5 m except in a designated off-leash area. One property can have up to 3 dogs.

Licensing your dog

Vancouver’s Animal Control By-law No. 9150 requires a licence for every dog over 3 months old, including service dogs, renewed every year.

Licence (2026)Fee
Any dog$68 a year
Aggressive dog$222 a year
Certified B.C. service dogFree
Replacement tag, or transfer from another city$8
Late renewal (more than 30 days)$10 extra

Vancouver has one fee for all dogs: there is no separate rate for spayed or neutered dogs and no senior discount in 2026. Buy online, by phone at 3-1-1, or in person at the Vancouver Animal Shelter (1280 Raymur Ave., daily 10 am to 6 pm) or City Hall Revenue Services (453 W. 12th Ave.). If an unlicensed dog is picked up, the impound fee is $240 plus the licence.

Leash, off-leash parks and beaches

  • On streets and in public places, use a leash no longer than 2.5 m.
  • In parks, dogs must be leashed except inside a designated off-leash area, including on the way in and out.
  • The Park Board lists every off-leash area by neighbourhood, with hours. Some have seasonal or time limits.
  • Dogs are allowed only on beaches with a designated off-leash area: Hadden Park, John Hendry (Trout Lake), New Brighton, Spanish Banks and Sunset Beach. Hadden Park and New Brighton have seasonal and time limits.
  • Maximum 3 dogs per handler in off-leash areas. Park fines range from $250 to $10,000 and are enforced all year.

How many dogs

No more than 3 dogs may be kept at any one property unless it holds a kennel licence.

B.C. rules that apply to buyers

  • The Cattery and Kennel Regulation applies to any place where dogs are bred for commercial purposes, purebred or not. It names the CVMA Code of Practice for Canadian Kennel Operations as the accepted standard of care. It does not create a breeder licence or a limit on litters.
  • The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act covers every dog owner. The BC SPCA takes reports of animals in distress at 1-855-622-7722.

Before you pay a breeder anything

  • Meet the puppy and its mother where the puppy was raised. A breeder who only meets in a parking lot is a warning sign.
  • Ask for the vet records: vaccines given, deworming, and the clinic that did them. Then call that clinic to confirm.
  • Ask which health tests the parents had for their breed, and for the result documents, not a description of them.
  • Get the sale agreement in writing before any deposit, and read what it says about refunds and health problems.
  • Search the breeder’s name and phone number. Scam sites reuse photos and phone numbers across many names.

You can look up any breeder name on PawTrace Verify and read how to avoid puppy scams in Canada. Breeders in the list below were compiled from public sources. An unclaimed listing has not been checked by PawTrace.

Emergency vets in Vancouver

These clinics are listed on PawTrace as emergency hospitals. Hours and services change, so call before you go.

Not sure if it is an emergency? Read when to go to a 24-hour emergency hospital and what it costs.

Adoption and reporting a problem

  • Vancouver Animal Services: 1280 Raymur Ave., 604-873-7000, daily 10 am to 6 pm.
  • BC SPCA Vancouver: 1205 East 7th Ave., 604-879-7721. spca.bc.ca
  • Report a dog problem by calling 3-1-1 (604-873-7000 from outside Vancouver), with the Van311 app, or on van311.ca. After a bite, get medical help first, then report.

Vet clinics, dog services and breeders in Vancouver

Search all listings on Find a vet, Dog services and the Breeder directory.

Vet clinics in Vancouver (31)

Dog services in Vancouver (148)

See all in the directory →

Listings are compiled from public sources unless a business has claimed them. Unclaimed listings have not been checked by PawTrace.

Run one of these businesses? Claim your listing free to correct it and add your hours: for vet clinics or for dog services.

Sources

Checked October 12 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice. Fees and by-laws change; the City’s own page is the final word.

PawTrace reports verified data points it has checked. It does not guarantee a breeder, a dog, or an outcome. How we verify →