All dogs in the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake must be licensed and vaccinated against rabies.
You are required to licence your dog within 14 days of:
- Acquiring your dog, or
- Moving into Niagara-on-the-Lake
Dog licences must be renewed every year, in accordance with By-law 2025-007.
How to licence your dog
You can licence or renew your dog’s licence in three ways:
Licence your dog online
The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake has partnered with DocuPet to provide an enhanced dog licensing experience.
Online licensing is the quickest and easiest way to:
- Purchase a new dog licence – $25 per year
- Renew an existing licence - $15 per year
- Update your contact information or pet details
License your dog online through DocuPet
When you register your dog, you will receive a unique licence tag to attach to your dog’s collar. You can choose a standard licence tag at no additional charge, or upgrade to one of DocuPet’s colourful designer tags for an additional fee.
Every DocuPet tag, standard or designer, doubles as your dog’s official Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake licence and is connected to DocuPet’s Home Safe™ 24/7 lost pet service.
Licence your dog in person
Licensing in person is available for residents who prefer to pay in person at a Town Hall (1593 Four Mile Creek Road).
Licence fees (per year):
- New dog licence: $25
- Licence renewal: $15
To licence your dog in person, please:
- Bring proof of your dog’s current rabies vaccination
- Bring proof that your dog is spayed or neutered, if applicable
- Bring payment (cash, debit, cheque.)
All dog tags will be mailed to the owner’s home address after processing.
Licence by Mail
If you prefer to licence by mail, you can do so through DocuPet.
Licence fees (per year):
- New dog licence: $25
- Licence renewal: $15
To licence by mail:
Complete the Niagara-on-the-Lake Dog Licence Form (PDF), available on the DocuPet portal.
- Include a copy of your dog’s current rabies vaccination certificate and any other required documentation.
- Enclose a cheque payable to DocuPet for the correct licence fee.
Mail your completed form, documents, and cheque to:
DocuPet
2 Gore Street
Kingston, ON K7L 2L1
All dog tags will be mailed to the owner’s home address.
Benefits of Licencing
Licencing your dog not only displays responsible dog ownership but it also helps fund local animal welfare initiatives in your community. In addition to your dog's licence, here are some benefits of your DocuPet online profile:
Licensing your dog:
- Shows responsible dog ownership
- Helps ensure lost dogs can be returned to their owners quickly
- Supports local animal welfare initiatives in our community
With your DocuPet online profile, you can also:
- Choose from hundreds of unique and colourful designer tags, or design your own
- Access the Home Safe™ 24/7 lost pet service
- Upload photos and important information to help identify your pet if they are lost
- Add additional guardians to your dog’s profile
- Purchase or renew your licence from home
- Upload important documents (like rabies certificates) by taking a photo
- View and download your dog’s licence documentation
- Read exclusive pet-focused content
- Update your contact information or pet details at any time
- View your order status and history
By-Law 2025-007
In an effort to support our local dog owners and ensure that lost dogs are returned to their owners in a timely fashion, all dogs in the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake must have a licence in accordance with By-law 2025-007.
Niagara-on-the-Lake loves dogs, and if you are visiting this page, it can be assumed that you love dogs, too!