Is your dog registered?
Registration renewals are due 1 July each year.
New dog registrations should be completed by the time the dog is six months old.
Owners must register and microchip their dog when it reaches six months of age – this is a requirement of the Dog Control Act 2000. It is the owner’s responsibility to provide proof of the dog’s age.
Dog owners can pay an annual registration fee, however Council also offers registration for 3 years or whole of life – a great option to save money and remove the risk of forgetting to register. Additionally, Council offers a discount for concession card holders.
Details on fees and other registration questions are available in the FAQs at the end of this page.
Regardless of the type of registration you choose you must notify Council if any details for you, or your dog change.
This includes if you leave the West Coast, change your address within the West Coast, the owner of the dog changes, or if the dog has passed away.
Important tip: it’s important to bring proof of sterilisation and microchipping when registering your dog for the first time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dog Registration
| Incentive Rate (if paid on or before 30 June) | Full Rate (if paid after 30 June) | |
| Whole of life unsterilised | N/A | $640.00 |
| Whole of life unsterilised – concession | N/A | $510.00 |
| Whole of Life sterilised* | N/A | $385.00 |
| Whole of Life sterilised* – concession | N/A | $325.00 |
| 3 Years unsterilised | N/A | $180.00 |
| 3 Years unsterilised – concession | N/A | $145.00 |
| 3 Years sterilised* | N/A | $110.00 |
| 3 Years sterilised* – concession | N/A | $91.00 |
| Annual unsterilised | $67.00 | $75.00 |
| Annual unsterilised – concession | $54.00 | $60.00 |
| Annual sterilised* | $40.00 | $45.00 |
| Annual sterilised* – concession | $34.00 | $38.00 |
| Annual working dog or pure breed | $34.00 | $38.00 |
| Annual working dog or pure breed – concession | $27.00 | $30.00 |
| Annual Guard Dog declared under s30 Dog Control Act 2000 | $100.00 | $110.00 |
| Annual Dangerous Dog declared under s29 Dog Control Act 2000 | $540.00 | $600.00 |
| Registered and appropriately trained guide, hearing or assistance dog (limited to one per person) | No charge | No charge |
Dogs – Other Charges
| Application for Kennel Licence** | $430.00 |
| Kennel Licence (including renewal) | $120.00 |
| Appeal with respect of a Kennel Licence refusal | $50.00 |
| Surrender Fee | $260.00 |
| Impounding fee (first impoundment) | $50.00 |
| Impounding fee (subsequent impoundment) | $120.00 |
| Impounding fee (outside normal office hours) | $150.00 |
| Daily Fee for each impounded dog | $70.00 |
| Dog Release Fee (office hours) | $50.00 |
| Dog Release Fee (after hours) | $150.00 |
| Replacement of registration tag | $10.00 |
| Barking complaint lodgement (refunded if complaint confirmed) | $35.00 |
| Transport of dog out of or into West Coast municipality | $350.00 |
A dog wearing a collar with a current registration disc can be quickly reunited with its owner.
If a dog wearing a current registration disc is impounded, Council will notify the owner and cannot take other action with the dog for five business days.
Not only is registration required by law, it also allows Council to:
- employ staff to support the collection and return of lost dogs to owners;
- provide dog waste bag dispensers within the municipal area;
- provide individual registration tags for registered dogs;
- administer dog and owner details to make it easier and faster to reunite lost dogs with owners;
- have pound facilities to house stray, abandoned, lost or dangerous dogs while staff locate their owner(s).
Dog must be registered by 1 July each year. There is a fee discount available for dog registrations paid between 1 June and 30 June.
Residents whose dogs were registered during the previous financial year will receive a registration renewal form in June.
Registration renewals, and new registrations can be completed in person at the Council office and at Council agencies.
New dogs registered throughout the year will pay a pro rata fee rather than the full annual amount.
Registrations expire on 30 June each year. Council offers reduced fees for registrations paid between 1 and 30 June.
Renewal notices are sent in early June, but it is your responsibility to renew the registration.
If, for any reason, you do not receive a renewal notice it is not a valid excuse for failing to register your dog. If your contact details have changed, please let us know.
Infringements are issued to owners of dogs found to be unregistered after this date.
It is vital that all infringements are paid to prevent further action as Council will refer your details for debt collection – you have only 28 days to comply with the conditions stated on the infringement notice.
New dogs registered throughout the year will pay a pro rata fee rather than the full annual amount.
When in a public place dogs must wear a collar with its current registration disc attached. We recommend dogs always wear their collar and disc just in case they escape from your property.
Registration can be transferred from owner to owner within the West Coast municipality. Registration is not transferable from one dog to another or from another municipality to the West Coast.
Owners must notify Council in writing within fourteen days if:
- the dog has passed away
- the dog no longer lives in the West Coast municipality
- the dog now belongs to someone else
- your address within the West Coast has changed
Council is proactive in conducting checks throughout the municipality for unregistered dogs.
Owners of unregistered dogs may be issued with an infringement notice of 1 Standard Penalty Unit ($202), and the dog may also be seized (additional fees for impounding will then also be charged).
If the owner of a dog is under the age of 18 and lives with a parent or guardian, the parent/guardian should register the dog in their name as the parent/guardian will be held accountable for the dog.