Dog Registration

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.

Council offers three (3) types of registration

  • Annual
  • 3 Year
  • Whole of Life

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

  • leaving the municipality,
  • change of address or owner, or
  • if the dog has passed away.

Frequently Asked Questions

Dog Registration (If paid after 30 June 2025)

Whole of Life for each unsterilised dog  $630.00 GST Exempt 
Concession  $505.00 GST Exempt 
Whole of Life for each sterilised dog (proof required) $405.00 GST Exempt 
Concession$170.00 GST Exempt 
3 Years for each unsterilised dog $325.00 GST Exempt 
Concession $140.00 GST Exempt 
3 Years for each sterilised Dog (proof required) $110.00 GST Exempt 
Concession $90.00 GST Exempt 
Annual charge for each unsterilised dog $70.00 GST Exempt 
Concession $56.00 GST Exempt 
Annual charge for each sterilised dog (proof required) $45.00 GST Exempt 
Concession $36.00 GST Exempt    
Annual working dog or pure breed dog$38.00 GST Exempt 
Concession $28.00 GST Exempt 
Guard dogs declared under s30 Dog Control Act 2000 $110.00 GST Exempt 
Registration for dangerous dog declared under s29 Dog Control Act 2000 $600.00 GST Exempt 
Registered and appropriately trained guide, hearing or assistance dog (limited to one per person) No charge 

Barking Dog Complaint Lodgement Fee

Barking Complaint Lodgement (refunded if complaint confirmed) $35.00 GST Exempt  
 

Other Charges

Application for Kennel Licence 3 or More Dogs plus Registration Fee per Dog (includes inspection of site + advertising fee)** ***$430.00 GST Exempt 
Renewal of Kennel Licence – if paid on or before 30 June 2025$90.00 GST Exempt 
Renewal of Kennel Licence – if paid after 30 June 2025 $110.00GST Exempt
Appeal in respect of a Kennel Licence*** $50.00Inc GST
Surrender Fee*** $40.00Inc GST
Impounding fee (first impoundment)*** $40.00Inc GST
Impounding fee (subsequent impoundment)*** $100.00Inc GST
Impounding fee (outside normal office hours)*** $150.00Inc GST
Daily Fee for each impounded dog*** $65.00 Inc GST
Dog Release Fee (office hours)*** $65.00 Inc GST
Dog Release Fee (after hours) ***$175.00 Inc GST 
Replacement of registration tag ***$15.00 Inc GST 
Barking complaint lodgement (refunded if complaint confirmed) ***$35.00 GST Exempt 
Transport of dog out of/into West Coast Municipality ***$330.00 Inc GST 
 

* evidence of desexing required
**price includes advertising costs. It does not include dog registration or the pro-rata fee if successful. This fee is charged in full throughout the year as it is a recovery of costs relating to a process.
***fee not applied pro-rata

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 2024-2025 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.

Whole of Life and concession registrations are also available. 

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.

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

Information can be updated on the Dog Registration – Update Details form.

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, they should register the dog as the parent/guardian will be held accountable for the dog.

Planning and Compliance

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