Nelson City Council

Registration fees

Effective 1 June 2010

All dogs three months of age and older must be registered annually. Failure to register a dog three months of age and older will incur an infringement fine as well as late registration fee. The registration fee will be charged on a pro rata rate of the yearly fee.

Pro-rata fees

The registration fee is a renewable, annual fee. For new dog owners, the fee is charged on a pro rata rate of the yearly fee.

If you have had your dog/s microchipped and have not advised the Nelson City Council please attach copy of the microchip certificate/s to your registration form and return.

Late fees - if paid after 31 July 2011:

If an owner voluntarily registers a new pup which is older than three months, the standard fee payable is that which was due when the pup was three months old.

If the owner has been warned or served a seven day notice to register, then the fee is the late fee payable or as otherwise stated on the seven day notice.

If an owner has taken ownership of a previously unregistered dog the fee is that which was due at the time they received the dog (treated as a puppy fee, dog would also need to be micro-chipped).

Impound fees

Dog owners will have to pay fees if their dog is impounded, with fees increasing over the number of offences.

Refund information

In the event of a dog dying during the current registration year, part of the fee is refundable. The refund is calculated from the month that Council is informed of the dog's death.

For example, the owner of a dog dying in December but not notifying Council until February receives the refund due in February.

A dog that was registered late and subsequently dies entitles the owner to a refund of the standard fee only.

Infringement fees

Council has teeth to enforce all rules under the Dog Control Act, the Dog Control Policy, and the Dog Control Bylaw. The penalties for infringing on Bylaw regulations are as follows:

The penalty for owning a dog involved in a serious attack has increased from a maximum fine of $5,000 and/or a maximum of up to three months in jail, to a maximum fine of $20,000 or a maximum of three years in jail.

Councils also have powers to seize dogs. Dog control officers and dog rangers can seize dogs that have attacked, that have rushed at anybody, that are unregistered, that are without an adequate supply of food or water, or shelter, that wander and are not under control, and whose owners have not met the obligations for keeping a dangerous or menacing dog. A person convicted of owning a dog involved in a serious attack can be banned from owning a dog for up to five years.

Good dog owner fee

The Good Dog Owner policy provides that owners are eligible for a reduced registration fee if they meet certain standards in relation to the control of their dogs.

Find out more about the Good Dog Owner Policy here.

Download the Good Dog Owner application form (45KB PDF).