Dog audit
A six-month audit of unregistered dogs will begin on Monday 3 September 2018. Council officers are authorised to go door-to-door and enter properties in order to identify dog owners who are not complying with registration requirements.
Under Queensland law, all dogs aged 12 weeks and older must be registered. Dog owners identified in the audit will have 14 days to register their pet to avoid a $261 fine.
Follow the links below to register your dog or update your registration details.
Changes to dog registration 2017/18
Council has introduced two new initiatives to make registering your dog easier.
Lifetime tags
Council has introduced lifetime tags for registered dogs. This means the registration tag you receive this year will remain with your dog for the life of your pet. You will continue to pay your registration fee annually as normal.
Council issues more than 30,000 tags each year so lifetime registration ensures these tags don't end up in landfill.
If you lose your registration tag you can contact Council by phone on 1300 69 22 47 or email Animal_Management@cairns.qld.gov.au to arrange a replacement. There is no charge for replacing your tag.
Initial rego fee discount for entire dogs
All first-time dog registrations will be charged at the desexed dog fee of $41. This gives dog owners until the next renewal period before incurring an entire dog fee.
This initiative addresses a shortfall in the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 that requires puppies to be registered by 12 weeks, before the age that they can be desexed.
Dog registration and microchipping is compulsory throughout Queensland. All dogs must be registered with Council from 12 weeks of age and you are required to register your dog with Council within 14 days of moving into the Cairns region. Registration is for 12 months and we will send you a reminder notice when your registration is set to expire.
There is a $243 fine for not registering your dog.
Registration is not only a requirement under Queensland Law it is a key component of responsible dog ownership.
Registering your dog makes it much easier for Council to reunite you with your pet if it is found outside your property and fees from dog rego fund and improve facilities such as dog off-leash areas and Council's pound, as well as following up complaints and animal-related matters.
Council has also introduced a range of free activities for pet owners such as Communtiy Dog Walks, workshops on address problem behaviour and the annual Pets in the Park day.
Lifetime tags
Council has lifetime tags for registered dogs. This means the registration tag you receive this year will remain with your dog for the life of your pet. You will continue to pay your registration fee annually as normal. Council issues more than 30,000 tags each year so lifetime registration ensures these tags don't end up in landfill.
If you lose your registration tag you can contact Council by phone on 1300 69 22 47 or email Animal_Management@cairns.qld.gov.au to arrange a replacement. There is no charge for replacing your tag.
I want to
Register my dog
- Register online
- In person - download the dog registration form ( PDF, 0.03 MB ) and take the completed form to any of Council's Customer Service Centres
Renew my dog registration:
Note: Council now issues lifetime tags. Renewal notices will be sent each year but you will not receive a new tag or registration certificate on renewal. Please continue to use your green lifetime tag for the life of your animal. Tags will only be replaced on request.
- Renew online
- In person - visit any of Council's Customer Service Centres
- Register to receive my dog registration renewal notices by email
Update my animal registration details (including change of address, deceased pet)
- Update my details online
- In person - contact Council on 1300 69 22 47 or visit any of Council's Customer Service Centres
Locate a customer service centre
Read the Frequently Asked Questions
New animal registrations
| Type of dog | Criteria / Proof required | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory fee - entire | Not previously registered with Council - first year only | $42.00 |
| Introductory fee - pensioner discount |
Not previously registered with Council - first year only. Eligible pensioner concession card. | $21.00 |
Existing animal renewals
| Type of dog | Criteria / Proof required | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Entire dog | Not desexed | $130.00 |
| Entire dog - Pensioner* discount | Eligible pensioner concession card | $65.00 |
| Entire dog - Level 3 Obedience | Level 3 Obedience certificate | $69.00 |
| Desexed dog | Sterilisation certificate / letter from vet or Prior registration indicating dog is desexed | $42.00 |
| Desexed dog - Pensioner* discount |
Sterilisation certificate / letter from vet or Prior registration indicating dog is desexed AND Eligible pensioner concession card | $21.00 |
| Desexed dog - Level 3 Obedience | Sterilisation certificate / letter from vet or Prior registration indicating dog is desexed AND Level 3 Obedience certificate | $35.00 |
| Registered security guard dog | Documentation indicating Registration of Security Guard Dog with security firm | $60.00 |
| Aged pensioner** or guide/assistance/hearing dog Lifetime (3 year) registration | Eligible pensioner concession card (aged over 65) or | No fee |
| Regulated dog - Restricted | Under the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008, if you own an American Pit Bull Terrier or Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasilerio (known as Brazilian Mastiff), Japanese Tosa or Perro de Presa Canario (or Presa Canario) you must apply to Council for a permit to keep a Restricted Dog. | $468.00 |
| Regulated dog - Declared Dangerous | As declared by Council | $468.00 |
| Regulated dog - Declared Menacing | As declared by Council | $468.00 |
| Farm dog |
Maximum of 4 dogs. Dog kept as Farm dog. **Farm must be rated as Rural Productive** | $9.00 |
| Cat - entire / desexed | Must be microchipped | No fee |
*Pensioner means that you hold a Centrelink Concession Card or a Department of Veteran Affairs Gold Card but you are not 65 years or older.
**Aged pensioner means that you are 65 or older and hold a Centrelink Concession Card or a Department of Veteran Affairs Gold Card. Your dogs must also be microchipped and desexed to be eligible for your Free Dog Registration. Aged pensioners must renew their dog registration every three (3) years.
Number of dogs
Under Council's Local Laws, the number of dogs you are allowed to keep is based on the size of your property. If you wish to keep more dogs than automatically allowed you need to apply to Council for an "excess permit" ( PDF, 0.3 MB ).
We considered excess permits on a case-by-case basis. A Council officer will discuss your application with you and will inspect your property to establish suitability.
| Size of property | Number of dogs allowed |
|---|---|
| Multi-unit dwellings | 1 dog |
| Allotment less than 450m2 | 1 dog |
| Allotment above 450m2 | 2 dogs |
