New dog registration

We offer discounted registration for desexed/sterilised dogs.

To receive the discount, you must provide evidence that your dog has been desexed/sterilised. You can provide any one of the following:

• copy of the vet's desexing/sterilisation certificate
• copy of a previous registration paper from another local government area which states the dog is desexed/sterilised
• a letter from a veterinary surgeon who has sighted the dog is desexed/sterilised
• Statutory Declaration witnessed by a Commissioner for Declarations or Justice of the Peace stating the dog is desexed/sterilised.
• Visit our City Pound with your dog so an authorised officer can verify the desexing tattoo.

An entire dog is a dog that has not been desexed/sterilised.

Owners of dogs under one year of age may apply for fee relief for dog registration.

Council offers a one-off nil fee registration for dogs under 12 months. This reduced registration is only available for the initial registration of the dog and is for the current registration period (to 31 August).

We offer discounted registration to dogs owned by current members of endorsed association, Dogs Queensland.

To apply for the discount, you must provide your current membership card.

If we have declared your dog is either dangerous or menacing, you will need to pay an increased registration fee and comply with specific keeping conditions.

Dangerous or menacing dog declarations from a previous local authority will need to be provided and assessed by an authorised officer.

Concessions or fee discounts do not apply.

If you own a guide, hearing, therapy or assistance dog, you do not need to pay a dog registration fee (subject to approval). You must still register and microchip your dog, but the registration fee is nil if your application is approved.

To receive free registration for an assistance dog:

Defined under the Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act 2009 (Qld) (GHADA):

• your dog must be trained by an approved trainer and pass a Public Access Test to be formally certified.

Proof of certification will be required to apply for a Guide, Hearing or Assistance dog registration class, i.e. identity card for handlers, trainers and puppy carers.

Defined under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA):

• your dog has been trained to assist with a disability, and
• you must ensure that your dog's behaviour meets the standards required for an assistance dog in a public place.

To apply for a companion dog registration class, you will be required to provide:

• a letter from a medical practitioner confirming the person’s disability and that the animal alleviates the effect of the disability; and
• a statutory declaration stating the dog is trained to assist with the owner’s disability.

Registration does not constitute certification under the Act. The City does not have the authority to approve or regulate public access rights for assistance animals. Those rights are set out in laws such as the DDA and GHADA.

If you hold a current Queensland issued Pensioner Concession Card or Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) Gold Card, you may be eligible for a concession of half the prescribed fee.

Discounted fees apply to the entire dog registration class for holders of a DVA Gold Card. Pensioner concession discounts apply to two dogs only (desexed or entire registration class). You will need to provide a current card for proof of eligibility.

Consent may be required for Council to confirm your eligibility for this concession with Services Australia and Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

If you have a permit for additional dogs, the third and subsequent dogs will be charged at the nominal rate for the registration class.

Owners of desexed/sterilised dogs may apply for fee relief for dog registrations if the owner is 60 years of age or over, or a veteran who is the holder of a Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) Gold, White, Orange or Veteran Card. This will reduce the registration fee to nil.

This relief will apply to two desexed/sterilised dogs only and excludes regulated dogs (declared menacing or dangerous). All additional dogs will be registered at the nominal rate for the registration class.

Proof of desexing and benefit (either age or DVA card) will be required for eligibility.

Working dogs and government entity dogs, as defined by the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 (Qld), do not need to pay a dog registration fee (subject to approval).

To apply for nil fee registration, proof of eligibility is required that the dog is:

• kept on rural land,
• by an owner who is a primary producer, or a person engaged or employed by a primary producer, and
• kept primarily for the purposes of droving, protecting, tending or working stock.

For government entity dogs (for example, police, customs or defence force) eligibility, you will be required to provide proof of ownership by a government entity or person engaged/employed by the entity.

Retired police dogs who have served with Queensland Police Service (QPS) and have now retired are eligible for a nil registration fee. Proof of service (such as a QPS police dog retirement and disposal report) will be required.

The following breeds of dogs are prohibited from being kept in the City of Gold Coast:

• American Pit Bull Terrier or Pit Bull Terrier
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro
• Japanese Tosa
• Perro de Presa Canario and Presa Canario.