Clarence is home to more than 9,500 registered dogs of 190 different breeds. The five most common being Maltese, Staffordshire, Border Collie, Labrador and Jack Russell Terriers.
Throughout the city we have a range of off-lead and on-lead dog exercise areas which you can view here.
Owning a dog
When you own a dog in the City of Clarence it is important to ensure your dog is registered. This helps reunite you and your pet if they go missing and it is also a requirement under the Dog Control Act 2000.
These guidelines and our approach to dog management is based on the Dog Control Act 2000, which requires us to have a Dog Management Policy.
All dogs more than six months old must be registered. You can register your dog online today
What you will need to register your dog
- Microchip information: Microchipping is compulsory in Tasmania for dogs over the age of six months – this is available through your vet or The Dogs Home. You can obtain an exemption from your vet
- Desexed dog: Provide a Certificate of sterilisation from a vet, or other documentation confirming that the dog is desexed. All dog owners are encouraged to desex their dogs and dog registration fess are 70% lower for desexed dogs
- Tasmanian Canine Association (TCA) Member: Tasmanian Canine Association (TCA) current membership card.
- Concession: Current Centrelink Health Care Card, Centrelink or Department of Veteran’s Affairs pension card, Department of Veterans Affairs ‘gold card’ endorsed with TPI or War Widow.
- Guide/Hearing dog – Documentation from an approved training organisation confirming that the dog is a registered guide/hearing dog.
Cancel your dog registration
You can use our online form below to let us know if you need to cancel your dog registration with us.
Fees and registration renewal
Dog registrations are renewed in July each year. For existing registered dogs, a renewal form will be sent to you. If you do not receive a form before the end of July, please contact us.
Registration fees
| Dog type | Standard fee | Pensioner |
| Desexed dog | $41.15 | $32.90 |
| Entire dog | $137.20 | $109.75 |
| Working Dog Evidence required – must be a working dog as defined under the Dog Control Act 2000. | $68.60 | N/A |
| TCA member | $68.60 | N/A |
| Guard dog | $274.40 | N/A |
| Dangerous dog (declared after Dec 2015) | $1,371.70 | N/A |
| Guide hearing/dog | N/A | N/A |
| Late payment fee | $50.00 | N/A |
| Replacement registration tag | $6.15 | N/A |
Responsible dog ownership
Being a responsible dog owner means:
- making sure your dog is registered and microchipped
- desexing your dog if it will not be used for breeding
- keeping your dog in your yard and not letting it out unattended
- keep your dog on a lead when in public, unless in an off-lead area where your dog must be kept under effective control at all times
- cleaning up any mess left in public by your dog
- Ensuring your dog is not continually barking
- taking your dog to obedience training
- looking after the health of your dog by providing your dog with a healthy diet and living conditions including access to clean water at all times
- informing us of the death or transfer of ownership of your dog
- informing us within 14 days if you change your address
- keeping no more than two dogs over six months of age (or in the case of working dogs, four) on a premise unless we have approved a kennel licence for that property.
Complaints about dogs
We will investigate the following types of complaints:
- barking/noise from a dog which is persistently and continuously occurring
- stray dogs and dogs off-lead in an on-lead area
- dog attacks or dogs behaving in a menacing or dangerous manner
- unregistered dogs
- keeping too many dogs on a property
- dogs being taken into restricted areas when not permitted
- people who are not cleaning up after their dog.
When contacting council to make a barking complaint you must have the following:
- The correct address of the offending dog.
- You may choose to keep a diary of the dog’s barking habits which can assist in the investigation and provide information on whether the problem is continuing
- If a barking complaint is continuing without resolution, it may be necessary to lodge a formal complaint under Section 47 of the Dog Control Act 2000.
The council does not investigate anonymous complaints. Your details are kept confidential and are protected by our privacy policy. We may need to seek further information depending on the type of complaint.
The information you provide is allocated to one of our rangers for investigation which will be reported back to you with the outcome. In the event that the matter being reported results in legal action, you may be required to provide evidence in court.
Lost and found dogs
If your dog is missing, contact the Dogs Homes of Tasmania on 03 6243 5177 to check if it has been impounded.
If you find a dog and can safely secure it, contact us on 03 6217 9500, and one of our rangers will attend to collect the dog.
If you find a dog out of council business hours and are not able to hold the dog until the next working day, contact our after-hours emergency service on 03 6217 9700 and a ranger will attend.