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Waikato District Council - Te Kaunihera aa Takiwaa o Waikato

Dog registration fees and dog owner classifications 

Your dog registration fee depends on your classification as a dog owner. Responsible dog owners in the Waikato district may qualify for a lower fee. Check if you meet the requirements and apply to upgrade your dog owner policy and classification.

Dog owner classifications

In the Waikato district, every dog owner is classified as one of the following:

  • general owner
  • approved owner
  • selected owner
  • farm owner

A general owner is a standard dog owner who does not have any special status or restrictions.

Approved, selected and farm owners have special status as a responsible dog owner and qualify for lower registration fees.

Becoming an approved owner

First time dog owners are automatically classified as approved owners.

If you are currently classified as a general owner you can apply to become an approved owner. Once you have been offence-free for two years, apply when you next renew your dog registration.

How to apply

Email your full name and dog's registration number to:

info@waidc.govt.nz

Tip: Put ‘approved dog owner’ in the subject line of your email.

What happens next

If Council approves your application, we will update our records with your new classification.

Becoming a selected or farm owner

You can apply to upgrade your owner policy to become classified as a selected or farm owner. Submit your application by 30 April for the dog registration year commencing 1 July.

Before you apply

Check if you meet the criteria.

The selected owner classification applies to a dog owner who:

  • lives on a property that is less than 20 hectares
  • currently meets the approved owner classification
  • meets the minimum standards for accommodation of dogs (as set out in the MPI: Code of Welfare - Dogs)
  • provides a fully fenced dog-proof section or area of the premises, appropriate for the size of the dog 

The farm owner classification applies to a rural dog owner who:

  • lives on and farms a property of 20 hectares or more
  • has met the approved owner classification for at least 2 years
  • meets the minimum standards for accommodation of dogs (as set out in the MPI: Code of Welfare - Dogs)
  • ensures that all home killing and the disposal and or treatment of offal and trimmings, including the heads of sheep and goats, are carried out in an approved dog-proof enclosure or killing facility
  • does not feed or allow the dog access to any raw offal or untreated sheep or goat meat
  • will undertake voluntarily treatment for hydatids and sheep measles as part of the regular dog worming programme with the local veterinarian

Fees

There is a property inspection fee of $20.

Note: A permit fee will also apply if you are applying for a permit to keep more dogs on your property.

Apply online

Apply online to upgrade your owner policy and become classified as a selected or farm owner.

Apply to upgrade my owner policy

    What happens next

    If Council approves your application, we will update our records with your new classification.

    If you commit certain offences, we may may cancel your owner policy and reclassify you as a general owner. 

    Offences include where the owner has:

    • kept an unregistered dog under any local authority
    • had a dog impounded
    • been the subject of a registered complaint
    • been prosecuted for a dog offence
    • received infringement fine related to dog ownership

    Approved owners

    If you are charged with 2 or more offences within 12 months, we may cancel your owner policy and reclassify you as a general owner. To become an approved owner again, you must remain offence-free for 2 consecutive years and reapply.

    Selected owners

    If you breach any conditions of your licence, we may cancel your owner policy and reclassify you as a general owner. To become a selected owner again, you must remain offence-free for 2 consecutive years and reapply.

    Farm owners

    If you breach any conditions of your licence, we may cancel your owner policy and reclassify you as a general owner. To become a farm owner again, you must remain offence-free for 2 consecutive years to become an approved owner. Once you have been an approved owner for 2 years, you can reapply.

    Fees

    Renewing a dog's registration

    General owner
    $120.00
    Approved owner
    $95.00
    Farm owner
    $54.00
    Selected owner
    $60.00
    Disability assist dogs (see schedule 5 of the Dog Control Act 1996)
    No charge
    Dogs classified as dangerous
    $180

    General owner
    $140.00
    Approved owner
    $115.00
    Farm owner
    $74.00
    Selected owner
    $80.00
    Disability assist dogs (see schedule 5 of the Dog Control Act 1996)
    No charge
    Dogs classified as dangerous
    $210

    Registering a new dog

    These fees are for puppies or dogs which are new to New Zealand. Look under your owner classification and see the fee you will pay for the current month.

    July
    $140.00
    August
    $128.00
    September
    $117.00
    October
    $105.00
    November
    $93.00
    December
    $82.00
    January
    $70.00
    February
    $58.00
    March
    $47.00
    April
    $35.00
    May
    $23.00
    June
    Free of charge

    July
    $115.00
    August
    $105.00
    September
    $96.00
    October
    $86.00
    November
    $77.00
    December
    $67.00
    January
    $58.00
    February
    $48.00
    March
    $38.00
    April
    $28.00
    May
    $19.00
    June
    Free of charge

    July
    $80.00
    August
    $73.00
    September
    $67.00
    October
    $56.00
    November
    $53.00
    December
    $47.00
    January
    $40.00
    February
    $33.00
    March
    $27.00
    April
    $20.00
    May
    $13.00
    June
    Free of charge

    July
    $74.00
    August
    $68.00
    September
    $62.00
    October
    $56.00
    November
    $50.00
    December
    $44.00
    January
    $37.00
    February
    $31.00
    March
    $25.00
    April
    $19.00
    May
    $13.00
    June
    Free of charge


    Free registration when you desex your dog

    To get a free year of dog registration, submit your dog’s desexing certificate when you register or renew. The certificate must be from a certified veterinarian describing the dog and it must have been done within the past 12 months. The free registration applies to the next registration year.

    Note: This offer does not apply to dogs classified as dangerous or classified as menacing under section 33A of the Dog Control Act 1996.

    Related documents

    Fees and Charges 2025-2027

    pdf,  2614 KB Download

    Related legislation

    Dog Control Bylaw 2022

    pdf,  210 KB Download

    Dog Control Policy 2022

    pdf,  227 KB Download

    Last updated 9 June 2026, 01:46 pm

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