Dog Registration

Dog registration provides safety and security for dogs, owners and the community. All dogs must be registered every year and wear a council-issued registration tag when in public. This assists council to reunite dogs with their owners should they become separated.

Registration also provides data that helps ensure appropriate services such as off-leash areas and litter bins are provided where they are needed. Should you wish to keep more than the number of dogs allowed for your property, you need to apply to council for permission.

Council can fine owners for keeping an unregistered dog.

Reduced fees apply for desexed and microchipped dogs.

Council also offers reduced registration fees for owners who are members of the Canine Control Council of Queensland (CCC (Q)) upon provision of the membership number to council.

• Dog ownership on the Sunshine Coast fact sheet [PDF 153KB]
• Dog ownership on the Sunshine Coast fact sheet [Word 904KB]

When to register your dog

Dog owners should register their dogs when they are three months of age or within:

• 14 days of acquiring the dog or
• 28 days of becoming a new resident of the region.

Note: The Animal Management (Cats & Dogs) Act 2008 requires all puppies to be registered at 3 months of age. Puppies aged between 3 and 6 months of age can now be registered free of charge.

Puppies will be classed as entire dogs for the purpose of future renewals, unless the owner provides proof that the puppy has been desexed.

Free registration only applies to puppies under the age of 6 months at the time of registration. Puppies desexed prior to six months of age can also be registered at no charge.

How to register your dog

In order to register your dog you must complete a dog registration form and return it to council with the appropriate fee. Fees are listed on the application form.

• Dog registration form [PDF 80KB]
• Dog registration form [Word 232KB]

The annual registration period is from 1 October to 30 September the following year. New registrations will be valid until 30 September regardless of when the dog is registered.

Renewing your dog registration

Once a dog is registered, council issues an annual registration renewal notice for each registered dog.

Pay your dog registraion renewal with Mastercard or Visa via MyCouncil .

You will need your reference number and the amount payable. Refer to the renewal notice for other payment methods and fees.

Changes to registration period

The new annual registration period for cats and dogs will commence on 1 October each year and extend to 30 September the following year. Previously, pet owners had to renew their registration each year in July.

Pet owners will still receive their annual cat and dog registration renewal notices in the mail. They can expect to receive these in early September. 

Changes to dog details

You can notify council online of changes to your dog's registration with council.

Complete the Animal Change of Details online form to:

• claim the pensioner discount to registration fees
• claim the discount to registration fees for desexing
• claim the discount to registration fees for microchipping
• notify council if animal is deceased
• notify council if animal has moved from the Sunshine Coast region
• notify council of a change of address for your animal.

Note: If you own a property within the Sunshine Coast region and you wish to notify council of a change in the address, please complete the Change of Address - Rates online form. You will be able to change the address for both your rates and your animal.

Microchipping

Implanting a microchip in your dog is compulsory if:

• your dog is younger than 12 weeks as of 1 July 2009
• the ownership of the dog changes after the 1 July 2009 
• a dog is a regulated dog such as a restricted dog or declared a dangerous or menacing dog.

Council recommends microchipping all animals to assist with reuniting the animals with their owners.

Remember to ensure your pet’s microchip details are up-to-date with your microchip register to help council, the vet or lost animal shelter to reunite you quickly and easily. For detailed information, refer to the microchip fact sheet.

• Microchip fact sheet [PDF 161KB]
• Microchip fact sheet [Word 960KB]

Transferring registration from another council

If you are a new resident of the Sunshine Coast and your dog is currently registered with another council, you should complete and lodge a dog registration form to transfer the dog registration to Sunshine Coast Council. Registration transfers are free of charge if you provide proof of current registration from another council.