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Dog registration

Owning a dog is a pleasure and a privilege.  It also takes care and commitment and comes with many responsibilities, such as the training, housing, feeding and exercising of your pooch. Being respectful of our shared spaces is important, as not everyone loves dogs. 

It's the responsibility of the dog owner to register their dog before it's three months old, and renew registration each year; there is a fee for this. If you live in the Kāpiti Coast District, you must register your dog with the Kāpiti Coast District Council. Dogs registered after 31 July each year will incur a late fee. If you don't register your dog, you could be prosecuted and fined up to $3,000.

If you are a dog owner in Kāpiti, subscribe to our occasional newsletter. We email this group only when there is important information to share.

You can apply to be an approved owner this year until 1 May. Being an approved owner gives you a discount on annual registration fees – see Approved ownership for more information.

See Animal management fees for more information about:

  • how much it costs to register your dog
  • how your dog registration payment is used
  • fines
  • applying for a dog registration late fee waiver
  • fee refunds on the death of a dog.

To register your dog for the first time, you have a number of options:

  1. If you have owned a dog before, and had an online dog account, you can register your dog through your online services account.
    Otherwise:
  2. Print the dog registration application form, and complete it. Select the best option for you:

– Bring it into one of our service centres and pay the fee in person.
– Post your completed registration form to us. See Payments to select the option that suits you to make your payment.

Send completed form to:
Kāpiti Coast District Council
Private Bag 60601
Paraparaumu 5254.

Subscribe to our dog owners' occasional email newsletter (we email this group only when there is important information to share, such as toxic algae alerts).

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    If you have already registered your dog with Kāpiti Coast District Council, you will receive a personalised re-registration application form in June. When you receive your re-registration form and invoice in the mail, carefully check all details. This form contains all the information you will need for renewing registration online.

    To renew your dog's registration, you can:

    • Use our Online Services Account portal. You'll need your personalised re-registration form, and a debit or credit card.
    • Bring your personalised re-registration form into one of our service centres and pay the fee in person.
    • Post your completed registration form to us. See Payments to select the option that suits you to make your payment.
      Send registration form to to:
      Kāpiti Coast District Council
      Private Bag 60601
      Paraparaumu 5254.

    Check that you've subscribed to our dog owners' occasional email newsletter (we email this group only when there is important information to share, such as toxic algae alerts).

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    Dog owners who meet certain criteria can apply to be an approved owner, which allows a discount on annual registration fees. You can apply to be an Approved Owner by 1 May, before registration is due.

    If your application is approved, your Approved Owner status lasts for the life of your dog (unless they breach any of the conditions outlined on the application form), or you move property (see the Approved owner re-inspection fee under Other animal management charges in Animal management fees). Being an Approved Owner has a one-off non-refundable processing fee, and entitles you to discounted registration fees. 

    Criteria

    To be considered for approved ownership status, you must meet the conditions for approved ownership in sections 6.8–6.10 of the Council's Dog Control Policy 2019.

    Apply

    To apply to be an approved owner:

    1. Complete the application form before 1 May for the next registration year.
      Note: applications received after 1 May will be considered in the next registration year. 
    2. Pay the non-refundable processing fee. See Payments for more information.
      Result: You will receive an email advising that your application has been received.
    3. An Animal Management officer will review your application, and contact you to arrange a property inspection or to clarify any points.
    4. The Animal Management officer will inspect your property.
    5. You will be advised in writing when a decision has been made.

    You can also contact the Animal Management team to discuss further. The Council reserves the right to exercise discretion in granting Approved Owner status.

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    You must apply for a permit to have more than two dogs (over three months old) on a residential property. 

    You can:

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    There are different registration requirements for working and disability assist dogs. See the  for details.

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