Animal management fees

Last updated: 1 July 2024

2025/26 fee schedule

Registration entire (not neutered/spayed) dog – 2025/26

Class of dog (fee code)	Registration fee (pro-rated)	Fee (including penalty) if paid after 5pm, 31 July 2025
Disability assist dog (A)	Nil	Nil
Working dog (B)	$79	$119
Working dogs (second and subsequent) (B)	$47	$72
Standard dog (C)	$219	$328
Approved owner (D)	$188	$281
Registration fee for dog owner over 65	$204	$306
Dogs classified as dangerous dogs (H)	$326	$489
Owner current member of NZ Kennel Club (Dogs New Zealand) (G) – provide proof of membership annually	$204	$306

Registration neutered/spayed dog – 2025/26

Class of dog (fee code)	Registration fee (pro-rated)	Fee (including penalty) if paid after 5pm, 31 July 2025
Disability assist dog (A)	Nil	Nil
Working dog (B)	$79	$119
Working dogs - second and subsequent (B)	$47	$72
Standard dog (E)	$112	$168
Approved owner (F)	$79	$119
Registration fee for dog owner over 65	$90	$134
Dogs classified as dangerous dogs (I)	$170	$255
Owner current member of New Zealand Kennel Club (G) – provide proof of membership annually	$90	$134

Animal management impounding charges – 2025/26

Impounding has occurred when a dog is confined to an Animal Management Officer’s vehicle or impounded.

Seizure has occurred when a notice of seizure has been served on the dog owner or placed at the dog owner's property.

No dog or stock will be released without payment of all impounding fees unless in exceptional circumstances.

Item	First impound or seizure	Second impound in any two-year period	Third and subsequent impound in any two-year period
Impounded (must be registered and microchipped to release)	$61	$199	$357
Impounded – unregistered	$109	–	–
Sustenance – dog (per day)	$14.50	$14.50	$14.50
Microchipping – dog	$47	–	–
Seizure and take custody fee	$85	$85	$85
Prearranged after-hours release (two officers) – all (per hour charge per officer)	$185	$185	$185
Impounding – sheep and goats (per head charge plus any costs incurred in transporting stock)	$42	$73	$151
Impounding − cattle and horses (per head charge plus any costs incurred in transporting stock)	$73	$151	$299
Animal management officer hourly charge-out rate – this includes driving and securing stock costs	$185 per hour
Sustenance − sheep and goats (per day, per unit)	$7.20	$7.20	$7.20
Sustenance − cattle and horses (per day, per unit)	$14.50	$14.50	$14.50

Adopting animals from shelter – 2025/26

Item	2025/26 Fee
Dogs	$318
Stock	Auction*

Adoption of a dog requires a property inspection, dog ownership history check. The dog is registered, microchipped and if dog is entire it comes with a voucher for de-sexing.

*Auction is a requirement of Impound Act 1955.

Permit charges – 2025/26

Item	Working dog	Standard dog	Entire dog (not neutered or spayed)
Permit for three or more dogs (special licence)	N/A	$73	$73
Approved owner application	N/A	$58	$58
Approved owner re-inspection fee**	N/A	$32	$32

Other animal management charges – 2025/26

Item	Fee
Replacement tag (first replacement)***	$7.20
Replacement tag (subsequent tags)***	$14.50
Relinquishment fee****	$133

** For site visit if:

an approved owner changes address or;
re-inspection to check that any required improvements have been made.

*** For losses outside of failure of tag.

**** Provides contribution towards sustenance costs (three days minimum) and administration and/or euthanasia costs.

Fees are used to promote responsible dog ownership in the district and safety around dogs, manage risks arising from wandering or troublesome dogs, provide and maintain the district pound/shelter, and meet our statutory obligations. Each year, we set our fees so they're in line with the local government cost index.

You are eligible for a discounted fee if you:

pay on time
apply and are approved for Approved Ownership (you must meet the criteria and apply before 1 May – see Approved ownership for more details)
have your dog neutered or speyed (you must provide a neuter/spey certificate from your vet or complete a neuter/spey declaration form [PDF 185 KB])
are a member of the New Zealand Kennel Club
are aged 65 years or older.

See Dog registration for how to register and pay for your dog registration.

How your dog registration fee is used

In the Kāpiti Coast District, dog registration fees go towards funding services designed to help dogs, their owners, and the wider community. Some of these are:

providing a seven-days a week service, with an on-call after-hours service for urgent dog incidents or attacks and for found dogs, with a response time within one hour of receiving the call
direct and indirect costs associated with employing an Animal Management Team, including administration costs associated with the team carrying out their duties and functions under the Dog Control Act 1996
patrolling public areas, reserves, parks, beaches, and sports fields in our community
investigating complaints (including threatening dogs and dog attacks; complaints about domestic pets; barking nuisance; roaming, lost and found dogs)
re-homing dogs
supporting the animals in our shelter
educating dog owners; providing signage, poo bags and dispensers; and promoting community animal safety
monitoring and enforcing the Dog Control Act 1996, and ensuring compliance with the Kāpiti District Council Dog Control Bylaws and the Dog Control Policy
paying fees associated with the National Dog Database
veterinarian costs.

Fines for an unregistered dog

Any unregistered dog may be impounded, and the dog owner may have to pay fines as set by the Dog Control Act 1996.

Refund on desexing of your dog

If your dog is desexed, you're entitled to a proportionate refund of your registration fee. The refund is for the number of complete months left in the registration year following certification and is calculated at the difference in cost between the entire dog and neutered/speyed dog.

The refund is for the number of months left in the registration year from Certified date.

To apply for a refund, complete and return the Neuter/spey declaration form [PDF 185 KB], or provide a certificate from your vet.

Refund on death of your dog

If your dog dies, you're entitled to a proportionate refund of your registration fee. You must return the tag and/or provide proof of death from your vet, or sign a Deceased dog declaration form [PDF 290 KB]. The refund is for the number of complete months left in the registration year following certification.

The refund is for the number of months left in the registration year from the Certified date.