There is State Government legislation in place (Dog Act 1976) to ensure the control and registration of dogs in our community. All dogs in Western Australia must be registered and microchipped from three-months-old.
One registration application is to be completed per dog, and all dogs that are on the property must be registered. If there are more than two dogs, please see the FAQ's below for more information.
Your dog’s registration expires on 31 October in the year its due. A registration year runs from 1 November through to 31 October of the following year, which applies to any animal registered during that period.
How much does it cost?
Concession rates apply for sterilised dogs and dogs owned by Pension Concession Card or Seniors Card holders.
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| Length of registration |
Cost for STERILISED dog ($) |
Cost for UNSTERILISED dog ($)
|
|
1 year
|
$20 ($10 pensioner concession)
|
$50 ($25 pensioner concession)
|
|
3 years
|
$42.50 ($21.25 pensioner concession)
|
$120 ($60 pensioner concession)
|
|
Lifetime
|
$100 ($50 pensioner concession)
|
$250 ($125 pensioner concession)
|
Registering your dog for the first time
You can register your dog for the first time all year round. If you select a one-year payment, this will expire on 31 October the same year and you will be issued a renewal notice. The City of Cockburn promotes lifetime registration.
Before you register, make sure you have:
- Your dog's 15-digit microchip number
- Your dog's Sterilisation Certificate, if applicable.
- Your Pensioner Concession Card or Seniors Card, if applicable.
Once you've submitted your application, you'll receive an email requesting payment which is due the same day. If you don’t receive this email within five minutes please contact Ranger Services by email or phone 08 9411 3444.
Once your payment has been verified and your application received, a tag will be posted to your address within two weeks.
Renewing your dog's registration
Your dog’s registration expires on 31 October in the year it is due. You will receive a renewal notice from us in September if your dog’s registration is due for renewal. Renewals are due by the 31 October and failure to renew the registration may result in an infringement being issued.
Once you have received your renewal notice from us you can pay your dog's registration renewal online, via BPAY (refer to your renewal notice) or return the completed renewal notice to us using one of the following methods.
- By email: [email protected]
- By post: PO Box 1215, Bibra Lake DC, Western Australia 6965
- In person: City of Cockburn, 9 Coleville Crescent, Spearwood between 8.30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Frequently asked questions
Why should I register my dog?All dogs in Western Australia must be micro-chipped and registered from three months of age and older. This is a Western Australian Government requirement. The main reason for registering your dog though is so our Rangers have your details and can return your pet if they become lost. Owners who don't register their pets can be fined $200.
What do the dog registration fees pay for?Dog registration fees fund and improve facilities such as the Animal Management Facility and dog off-leash areas. They also contribute to handling of animal-related requests, including returning lost pets and investigations.
I want to sterilise my dog later in the year, can I pay the discounted rate now?No, you will need to register your dog as unsterilised now and pay the unsterilised rate.
My registered dog has recently been sterilised, am I due a refund?If your dog is registered and has recently been sterilised, you may be eligible for a partial refund of the registration costs to cover the difference between the unsterilised rate and sterilised rate. Please complete the
Dog Sterilisation Registration Partial Refund Form. Please note that this form may take up to 8 weeks to process.
All dogs must be microchipped under the Dog Act 1976. You may obtain the microchip number from vet records you already have, by contacting your vet, or visiting a local vet. If you are still unable to obtain the number, please call Ranger Services on 08 9411 3444.
How do I transfer my dog registration from a different council to the City of Cockburn?If you are moving into the City of Cockburn and your dog is already registered with another Council, please complete the
Online Animal Transfer Form. Once completed, we will confirm all details with your previous Council and mail a registration tag to you.
Please call Customer Experience on 08 9411 3444 for assistance.
Can I also register my cat online?No, cat registrations are not available online. Please use the following link to complete the
Cat Registration Form and return it by
email to the City for processing.
Dangerous, restricted breed and guard dogs are not eligible for online registration. Please contact Ranger Services on 08 9411 3444 for more information.
What if my dog has recently been sterilised, has moved out of the City of Cockburn, or died?You will need to complete a
Change of Animal Status Form. If your dog has been sterilised, please provide the sterilisation certificate with the completed form. Only the owner can request changes to a registration.
Please get in touch with Community Safety Support to organise a replacement on 9411 3444 or
[email protected].
Residents are permitted to keep up to two dogs per property in the City of Cockburn.
Keeping more than two dogs without the approval to do so is an offence against the Dog Act 1976 and the City of Cockburn (Local Government Act) Local Laws 2000. Please apply below to keep more than two dogs at your property.
Email us to request an application form
Please note you application will be subject to the following conditions:
- All dogs must be microchipped and registered per the Dog Act 1976 and associated regulations
- You must include photos of the property’s fencing and boundaries in your application
- You must pay the required fee on submission.
We are also required to inform your neighbours of your application to keep additional dogs, providing 21 days for any objections to be submitted in writing.
This applies to all neighbours:
- In a residential area, all owners and/or occupiers of property within a 50m radius of the applicant’s premises
- In a rural zone or resource zone, all owners and/or occupiers of property within a 100m radius of the applicant’s premises
- In a rural zone or resource zone on land which abuts a residential area, all owners and/or occupiers of property within a 50m radius of the applicant’s premises.
The following factors will be considered when assessing your application:
- Any history of dogs wandering from the property
- Complaints related to nuisance barking
- Previous convictions or infringements issued under the Dog Act 1976 or City of Cockburn Local Laws
- Objections from neighbours during the application process
- Whether the property is adequately fenced to prevent the dogs from escaping.
Conditional approval
Applications are conditionally approved, meaning specific conditions must be met. Failure to comply may lead to the application being revoked.
If any of the approved dogs are replaced, a new application must be submitted and approved by the City of Cockburn.
For further information, please email Ranger Services or call us on 08 9411 3444.
Please contact Ranger Services for more information on 08 9411 3444 or by email.