Kennel licences

Dogs

A kennel licence is required for the following amount of dogs kept on your property:

  • more than two dogs over the age of six months
  • more than four working dogs.

You must apply for and be granted a kennel licence before the dogs move onto the property.

How do I apply for a licence?

Step 1: Contact us before you apply

If you are thinking about keeping more than two dogs on your property, please contact us before you apply. We can answer your questions and explain the application process.

You can contact the Animal Management Unit directly on 03 6238 2182 during business hours, Monday to Friday.

Step 2: Submit your application and pay the fees

You will need to submit a kennel licence application and pay the licence fee. You will also need to pay the cost of placing the required public notice in The Mercury newspaper.

Step 3: Public notice and objection period

After we receive your application and payment, we will arrange for your Notice of Intent to Apply for a Licence to be advertised in The Mercury newspaper.

Anyone who lives within 200 metres of the property may submit a written objection to the City of Hobart within 14 days of the notice being published.

Step 4: Site visit and assessment

After the advertising period has finished, we will arrange to visit your property to assess whether it is suitable for keeping the number of dogs proposed.

During the site visit, we will look at matters such as the size of the yard, fencing, shelter, bedding, cleanliness, and the health and welfare of the dogs.

We cannot make a decision on your application until 28 days after the notice has been published, in accordance with the Dog Control Act 2000. This means the application process will usually take at least one month.

What we consider when assessing your application

  • Whether the area where the dogs will be kept is secure and large enough for the dogs to move around freely.
  • Whether fencing, shelter and bedding are suitable.
  • How close any shelter is to a fence or property boundary.
  • Whether the area is safe and free from hazards, such as barbed wire or chemicals.
  • Whether any indoor areas used for the dogs have adequate ventilation and insulation.
  • How faeces and other waste will be managed.
  • Whether keeping three or more dogs at the property is likely to cause a nuisance.
  • The breed of the dogs you propose to keep.
  • Whether there are adequate arrangements for the welfare, health and control of all dogs kept at the property.
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