Registering a dog costs very different amounts depending on which state you live in, and even the way you pay differs. New South Wales charges once for life. Western Australia lets you pay for one year, three years or lifetime. Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory charge every year, and in most of them each council sets its own fee. The ACT charges a one-off fee with free annual renewals.
Over ten years, registering one desexed dog costs from about $67 in the ACT to $630 in Hobart at today’s fees. State-by-state details: NSW, Victoria (every council) and Queensland.
This page compares the 2026–27 fees side by side, using each state’s rules and a published example from a capital-city council where fees vary. Every figure links to its source.
Dog registration fees by state, 2026–27
| State | How it works | Desexed dog | Not desexed | Pensioner | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | One-off lifetime registration, fees set under the Companion Animals Act (same in every council) | $84 once | $84 + $198 extra if not desexed by 6 months | $37 once | Inner West Council as at 1 July 2026 |
| VIC | Annual, set by each of 79 councils (registration year 10 April to 9 April) | $19.50–$93.30 median $58 | $59.50–$294 median $186 | Usually 50% off | Our 68-council table |
| QLD | Annual, set by each council. Example: Brisbane | $48.50 first year, then $64.55 | $138.95 first year, then $185.40 | 50% off | Brisbane City Council checked Oct 2026 |
| WA | Choice of 1 year, 3 years or lifetime. Identical fees at the councils we checked | $20 (1 yr) · $42.50 (3 yrs) · $100 (lifetime) | $50 (1 yr) · $120 (3 yrs) · $250 (lifetime) | Varies by council | City of Gosnells, Shire of Mundaring 2026–27 |
| SA | Annual, set by each council under the Dog and Cat Management Act. Renew by 31 August. Example: Salisbury | $47 * | $90 * | 50% off | City of Salisbury 2024–25 figures |
| TAS | Annual, set by each council (1 July to 30 June). Example: Hobart | $63 | $146 | $32 desexed · $75 entire | City of Hobart 2026–27 |
| ACT | One-off registration fee, then free annual renewal. A separate permit applies to dogs that are not desexed | $66.55 once | $66.55 + non-desexed permit | $25.05 once | ACT fees determination 2026 from 1 July 2026 |
| NT | Annual, set by each council (year ends 31 August, pro-rata for new dogs). Example: Darwin | $36 | $160 | $18 desexed | City of Darwin 2026–27 |
* Most recent figures the council publishes online; 2026–27 fees were not shown when we checked.
What registration costs over a dog’s life
Because some states charge once and others every year, the annual fee alone is misleading. This is what registering one desexed dog would cost over ten years if today’s fees stayed the same (they usually rise).
NSW, ACT and WA lifetime figures are one-off payments. Other states: current annual fee × 10 (Brisbane: first-year rate, then nine renewals). Pensioner and multi-year options lower these further.
For a dog that is not desexed the gap is much wider: about $250–$282 over ten years in WA and NSW, against roughly $1,460 in Hobart, $1,600 in Darwin, $1,808 in Brisbane and $1,860 at the Victorian median.
Dog registration cost in each state: quick answers
How much is dog registration in NSW?
$84 once, for the dog’s lifetime, at every NSW council (2026–27). Eligible pensioners pay $37, and desexed dogs from a pound or shelter are free. If your dog isn’t desexed by six months you pay an extra $198 one-off fee. Full details: dog registration cost in NSW.
How much is dog registration in Victoria?
It depends on your council, and you pay every year. For 2026–27 a desexed dog costs between $19.50 and $93.30 a year (median $58), and a dog that isn’t desexed costs up to $294 (median $186). Pensioners usually get 50% off. Find your council in our table of every Victorian council’s fee.
How much is dog registration in Queensland?
Each council sets its own annual fee. In Brisbane a desexed dog costs $48.50 for the first year, then $64.55 a year; a dog that isn’t desexed costs $138.95, then $185.40. In Townsville a desexed dog is $59.40 a year. Pensioners get large discounts. More councils: dog registration cost in Queensland.
How much is dog registration in WA?
For a desexed dog: $20 for one year, $42.50 for three years or $100 for life. For a dog that isn’t desexed: $50, $120 or $250. These are the fees at the councils we checked for 2026–27; pensioner discounts vary by council.
How much is dog registration in SA?
Each council sets an annual fee and registrations renew by 31 August. In the City of Salisbury a desexed dog costs $47 and a dog that isn’t desexed $90, with 50% off for concession holders (latest published figures).
How much is dog registration in Tasmania?
Annual, set by each council for the year 1 July to 30 June. In Hobart a desexed dog costs $63 and a dog that isn’t desexed $146 (2026–27). Pensioners pay $32 (desexed) or $75 (not desexed).
How much is dog registration in the ACT?
A one-off $66.55, with free annual renewal (from 1 July 2026). Pensioners pay $25.05 once. A dog that isn’t desexed also needs a separate permit.
How much is dog registration in the NT?
Annual, set by each council. In Darwin a desexed dog costs $36 and a dog that isn’t desexed $160 (2026–27); pensioners pay $18 for a desexed dog.
What this means for owners
Registration is only a small part of what a dog costs. For food, grooming and vet care by breed, see how much a dog costs in Australia.
Desexing is the single biggest saving everywhere. Every state charges substantially more for a dog that isn’t desexed, and NSW adds a one-off $198 penalty fee if a dog isn’t desexed by six months.
Moving interstate resets the bill. Registration doesn’t carry across state lines, so you register again with your new council or territory, even if you paid for lifetime registration in NSW or WA.
Restricted and dangerous dogs cost far more. Fees for declared dogs run from $111 to $510 a year across Victorian councils, $247 a year in NSW as an annual permit on top of registration, and $1,250 a year in Hobart.
Check for free or discounted first years. Rescue dogs are free to register in NSW if desexed, the City of Melbourne has waived 2026–27 fees, and many councils discount the first year or adopted dogs.
How we collected this
Figures come from state legislation, territory fee determinations and council fee pages, linked beside each row, checked in October 2026. Where fees vary by council we show a named capital-city example rather than an estimate. Fees change each year, so confirm with your council before paying. Spotted something out of date? Email privacy@thinkpets.com.au.
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