Prerequisites
When you register your dog:
- You are the owner of at least one dog.
- You keep the dog or dogs in Hamburg.
- The dog is at least 3 months old.
If you deregister your dog:
- You are no longer the owner of the dog, for example because
- You have sold, given away or otherwise disposed of the dog,
- You have lost your dog or
- the dog has died.
- You no longer keep the dog in Hamburg, for example because you have moved away from Hamburg.
Documents required
If you register or deregister your dog with the dog register, various documents will be required (see services “Dog ownership registration” and “Dog ownership deregistration”).
In the case of direct tax registration (by means of a tax return) with the responsible authority, no separate documents are usually required
If you want to deregister your dog using a tax return, you need
- Proof that you no longer keep the dog in Hamburg and
- if applicable, name and address of the new dog owner.
Please note
In Hamburg, you are required to register your dog in the dog register. Registration can be done at a Hamburg Service location, at a consumer protection office of your choice, or online. The data required for tax registration is then automatically forwarded to the office responsible for dog tax (tax office for traffic tax and real estate in Hamburg), so that no further declaration is usually required there.
If you register or deregister your dog for tax purposes directly through the responsible authority, you are still obliged to register or deregister it with the dog register.
The dog tax is 90 euros per calendar year. The dog tax for dogs classified as dangerous is 600 euros per calendar year.
Under certain conditions, you can apply for a tax exemption, reduction or waiver from the tax office for traffic taxes and real estate (see: “Dog tax reduction” or “Dog tax exemption” service). This option is not available for dogs classified as dangerous.
If you, as the owner, do not register your dog on time, you are committing an administrative offence. This administrative offence can be punished with a fine.
If you are no longer the owner of the registered dog, you must deregister it with the responsible authority within 2 weeks.
Deadlines
- Register the dog with the relevant authorities within 2 weeks of purchasing or importing it.
- You must register puppies or young dogs no later than when they are 3 months old.
- You must register stray or found dogs within 2 weeks, unless you have returned them to their owner or handed them over to the Lost and Found office within one week. If you hand the dog over to the person entitled to receive it or to the Lost and Found office within 2 weeks of the start of the tax liability, the tax will not be levied.
- De-register the dog with the responsible authority within 2 weeks after you no longer keep it in Hamburg.
