Dogs
We manage dog exercise areas, deal with barking and roaming dogs, and provide information about registration.
Dog Exercise areas
Declared-area maps show where dogs are allowed off-lead, on-lead or are prohibited at different times of year. In public areas like pedestrian walking tracks, roads, footpaths and cycleways, your dog must be on a lead at all times. Non-compliance can lead to infringements. Maps for each area are linked below.
- Bicheno
- Coles Bay / Swanwick
- Nine Mile Beach
- Swansea
- Cressy, Spiky, Kelvedon & Mayfield Beaches
- Little Swanport / Boltons Beach
- Spring Bay, Triabunna, Barton Avenue
- Orford
- Rheban Beach
Fenced dog exercise parks
There are five fenced dog exercise parks where dogs can be exercised off-lead within the fenced area. Conditions of entry posted on the signs apply at all times, and owners must pick up after their dog.
- Buckland Cricket Club Ground, 1 East Street, Buckland
- Orford Recreation Ground, 31 Rheban Road, Orford
- Triabunna Recreation Ground, 51 Charles Street, Triabunna
- Swansea Esplanade, Swansea (Esplanade side of Golf Course)
- Swanwick Recreation Ground, 192 Hazards View Drive, Coles Bay
Register a dog
Download and complete the Dog Registration Application form, or collect one from our office at 9 Melbourne Street, Triabunna. Return it to Council with payment. If your dog is already registered, you’ll get a pre-filled renewal in the mail each May or June — fill in any missing details and return it. If you don’t receive a renewal, please contact us.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Non-desexed dog (per animal) | $74 |
| Desexed dog (per animal) | $37 |
| Working dog (per animal) | $37 |
| Pensioner — one desexed dog | $13 |
| Declared dangerous dog & restricted breeds (per animal) | $571 |
| Registered guide / assistance dog | Free |
| Late payment of dog registration. (Charged 60 days after due date of unpaid dog registration. Charged in addition to registration fee) | $50 |
| Replacement tag | $11 |
| Release of dog from pound — 1st offence | $53 |
| Release of dog from pound — 2nd and subsequent | $193 |
| Daily maintenance whilst impounded (per day) | $53 |
| Returned dog fee (where dog is not impounded and is returned directly to owner) | $50 |
| Dog nuisance complaint fee (refundable if confirmed) | $57 |
| Kennel licence — new | $152 |
| Kennel licence — renewal | $47 |
Keeping several dogs
Without a kennel licence, a person must not keep more than two dogs over six months old on a property — or more than four working dogs over six months. See Kennel licensing if you need to keep more.
Dog Management Policy
The Dog Management Policy 2020–2026 sets the framework for declared areas and responsible dog ownership across our municipality. Read the policy and the maps below for the area you walk in.
Barking Dogs
Dogs bark for many reasons, but persistent barking can affect the peace, comfort and convenience of neighbours and nearby residents.
Under the Dog Control Act 2000, a dog is considered a nuisance if its barking persistently occurs or continues to an extent that it unreasonably interferes with the peace, comfort or convenience of any person on any premises or in a public place.
If a dog is found to be causing a nuisance, enforcement action may be taken against the owner.
Understanding why a dog is barking and addressing the cause can help prevent nuisance barking and complaints.
Helpful information
The following resources provide information about barking dogs and ways to address the issue:
Making a complaint
If you believe a dog is causing a nuisance because of persistent barking, you can make a formal complaint to Council.
A complaint must:
- be submitted using the approved form
- be accompanied by the applicable fee; and
- state the nature of the nuisance.
Once a complaint is received, Council will investigate the matter.
If the General Manager considers that the complaint has substance, proceedings may be commenced for an offence under section 46 of the Dog Control Act 2000.
The fee accompanying a complaint will be refunded if proceedings are commenced.