Dog Tax in Zurich: How Much It Costs and How to Register Your Dog

Every dog in Zurich comes with a small yearly bill from the municipality: the dog tax, officially called Hundeabgabe and usually known as Hundesteuer. It isn't the biggest cost of having a dog, but it's the one most people only find out about when the invoice arrives.

Here's what it costs in Zurich, who has to pay, which dogs are exempt, and the other rules the canton expects every dog owner to follow.

Find dog sitters in Zurich →

How Much the Dog Tax Costs in Zurich

In the city of Zurich, the dog tax is currently CHF 160 per dog per year. Two dogs means paying twice.

The amount isn't the same everywhere in the canton. Cantonal dog law sets a range of CHF 70 to CHF 200 and leaves the exact figure to each municipality. Many municipalities around Zurich charge somewhere between roughly CHF 140 and CHF 180.

Municipalities can change their rates, so the invoice from your municipality is always the binding amount.

Who Pays, and When

The tax is paid by the dog's keeper to the municipality where they live, once a year and for each dog. It applies to every dog older than three months.

If you move within the canton, deregister the dog in your old municipality and register it in the new one, which will then bill you.

Which Dogs Are Exempt

Some dogs don't pay the tax, as long as you submit the documents that prove their role:

• Guide dogs for blind and visually impaired people
• Recognised assistance dogs
• Rescue dogs
• Dogs in police, military or border guard service

Some municipalities also give a one-time reduction if you complete a voluntary course with a recognised dog trainer. Ask your municipality whether it does.

How to Register Your Dog in Zurich

Taking on a new dog, or moving to the canton with one? You have 10 days for two steps:

1. Report the dog to your municipality. In the city of Zurich, that's the dog control office (Hundekontrolle) of the city police.
2. Register the dog in AMICUS, the Swiss dog database, under your name.

Every dog needs a working microchip. If your dog isn't in AMICUS yet, a vet registers it. Not sure how chipping works? Read our guide to dog microchips.

When a dog dies, report that to your municipality and to AMICUS too.

The Other Rules Every Zurich Dog Owner Should Know

The tax is only one part of keeping a dog in the canton of Zurich:

• Liability insurance. Every dog must be covered by liability insurance of at least CHF 1 million, whatever its size or breed.
• Dog course. Since 1 June 2025, anyone who keeps a dog in the canton for at least three months has to complete a practical course with the dog, run by a trainer approved by the cantonal veterinary office. First-time keepers also take a short theory course. Transitional rules apply to dogs you already kept before June 2025.
• Restricted breeds. Some breed types are banned in the canton and others need a permit, so check before you get a dog.
• Leash rules. A leash is required wherever signs say so. From 1 April to 31 July, dogs must be on a leash in the forest and within 50 metres of its edge. Looking for space to run? See our guide to Allmend Brunau with your dog.

What a Dog Really Costs in Zurich

The dog tax is a fixed, predictable cost. Food, the vet and insurance add up to much more over a year. And there's one cost people tend to forget until their first trip: care while you're away.

That's where costs can climb fast, from kennels to sitters to the fees some platforms add on top. Our guide to dog sitter costs in Zurich breaks down typical prices and how to avoid paying more than the sitter's rate.

Dog Care in Zurich Without Extra Fees

On Guauly, owners in Zurich can find someone nearby to look after their dog:

• Community sitters look after dogs for free, for the love of dogs.
• Pro sitters set their own nightly rate in CHF, and you pay exactly that, with no booking fee added.
• Your payment is held until the stay is over, so you can report a problem before the sitter is paid.

Going on holiday? See dog boarding in Zurich, in a real home. And if you'd like to spend time with dogs yourself, for free or for your own rate, become a dog sitter in Zurich.