Pets in Germany: Registration, Taxes, Renting, and Rules for Keeping Animals

In Germany, you can live with a dog, a cat, and other pets, but the owner is responsible not only for care, but also for registration, local rules, taxes, and coordination with the landlord. Requirements for dogs in particular should be checked carefully because they differ by federal state and by city.

What rules apply to owners

The basic principle is set out in the Tierschutzgesetz: an animal must not be caused pain, suffering, or harm without reasonable cause, and the owner must keep it in a way that reflects the species, its needs, feeding, care, and exercise. For dogs, the Tierschutz-Hundeverordnung also applies, describing minimum requirements for walks, human contact, and keeping the animal indoors or on a property.

In practice, this means:

• the animal must receive enough food, water, care, and exercise;
• the pet must not be left in conditions that damage its health or cause prolonged stress;
• some exotic animals require special permits or proof of origin;
• the owner is responsible for damage caused to people, other animals, or property.

Dogs: Anmeldung, Hundesteuer, and local rules

A dog usually has to be registered with the city or municipality after you move or buy it. After registration, Hundesteuer, the municipal dog tax, is charged. The amount is not set by the federal government, but by the specific city.

Example: in Munich, the tax for an ordinary dog is listed as 100 euros per year, while for dogs classified as Kampfhunde it is 800 euros per year. In other cities, the amounts and exemptions may differ: in some places the tax is lower, in others higher, and the rate for a second dog often increases.

What dog owners usually check:

1. the registration deadline after arrival or purchase;
2. the amount of Hundesteuer and how it is paid;
3. whether Haftpflichtversicherung is required for the dog;
4. whether microchipping or entry in a local register is mandatory;
5. whether there are rules on leashes, muzzles, and walking zones.

Microchipping and registers

There is no single simple rule in Germany under which all cats and all dogs in every situation must be microchipped and registered in one nationwide federal register. Requirements depend on the state, the city, the type of animal, and the circumstances.

For dogs, microchipping or registration is often required by local rules, state law, or when issuing the pet passport. For cats, an obligation may exist in specific municipalities, especially in areas with a Katzenschutzverordnung, but it is not a uniform rule for the whole country.

Even where it is not mandatory, a microchip and registration with services such as TASSO or FINDEFIX help return a lost animal. The chip itself is of little use without a register entry: it is important that the chip number is linked to the owner’s current contact details.

Breed restrictions and dangerous dogs

Rules for so-called Listenhunde or dangerous dogs are set at the level of the federal states. Some states have lists of breeds, others use a different approach. Depending on the region, a permit, a character test, a muzzle, a leash, higher tax, or liability insurance may be required.

Breeds such as Pitbull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, or Rottweiler may be subject to restrictions in some states, but there is no universal list for all of Germany. Before moving with a dog, you need to check the rules of the exact state and city where you will live.

Renting housing with animals

Having a pet can make it harder to find an apartment, but a blanket ban on all animals in the rental agreement is usually problematic. Small animals that live in a cage, aquarium, or terrarium and do not disturb the building generally cannot be banned without an individual reason. This usually includes fish, hamsters, guinea pigs, small birds, and similar pets.

With cats and dogs, the situation more often requires agreement. The landlord may consider the size, breed, number of animals, the pet’s behavior, the specifics of the building, and the interests of the neighbors. That is why it is better to tell the landlord about the animal in advance, get written consent, and keep documents about insurance, vaccinations, and dog training.

Owner liability

If an animal damages the apartment, bites a person, causes an accident, or harms another animal, claims are usually made against the owner. For dogs, Hundehaftpflichtversicherung is mandatory or strongly recommended in many states. For cats and small animals, damage may sometimes be covered by a standard private Haftpflichtversicherung, but this has to be checked in the policy.

Veterinary expenses are another important point. In Germany, animal treatment can be expensive, and prices are calculated according to the veterinary fee schedule, GOT. That is why owners often decide in advance whether they need Krankenversicherung or OP-Versicherung for their pet.

If you can no longer keep the animal

You cannot simply abandon an animal outdoors. If the owner can no longer care for the pet, the proper route is to contact a Tierheim, a veterinarian, a local Tierschutzverein, or look for a new owner in a lawful and safe way. Shelters may be overcrowded, so it is better to reach out early instead of waiting until the last moment.

The claim that there are no stray animals at all in Germany oversimplifies the situation. The shelter and animal protection system is well developed, but lost, abandoned, or free-roaming cats still exist, and municipalities handle these cases through shelters, neutering programs, and local rules.

Checklist before moving with a pet

• Check the import rules for the animal, vaccinations, the EU pet passport, and the microchip.
• Find out the requirements in your federal state and city.
• Register your dog for Hundesteuer if required.
• Ask the landlord for permission for a cat or dog before signing the rental contract.
• Check Haftpflichtversicherung and possible breed-related exclusions.
• Find the nearest Tierarzt and save the contact details of the emergency veterinary clinic.
• Register the chip in a database and update your contact details after moving.

In short

The main rule for pet owners in Germany is to check local requirements in advance. The federal Tierschutzgesetz sets the basic duty to care for the animal, but taxes, leash rules, microchipping, breed restrictions, and rental rules depend on the exact place of residence and the contract.