Keeping Dogs and Cats in Austria: Microchips, Dog Tax, Leads and Listed Breeds

If you keep a dog or cat in Austria, you must follow rules at several levels. Some apply throughout Austria, while others differ by province or municipality. This guide covers the main requirements in 2026, from microchipping and registration to dog tax, leads, muzzles and listed dogs.

In brief

• Every dog kept in Austria must be microchipped and registered in the national pet database (Heimtierdatenbank).
• From 1 July 2026, a general certificate of basic knowledge (Sachkundenachweis) is required before keeping a dog.
• A dog must be registered for dog tax (Hundeabgabe) from the age of 3 months. The amount differs by province.
• Lead and muzzle requirements (Maulkorb- und Leinenzwang) are set by municipalities and, in some cases, provincial laws.
• Rules for listed dogs (Listenhunde) vary considerably between provinces.

Microchips and registration for dogs

Every dog kept in Austria must be identified with a microchip and registered in the national pet database. A veterinarian implants the chip, and the keeper pays the cost.

The deadlines are:

• Puppies: the chip must be implanted by the end of the 12th week of life at the latest.
• All other dogs: registration must take place within one month of identification, entry into Austria or transfer, and in any event before the dog is transferred for the first time.

When implanting the first chip, the veterinarian must register the dog directly in the database. Check that your dog actually appears there. Registration can also be completed online using ID Austria. The purpose of registration is to help return lost or abandoned dogs to their keepers.

Cats: microchips, neutering and keeping rules

Microchipping is not a general requirement for cats. However, cats used for breeding must be microchipped and registered in the Heimtierdatenbank within one month of identification or of taking over an already chipped animal.

If your cat regularly goes outdoors, it must be neutered by a veterinarian. This also applies to cats living on farms; the only exception is an animal used for breeding.

Other cat-keeping requirements include:

• Cats must not be kept in cages, except for short-term placement during veterinary treatment, and must not be tethered even for a short time.
• If a cat could fall from a window or balcony, suitable protective equipment is required.
• Kittens may only be separated from their mother after they are 8 weeks old, subject to limited exceptions.
• A scratching post is required. For cats kept indoors, cat grass or an equivalent substitute is also required.

Dog tax: who must register and where?

As a general rule, dog ownership in Austria is subject to dog tax. Each province sets its own amounts, rules and deadlines, so there is no single Austria-wide amount. A dog must be registered from the age of 3 months.

• Municipality: Gemeindeamt
• Statutory city: Magistrat
• Vienna: MA 6, Rechnungs- und Abgabenwesen

After payment, you will generally receive a dog tag (Hundemarke), which must be attached to the collar or harness when the dog is outside the home. Vienna has not issued dog tags since 2012; the data is read from the microchip.

Exemptions and reductions may apply, for example to working dogs. Assistance dogs, service dogs and rescue dogs are exempt. These matters can be handled through the municipality where you live.

When you move, deregister the dog at the old address and register it at the new one; otherwise, the tax will continue to run at the old location. You must also report a new address after moving within the same municipality. A dog must be deregistered if it dies or is transferred to someone else.

Leads and muzzles: who sets the rules?

Lead and muzzle requirements are set by municipalities, although provincial law may also impose requirements. Where such rules apply, they commonly cover:

• a lead or muzzle in built-up areas, outside fenced private property and in green spaces;
• both a lead and a muzzle in certain places, such as on public transport;
• a ban on taking dogs into playgrounds;
• the obligation to pick up dog waste;
• exemptions for assistance dogs, hunting and service dogs while deployed, and designated dog zones.

You may not walk a dog on a lead while riding a bicycle, nor attach the dog to the bicycle. A transport basket or trailer is required instead.

Listed dogs by province

The rules for listed dogs, sometimes also called fighting dogs, differ between provinces:

• Vienna: a dog-handler examination (Hundeführschein) is required for listed breeds; dogs must be on a lead and wear a muzzle in public.
• Lower Austria: registration with the municipality, extended basic knowledge training (10 hours), and liability insurance of at least 725 000 euros for every dog keeper.
• Upper Austria: the keeper must be at least 16 years old, complete basic knowledge training and pass a daily suitability examination; a lead and muzzle are required from the age of 12 months.
• Vorarlberg: keeping the dog requires a permit.
• Salzburg: there is no breed list, but a permit is required for a dog declared dangerous.
• Styria: there is no breed list, but a 4-hour course is required for a dog acquired after 1 January 2013.
• Tyrol, Carinthia and Burgenland: there are no breed-specific requirements, but the authorities may take action in the case of a “conspicuous” dog.

In Vienna, the keeper must pass the examination within 3 months of taking in the dog and repeat it between 21 and 24 months. In Lower Austria, a household may keep no more than five dogs, including no more than two listed or conspicuous dogs, subject to exceptions.

General dog-keeping rules

• From 1 July, a general certificate of basic knowledge is required before keeping a dog.
• Dogs must not be kept on a chain or tethered, except for a short period outside a shop.
• Pain-causing collars, such as spiked collars or choke collars without a stop, as well as electric or chemical training devices, are prohibited.
• Tail and ear cropping are prohibited.
• In an enclosed room or kennel, at least 15 m² is required, plus 5 m² for each additional dog.

Frequently asked questions

When must a puppy be microchipped?

By the end of the 12th week of life at the latest, and it must also be registered in the Heimtierdatenbank.

How much is dog tax?

There is no uniform amount. It differs by province, and the exact amount depends on the rules applying in your municipality.

Must a pet cat be microchipped?

Not generally. The requirement applies to cats used for breeding. A cat that regularly goes outdoors must, however, be neutered.

Is a dog-handler examination required in Vienna?

Yes, for listed breeds if the dog is at least 6 months old. Anyone who has registered a dog in Vienna since 1 July 2019 and had not kept a dog during the previous two years must also complete a basic knowledge course.

Practical steps

1. Ask a veterinarian to microchip your dog, or confirm that an existing chip can be read.
2. Check the dog’s registration in the Heimtierdatenbank, using ID Austria if you complete the process online.
3. Register the dog with the Gemeindeamt, Magistrat or, in Vienna, MA 6, Rechnungs- und Abgabenwesen, and check the local dog-tax amount and deadline.
4. Check your municipality’s current Maulkorb- und Leinenzwang rules before visiting public spaces or using public transport.
5. If you keep a listed dog, verify the additional provincial requirements, including courses, examinations, permits, registration and insurance.
6. For an outdoor cat, arrange neutering with a veterinarian unless the animal is used for breeding, and follow the applicable cat-keeping requirements.
7. Report changes promptly if you move, transfer the animal or the dog dies.

This article is based on information available online and does not constitute professional advice. If you need specific guidance, contact a lawyer, legal professional, veterinarian or another relevant specialist. Source: oesterreich.gv.at