This page contains an update about the new dog limit and exemption process.

3 December 2025

There is a new maximum limit on the number of dogs one person can be in charge of in public places, and an exemption process allowing people with relevant skills and experience to be in charge of more dogs.

Exercising a group of dogs in a public place requires special skills, and if undertaken as a commercial venture, comes with extra obligations.

This change is part of the new Dog Control Policy 2025 and Dog Control Bylaw 2025.

Timing for the exemption process

The exemption process will be available in May 2026, six months after the Dog Control Bylaw 2025 came into force. This is set out in clause 13(2) of the bylaw.

In the meantime, we will not be enforcing the maximum limit, but we will be expecting people operating dog walking businesses to comply with all other rules.

If you are interested in updates, email animalmanagement@ccc.govt.nz and we will send more information about the process as it becomes available.

Other rules to understand now

Some of the rules you will need to be aware of if you are walking dogs in public places include - carrying a leash for each dog, picking up after all dogs and appropriately disposing of any waste, following any general or location-based rules, and if there are no general or location-based rules, ensuring all dogs are under effective control. Under effective control is defined in the bylaw (see clause 5(2)).

These rules apply to all dogs in public places and are unrelated to the maximum limit or any exemption. These rules also apply in dog parks and dog exercise areas.

For more information on this, see our dog map (Where you can take your dog) or the Dog Control Policy and Bylaw 2025.

Maximum limit and the exemption

The maximum limit is four dogs, with up to two dogs off-leash at any time.

The exemption process allows you to be exempt from this maximum limit and have more dogs under your control, up to a specified maximum.

Any exemption to control a higher number of dogs does not override any other leashing or prohibited rules – these apply to everyone.

The exemption process (from May 2026)

A general outline of what will be required is set out in clause 13 of the bylaw, and sections 3.1.2 and 3.1.3 of the policy.

In May 2026, you may apply to the Council for an increase in the number of dogs you can be in charge of, and provided certain criteria are met, an exemption may be granted.

The cost of the application will be a one-off payment of $175, which was set as part of the recent Annual Plan [PDF, 11 MB] process.

Once you have an exemption, it will last indefinitely, unless concerns are raised or any enforcement action occurs, in which case it may be reviewed, altered or removed.

During the exemption application process the maximum number of dogs for your exemption will be determined with the Manager Animal Services. 

An exemption applies to a person and not a business, so if you have employees, they will have to have their own exemption. This is because the exemption relates to individual skills, experience and knowledge (business planning documents can be used in more than one application if the applicants operate under the same business).

Some people operating dog walking businesses already have the sorts of things that will be required to demonstrate good dog management and a public safety focus (such as dog vetting arrangements, good dog handling skills, first aid certificates, public liability insurance, etc), as well as a good understanding of the rules that apply in public places.

Exemption identifier

We have been asked how the public or other dog walkers will know that someone has an exemption to control more dogs than the limit. One way may be to have a recognisable lanyard or other visual sign of an exemption from the Council. We welcome any ideas you may have on this front, ahead of the May 2026 start date.

Contact 

Contact animalmanagement@ccc.govt.nz for more information, if you have any questions or if you would like to be on our contact list for dog walking businesses.