Phone 01534 481236 Email [email protected]

Dog LicencePèrmîns d’Tchian

As of 2 December 2025, the law requires dog owners to declare if their dog is a “dangerous dog” when applying for a licence under the Dogs Law (Jersey) Amendment Regulations 2025. It is an offence to falsely state without reasonable excuse that a dog is not a “dangerous dog”, and the penalty is imprisonment for a term of 2 years and a fine. See new rules for “dangerous dogs” below.

Apply and pay for a dog licence online and receive your dog licence and future reminders to renew by email. Dog licences for 2026 may be purchased online from 1 January 2026 using this link.

Online dog licence application

You do not need to purchase a licence if your dog is:

  • under the age of six months or
  • a guide dog kept and used solely by a blind person or a deaf person.

You must purchase a licence for every other dog you keep. A licence cannot be issued to a person under the age of 16 years. Owners of “dangerous dogs” must be at least 18 years of age.

The licence fee is £10 per dog, lasts for 1 year and must be renewed by 31 January each year. Applications after 31 January cost £20 per dog.

If you prefer to make a paper application please print and complete the form below and return to your Parish (please check with your Parish for payment options).

Dog licence application (PDF)

Dog owners are responsible for their dogs. In particular –

  • Every dog on a highway or in a public place must wear a collar and this (or a plate or badge attached) must show the dog name, telephone number of the owner and dog licence number. This will help reunite you and your dog should it stray and may avoid you incurring collection and housing costs. If your dog licence was issued before 2 December 2025 and the collar shows the owner name, address and telephone number you may continue to display this information until it changes or the dog collar (or plate/badge) is replaced.
  • It is an offence to allow a dog to worry livestock.
  • From 1 May to 30 September, dogs must be kept on a lead when on a beach between 10.30 a.m. and 6 p.m.
  • You must remove any faeces deposited by your dog. It is an offence not to clear up after your dog and the penalty is £1,000.
  • Ensure your dog does not become a nuisance to others (see Barking Dogs for advice about statutory nuisances and neighbour complaints).

Dangerous Dogs

Dogs which meet the criteria of a ‘dangerous dog’ are –

  • Dogo Argentino
  • Fila Brasileiro (also known as the Fila Braziliero or the Brazilian Mastiff)
  • Japanese Tosa
  • Pit Bull Terrier and
  • XL Bully.

The States Veterinary Officer has published guidance (Applying the XL Bully breed type conformation standard) on dogs that may fit the characteristics and measurements of an XL Bully, such as:

  • American XL Bully
  • American Staffordshire Terrier
  • American Staffordshire Bull Terrier
  • American Bulldog
  • Cane Corso and
  • Presa Canario.  

It is a criminal offence to keep a dog of this type after 31 December 2025, without the dog being registered. Non-compliance may result in the seizure of the dog by a Police Officer and maybe destroyed following a court order.

Owners must contact the States Veterinary Officer at +44(0)1534 441600 or email at [email protected] to arrange an assessment and registration.

As the owner of a “dangerous dog” you must comply with all relevant legislation and an import or export licence will be required to move your dog from Jersey as per: Dogs not allowed into Jersey

It is illegal to do any of the following in relation to a “dangerous dog” in Jersey:

  • Abandon, give away, sell or otherwise transfer ownership.
  • Allow the dog to stray.
  • Failure to keep the dog muzzled, with a muzzle suitable for the dog when in a public place.
  • Failure to keep the dog under the control of a person over 18 years old when in a public place.
  • Failure to keep the dog on a lead that adequately controls the dog when in a public place.
  • Failure to keep the dog in secure conditions that prevent it from escaping.
  • Failure to keep the dog at the registered address for more than 30 days per year without prior approval from the Animal Health and Welfare Team.
  • Failure to notify the Animal Health and Welfare Team in advance of temporary change of address.
  • Leave the dog unsupervised with anyone less than 18 years old.
  • Failure to have valid third-party public liability insurance in respect of the dog.
  • Failure to surgically neuter the dog before it reaches 18 months old.

Stray dogs

If you find a stray dog:

  • check for a collar to identify the owner’s name and address;
  • contact the owner to arrange for the dog to be collected;
  • if you are unable to contact the owner you should contact the Duty Centenier of the Parish;
  • the owner is responsible for paying all costs if a dog has to be collected and/or housed whilst the owner is traced by the Duty Centenier (charges from 1 December 2024 are £40 per journey leg for collection and £30 per day or part thereof for housing).

How many dog licences are purchased each year?

The number of dog licences per Parish, as at December 2025, is shown below; 91% were purchased online.

ParishNumber of dogs as at December 20252025 Most popular breed (excludes ‘breed
not listed’ and ‘mutt (mixed)’		Number of dogs as at March 20242024 Most popular breed (excludes ‘breed
not listed’ and ‘mutt (mixed)’
St Brelade1,410Cockapoo1,287Cockapoo
St Clement1,126Cockapoo1,054Cockapoo
Grouville694Labrador Retriever658Labrador Retriever
St Helier2,015Labrador Retriever1,746Cockapoo
St John453Cocker Spaniel437Cocker Spaniel
St Lawrence654Cocker Spaniel600Cocker Spaniel
St Martin583Labrador Retriever570Labrador Retriever
St Mary265Labrador Retriever254Labrador Retriever
St Ouen678Labrador Retriever635Labrador Retriever
St Peter745Labrador Retriever719Labrador Retriever
St Saviour1,424Labrador Retriever1,281Labrador Retriever
Trinity500Labrador Retriever468Labrador Retriever
Total10,547 (52% male and 48% female)9,709 (52% male and 48% female)
Most popular
dog names		Most popular dog breeds (excludes
‘breed not listed’ and ‘mutt (mixed)’		Dog age range by birth year
BellaLabrador Retriever – 8.01%
LunaCockapoo – 6.68%Pre 2014 – 21.8%
PoppyCocker Spaniel – 5.98%2015/2019 – 35.5%
LolaJack Russell Terrier – 4.95%2020/2025 – 42.7%
BuddyDachshund – 3.56%
TeddyFrench Bulldog – 2.93%No. of dogs per owner
AlfieGolden Retriever – 2.52% 1 dog – 77%
DaisyBorder Collie – 2.45%2 dogs – 19%
RubyStaffordshire Bull Terrier – 2.36%3+ dogs – 4%
MollyChihuahua – 2.25%

The FOI response shows the number of dog licences 2012 to 2015. The number of dog licences issued by parishes each year from 2016-2025 is as follows (figures as at June for 2016-2020 and 2023, as at April 2021, 2022, 2023) and December for 2024 and 2025:

Parish2025202420232022202120202019201820172016
St Brelade1,41012911,2711,3171,219​1,2651,2371,1861,1661,168
St Clement1,12610241,0951,0081,047​​1,014973937900852
Grouville694638666724586​​505539482503469
St Helier2,01518631,3751,4671,3781,4731,643​1,5931,6121,481
St John453422439398399368​402390380343
St Lawrence654594388423389​344​407351407590
St Martin583535564574552​​570574558522514
St Mary265241266268260​249277261262263
St Ouen678611642612628​636632640621592
St Peter745679708717669​656650623628618
St Saviour1,42413221,2861,0141,144971​1,0179561,043989
Trinity500454466433422405403480418390
Total10,5479,6749,1668,9558,6938,4568,7548,4578,4628,269