By-law Amendment - Animal Registration Date

City of Darwin intends to amend the Darwin City Council By-Laws Part 1, Division 3, By-Law 15 (3) to change the annual registration period for animals from:

• 1 July - 30 June each year, to
• 1 September - 31 August each year.

Why the change?

City of Darwin is a member of the Top End Regional Organisation of Councils (TOPROC). This Committee consists of:

• City of Darwin
• Belyuen Community Government Council
• City of Palmerston
• Coomalie Community Government Council
• Litchfield Council
• Wagait Shire Council

These six councils work together to progress common issues and provide coordinated service delivery across the Top End.

A focus for TOPROC is to develop consistent animal management service delivery across Councils. One initiative to help achieve this is for the Councils to align to an annual animal registration period of 1 September to 31 August each year.

What's the benefit?

Aligning the animal registration date for TOPROC Councils will provide the following benefits:

• Provides the community with consistency across Top End Councils,
• Allows for reciprocal registration i.e. if a Darwin resident moves to Litchfield Council half way through the registration period it will be directly transferred without any additional cost,
• It is an important step towards establishing a common online registration database for TOPROC councils. This system would simplify the registration process for owners and allow information to be shared across Councils regarding animal management issues,
• Provides consistent messaging across Council’s and allows for shared marketing and promotional campaigns, and
• Moving the due date from the financial year period alleviates the current issue of adopting new fees and charges while issuing renewal notices.

What will happen with current registrations?

City of Darwin will automatically extend current registrations due to expire on 30 June 2020 until 31 August 2020. Therefore, all current registration holders will receive two months free. City of Darwin will issue reminder notices for the new registration due date of 1 September.

Community consultation - CLOSED

In order to change the registration period City of Darwin is required to amend the Darwin City Council By-Laws, Part 1, Division 3, By-Law 15 (3).

Darwin City Council Amendment By-Laws 2020

Community members were invited to provide feedback on the proposed amendment. The feedback was considered by Council and the amended By-Laws was endorsed on the 30 June 2020. For more information on animal registration click here