Leipzig and other municipalities in Saxony increase dog tax

Pay more for your four-legged friend: the city of Leipzig is adjusting its dog tax statutes at the start of 2026. According to the administration, the tax rate will rise from 96 to 150 euros per dog per year. However, the 192 euros previously due for each additional dog will no longer apply. Despite the increase, Leipzig is still below the tax rate of comparable large cities, it said.

Dresden and Chemnitz stick to previous tax rates

In Dresden, the costs are slightly lower: according to the city, the tax here has remained unchanged since 2003 at 108 euros for the first dog and 144 euros for each additional dog. With around 17,000 registered dogs, the state capital generated revenue of around 1.8 million euros in 2024. "There are currently no plans to increase the dog tax rates," said the city hall in response to an inquiry from the German Press Agency.

In Chemnitz, dog owners have been paying 100 euros for the first dog, 135 euros for the second and 165 euros from the third animal onwards since 2006. According to a spokeswoman, the city currently registers around 10,000 dogs and collected almost 1.1 million euros last year. An application to increase the dog tax in Chemnitz by ten percent was rejected by the city council in spring 2025.

Smaller municipalities follow suit

Smaller towns and municipalities, on the other hand, are following Leipzig's example: In Taura (Central Saxony), the municipal council is to decide next Monday on an adjustment as of January 1, 2026, as the mayor Robert Haslinger announced on request. The plan is to increase the dog tax by more than 40 percent.

Zittau (Görlitz) has also already decided to raise the rate from 70 to 85 euros for the first dog from 2026. Previously, a fee of 90 euros was charged for each additional dog, which according to the city council is to be increased to 120 euros for the second dog and 150 euros for each additional dog. In Belgern-Schildau (North Saxony), the city council also decided on October 1 to increase the dog tax in the new year - by 50 percent, according to the draft resolution.