Owning Pets in Germany

Germans love pets, but ownership is regulated. Dogs must be registered and taxed. Cats and dogs usually need written landlord permission before you move in. Bringing animals from abroad requires vaccinations and official paperwork.

This guide covers rental rules, dog tax, breed restrictions, import requirements, insurance, and everyday resources. For apartment hunting, see Finding an Apartment in Germany. If you move cities with a dog, also see Changing Your Registered Address for Hundesteuer updates.

Pets in rental housing

Many listings say keine Haustiere (no pets). Pet-friendly housing can still be hard to find, but a blanket ban on all pets is not enforceable. Landlords must assess each request individually.

Small pets (Kleintierhaltung). Fish, hamsters, guinea pigs, and similar small animals are always allowed without permission, regardless of what the lease says. No landlord can prohibit them.

Dogs and cats. You need prior written permission. The landlord cannot refuse without a legitimate reason (for example serious allergy risk in the building, or breed/size limits tied to insurance). Federal court rulings (including BGH VIII ZR 168/12, 2013) treat permission as required, not optional. Always get approval in writing before you sign or move in.

Dogs: registration, tax, and breed rules

Registration. Every dog must be registered at your local Bürgeramt or through your city’s online portal within two weeks of getting the dog or moving to a new city.

Dog tax (Hundesteuer). Annual rates vary by municipality. A second dog is often much more expensive. Example: Berlin charges about 120 EUR for the first dog and 180 EUR for each additional one (check current local rates). Certain breeds classified as dangerous pay significantly higher tax.

Restricted and banned breeds (Listenhunde). Rules follow state Kampfhundeverordnung laws and differ by Bundesland. Four breeds are banned nationwide: Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and Bull Terrier. Many states add further breeds (for example Rottweilers) to a second category that may require a temperament test (Wesenstest), mandatory liability insurance, and muzzle rules. Check your state’s current list before you adopt or import a dog.

Register your dog

1. Search Hundesteuer [your city] or contact your local Bürgeramt for the registration form or online service.
2. Register online or in person.
3. Provide your details, dog details, and the microchip number.
4. Pay the annual tax or set up direct debit.
5. Keep the registration confirmation or tag the office issues.

Cats and other pets

There is no cat tax and no mandatory registration for cats in Germany. Microchipping is still recommended for identification if the cat is lost.

Landlord permission applies to cats the same way as dogs. Small pets under Kleintierhaltung remain exempt, as described above.

Bringing a pet from abroad

From another EU country

You typically need:

• an EU pet passport
• a microchip
• a valid rabies vaccination
• a veterinary health check before travel

From outside the EU

Requirements are stricter. Your pet usually needs a microchip, rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before travel, a health certificate from an official veterinarian, and sometimes a rabies titer test. An EU pet passport is often issued on arrival. If you come from a high-risk rabies country, extra steps apply. Start planning well before your move date and confirm rules on the official EU and German veterinary import pages for your country.

Travel logistics

Each airline sets its own pet transport rules. Book early and confirm crate sizes, cabin vs cargo, and fees. Quarantine is usually not required when you arrive from most countries with complete documentation, but verify for your origin country.

Insurance, vets, and adoption

Liability insurance (Hundehaftpflichtversicherung). Covers damage your dog causes to people or property. It is mandatory in some states (including Berlin and Hamburg) and strongly recommended everywhere else.

Pet health insurance. Optional, but vet bills for surgery or emergencies can run into thousands of euros. Compare coverage levels and exclusions online.

Finding care. Search Tierarzt [your city] or use jameda.de for vets. For nights and weekends, search Tiernotdienst [your city].

Adoption (Tierheim). Adoption is common. Shelters often run a home check, charge an adoption fee, and may offer a trial period. Search Tierheim [your city].

Useful links

• Stiftung Warentest: Hundehaftpflicht insurance comparison
• Deutscher Tierschutzbund: Keeping pets in an apartment (English)
• Deutscher Mieterbund: Find a local tenants’ association

Related pitfalls

Common mistakes to avoid

Short warnings linked to this guide. Each item highlights a costly or legal slip newcomers often make.

1. Lacking Dog Liability Insurance (Hundehaftpflicht)

   High

   Mandatory in many states. If a dog causes a traffic accident, the owner faces unlimited personal liability.

2. Evading the Hundesteuer (Dog Tax)

   High

   Failing to register a dog to avoid the €100-€200 annual tax. Ordnungsamt checks result in tax evasion fines up to €10,000 and retroactive billing.

3. Failing to pick up dog waste

   Minor

   Leaving dog feces on the street. Highly stigmatized and strictly enforced, carrying instant fines ranging from €35 to €150 depending on the municipality.