Mainz makes dog owners slightly the most expensive district in Germany!

In 2025, Mainz charges the highest dog tax in Germany with 186 euros annually. Information about dog taxes in other cities.
In 2025, Mainz charges the highest dog tax in Germany with 186 euros annually. Information about dog taxes in other cities. (Symbolbild/ANAG)

Mainz makes dog owners slightly the most expensive district in Germany!

Dog tax in Germany is a much discussed topic that affects numerous dog owners every year. The city of Mainz, which is particularly important in 2025, is the most expensive city for dog owners in Germany with a dog tax of 186 euros per year for the first dog. Mainz even exceeds the following two cities on the list, Hagen and Wiesbaden, each 180 euros , such as Mercury .

A total of seven cities in Germany in which dog owners have to pay more than 160 euros for their first dog. In addition to the cities already mentioned, this also includes Bochum with 168 euros and Bonn with 162 euros . However, the development and amount of dog tax varies greatly from city to city. The nationwide average for dog tax is 96 euros .

comparison to other cities

While Mainz and other cities demand high taxes, many major German cities show a significantly lower tax burden: in Berlin the dog tax costs 120 euros , Munich demands 100 euros and Hamburg only 90 euros per year. In comparison, the lowest costs for dog owners in Ahlen, North Rhine-Westphalia, where dog keeping is even tax-free. Winsen an der Luhe in Lower Saxony only annually, while Deggendorf and Neumarkt in Bavaria with 25 euros and Passau with 30 euros are in the lower price segment.

Overall, dog owners benefit in 16 German municipalities from dog taxes who are below 50 euros . This shows that dog tax is not only a financial aspect of dog keeping, but also a factor that depends on the respective municipal budgetary and political decisions.

international context

The dog tax has different regulations in many countries. In Germany, it is a municipal submission to the financing of public institutions and services such as animal shelters and dog meadows, such as peculiarities.de . In an international comparison, many municipalities in Austria do not charge a dog tax, while in France moderate fees, especially for dogs classified as "dangerous", are incurred. In addition, there are more point systems for dog food in Japan. Countries such as Denmark, France and Sweden have now abolished the dog tax.

It is even more likely that future dog owners in Germany must also consider the respective dog tax regulations and legal requirements when moving. Because depending on the region and dog breed, these can vary significantly. This shows how important it is to find out about local laws in good time.

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