Cape Town wants to introduce a new ‘tax’ on pets
Cape Town’s proposed Animal Keeping By-Law, 2026, requires dog and cat owners to apply for a permit and pay a ‘prescribed permit fee’.
The City of Cape Town is in the process of promulgating amendments to the Animal Keeping By-law, which it said will address shortcomings in the existing Animal By-law, 2021.
“The proposed by-law seeks to give effect to the fundamental principles that underpin the responsibilities of animal owners to ensure the welfare of animals,” it said.
“It also recognises the shared duty of care that pet owners and all residents of Cape Town have regarding the keeping of animals.”
Many stakeholders are unhappy with Cape Town’s proposed Animal Keeping By-Law, 2026, because of its new requirements for pet owners.
Every dog and cat over six months will require an official municipal permit, accompanied by a fee and proof of rabies vaccination.
All dogs and cats over six months of age must also be surgically sterilised unless the owner applies for and pays for a municipal exemption permit.
Section 42 of the proposed by-law empowers municipal officials to enter and search private premises without a court warrant under certain conditions.
Dear South Africa founder, Rob Hutchinson, launched a platform for people to share their views on Cape Town’s proposed Animal Keeping By-Law, 2026.
At the time of writing, 2,353 people have responded through this platform, and most do not support the new rules.
1012 said they do not support the by-law; 831 said they do not fully support it; and 510 said they support it.
Many online commentators have also voiced their unhappiness with the Animal Keeping By-Law, 2026, viewing it as little more than another tax on Cape Town residents.
Newsday asked the City of Cape Town for details about the requirement for pet owners to register for permits, which can carry a few, but it did not respond by publication.
New pet permits viewed as a concealed tax
Many economists view permits as a concealed tax, as they do not, in essence, differ from a traditional tax.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that a payment for a permit can be considered a tax in many instances.
One of these is when a permit is automatically granted by the government as a mandatory condition for acquiring something, such as a pet.
With such permits, the government unit performs little work other than exercising minimal control over the legal capacity of the acquirer to receive the permit.
Cape Town’s proposed Animal Keeping By-Law, 2026, which requires people to register their pets and pay for a permit, satisfies these requirements.
This means that Cape Town’s proposed pet permits may be viewed by many stakeholders as a new tax.
“This is not animal welfare. This is a new tax on pet ownership, wrapped in a by-law, with warrantless enforcement,” said VF Plus politician and former MP, Renaldo Gouws.
Hutchinson also said that the new by-law includes increased bureaucratic control and municipal revenue extraction.
The City of Cape Town is no stranger to introducing controversial new rules to increase the fees and taxes on residents.
Last year, the city introduced controversial rates and taxes tied to property value instead of consumption, which targeted richer residents.
The City of Cape Town ignored opposition to these new levies, which forced the opponents to challenge them legally.
These opponents included the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA), the Cape Town Collective Ratepayers’ Association (CTCRA), and AfriForum.
In April 2026, the Western Cape High Court struck down the City of Cape Town’s controversial rates and taxes tied to property value instead of consumption.
The court declared the levies unlawful and invalid, giving the city until 30 June 2026 to remove them.
Animal Keeping By-Law, 2026: Keeping of dogs
Animal Keeping By-Law, 2026: Keeping of cats
Animal Keeping By-Law, 2026: Search and Seizure without a warrant
Update from the City of Cape Town after publication
Alderman Mzwakhe Nqavashe, Chairperson of the Safety and Security Portfolio Committee in Cape Town, confirmed that residents must register their pets.
“It was already a requirement under the previous Animal Keeping By-Law 2021, so this is not new,” he said.
“You register your pet online on the City’s website, the permit is generated, and while the bylaw prescribes a fee, none is charged.”
Loading ...
Has anyone who has commented actually read the article? In the very last paragraph Cllr Nqavashe is quoted as saying that while the bylaw prescribes a fee none will be charged.