Dogs and animals are a much-loved part of life in Tauranga, with approximately one dog for every ten residents.
Well-managed animals provide companionship and contribute to wellbeing, but issues can arise when animals impact safety, wildlife, or people’s enjoyment of public and private spaces.
We’re reviewing the Dog Management Policy and Bylaw and the Keeping of Animals Bylaw to check they are still working as intended and remain fit for purpose as Tauranga grows.
The review is informed by community feedback and helps Council understand what is working well, what could be improved, and where change may or may not be appropriate.
The draft policy and bylaws were presented to Council on Tuesday, 3 March 2026. You can view the Council Meeting video and read the Council Meeting paper.
What is being reviewed?
Dog Management Policy and Bylaw:
These set the rules for dog ownership and dog behaviour in Tauranga, including public places where dogs can go, public places when they must be on a leash, and how dogs are managed to protect public safety and the environment.
Keeping of Animals Bylaw:
This bylaw sets rules for keeping animals such as stock, poultry and bees in residential and rural areas and outlines Council’s approach to managing issues when they arise.
What topics are being considered?
As part of this review, we’re seeking feedback on a range of topics, including:
- Protecting wildlife and natural habitats from dogs
- Dog access and behaviour in public places such as cemeteries, shared paths, heritage reserves and city spaces.
- Leashing requirements in high-use or sensitive areas
- Licensing rules for owning or walking multiple dogs
- Rules for keeping poultry in residential areas
- Council’s approach to managing bees
Not all topics being discussed will result in changes to the rules.
Council will need to consider factors such as practicality, consistency with legislation, and the resources required for education and enforcement before proposing any changes.
What changes are we asking for feedback on?
Protecting wildlife and natural habitats
Some of Tauranga’s coastal areas are important habitats for native birds and vegetation, including species such as dotterel and kororā (little blue penguin).
We are asking for feedback on proposals to:
- Banning dogs in coastal dunes (expect when on a leash using beach accessways)
- Extend current seasonal dog restrictions in the Moturiki – Mussel Rock (Shark Alley) area so they apply year-around, including the grassed area alongside the beach.
Map of Shark Alley (8.2mb pdf)
Dogs in some public places
We’ve heard from the community that dogs may not be appropriate in all public places, particularly those with special significance or designed for specific users.
We are asking for feedback on proposals to:
- Banning dogs in cemeteries and burial grounds (unless permission is given by the Cemetery Manager)
- Banning dogs on active recreation equipment such as skate parks and basketball courts
- Banning dogs in fenced play spaces designed specifically for young children or disabled people
Leashing dogs in shared and urban spaces
To reduce conflict and protect sensitive areas, we are asking for feedback on whether dogs should be required to be on a leash in certain locations, including:
- Marine Parade Coastal Pathway
- Pāpāmoa Shared Pathway
- Beach Road Pathway (Kulim Park to Fergusson Park)
- Heritage reserves
- Specific urban parks and city spaces such as the Waterfront, Masonic Park and Red Square
Leashing dogs in heritage reserves
Heritage reserves are places of historical, cultural or archaeological significance. These areas are protected to preserve Tauranga’s history and important sites for future generations.
As part of this review, we are asking whether dogs should be required to be on a leash in heritage reserves. This proposal relates to leashing dogs, not prohibiting dogs entirely.
We are seeking feedback on whether you support or do not support leashing dogs in heritage reserves.
Heritage reserves included in this review are:
- Fantail Drive Reserve – Te Ouwe Pā
- Faulkner Park
- Gate Pa Domain – Pukehinahina (Heritage)
- Matiu Kauri Grove
- Milford by the Sea Historic Reserve (the portion of land to the side of the Wairakei Stream Reserve)
- Monmouth Redoubt
- Pātaka o Ngā Tūpuna Reserve
- Pitau Road Reserve
- Teal Reserve
- 50 Golden Sands Drive
Maps and further information
Maps and site information for heritage reserves are provided in the Tauranga Reserves Management Plan – Reserve Specific Information.
To find a specific reserve, you can use the search function within the PDF (Ctrl + F on most devices) and type the name of the reserve.
Licensing and keeping animals
We are also seeking views on possible changes to animal licensing and residential animal rules, including:
- Requiring a licence to keep more than two dogs at a single property
- Allowing people to apply for a licence to walk more than four dogs at once
- Requiring a licence to keep more than six chickens, or poultry other than chickens, in residential zones.
Education-first approaches
In some cases, rules can be difficult to enforce in practice. We’re seeking feedback on whether council should take an education-first approach in specific situations, including:
- Working with bee owners to resolve issues before escalating to enforcement action
- Managing cats with no new bylaw rules proposed for cats at this time