Legal Basis
New Brandenburg Dog Keeping Ordinance of 1 July 2024. The major reform: Brandenburg has completely abolished its previous breed list and has been breed-neutral ever since.
Dangerous Dogs
No more breed list. Since July 2024, a dog in Brandenburg is only considered dangerous if the local regulatory authority determines dangerousness in a specific individual case — for example, following a biting incident.
What was removed: The old ordinance recognised six irrebuttably dangerous breeds (with a keeping ban) and 13 rebuttably dangerous breeds. Both lists have been deleted without replacement. With the deletion of the lists, the breeding ban for listed breeds and the keeping ban were also abolished.
What remained: The requirement for a permit for demonstrably dangerous dogs (on an individual case basis), the obligation to use a leash and muzzle for such dogs, and the Sachkundenachweis (proof of competence) requirements.
What owners need
For all dogs in Brandenburg (since 1.7.2024):
- Notification requirement to the local public order office
- Identification via microchip transponder from the age of eight weeks
- Registration with the responsible public order office
If the dog is classified as dangerous in an individual case:
- Haltungserlaubnis (keeping permit)
- Sachkundenachweis
- Dog liability insurance
- Wesenstest (temperament test)
Insurance
Mandatory for dangerous dogs in individual cases. No general obligation for all dogs.
Everyday rules
- Leash and muzzle obligation only for dogs classified as dangerous in an individual case
- Municipal leash requirements at events, in pedestrian zones, and on public transport
- Obligation to remove dog waste
Hundesteuer (dog tax) examples
| City | First dog | Dangerous dog |
|---|---|---|
| Potsdam | 108 € | 648 € |
| Cottbus | 72 € | 270 € |
| Brandenburg an der Havel | 96 € | 480 € |
| Frankfurt (Oder) | 96 € | 384 € |
Contact
Local public order office · Ministry of the Interior and for Municipal Affairs Brandenburg