Apply for a Certificate of Exemption to keep an XL Bully dog in Northern Ireland

Use the Conformation Standard guidance produced by the UK government to check if your dog is an XL Bully.  It can be accessed on this link: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/conformation-standard-xl-bully-type-dogs

If you have already licenced your dog as an XL Bully type, then you must apply for a Certificate of Exemption. 

If you are still not sure after checking, you should apply for a Certificate of Exemption as a precaution. 

You must also complete a form to confirm your XL Bully dog has been neutered when it reaches the age of 18 months.

You should include the exemption certificate fee of £92.40 with your application.

The methods of payment we accept are:

• by cheque payable to Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council
• by debit or credit card by phoning 028 9244 7397

You must have third party public liability insurance for your XL Bully dog. The cover must start no later than 1 January 2025.

Dogs Trust include insurance as part of their Companion Club membership www.dogstrust.org.uk/support-us/membership

You must renew this membership each year for the life of your dog.

Proof of public liability insurance will be requested annually.

This membership must be in the same name as the person applying for the exemption. 

If you use a different insurance provider, you must check that the policy:

• covers you for death or bodily injury to any person caused by the exempted dog
• is suitable for a prohibited breed as defined under the Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 as amended by Dangerous Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1991

You must arrange to have your XL Bully dog neutered through castration if it’s male or spaying if it’s female. Once your dog has been neutered, you must fill in a confirmation of neutering form using the link below and return it to us.

When you need to do this depends on how old your dog is on 31 December 2024:

• if your dog is 18 months or older, we'll need the form by 30 June 2025
• if your dog is younger than 18 months, we’ll need the form by 30 June 2025 or within one month of the dog turning 18 months, whichever is later

If your dog has already been neutered, you can fill in the form straight away and return it to us.

Veterinary confirmation of neutering application form (Word doc)

All dogs in Northern Ireland must be microchipped at eight weeks old. All dogs must be microchipped before an owner applies for a dog licence.

Dog owners are responsible for ensuring that the contact details held against their dog’s microchip number are accurate. If the details are not accurate, the dog is not considered as microchipped, and the dog licence will not be valid.

If you're not sure if your dog is microchipped, you should ask your vet.

If your dog is less than 8 weeks old when you apply for a Certificate of Exemption, you’ll have until 31 March 2025 to send us the microchip number. You can do this by emailing ehealth@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk or via post to the address above.

If a vet certifies that your dog is unfit to have a microchip for a period of time, you must send us a copy of the veterinary certificate by 31 March 2025. Once the certificate expires, you must have your dog microchipped and send us the microchip number within 28 days.
 

All dogs in Northern Ireland must be licensed. A dog licence lasts for 12 months.

Application forms for a dog licence, or for the renewal of a dog licence, are available from council offices at the above address or via our website on this link
 

Please download the Word document on the link below.  You can return it to us by email or post using the information above.

Certificate of Exemption to keep an XL Bully application form