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Certificates of Exemption for XL Bully Type Dogs

From the 1st October 2024 new regulations for owners of XL Bully type dogs came into effect. For owners of XL Bully type dogs in County Offaly, the owners had to apply for a Certificate of Exemption to Offaly County Council from October 1st 2024.

For owners with queries around the Certificate of Exemption and the ban that came into effect on February 1st 2025 The Department of Rural and Community Development have a Frequently Asked Questions document available here

The Control of Dogs (XL BULLY) Regulations, Application for a Certificate of Exemption form and Confirmation of Neutering status form can be downloaded below.

Alternatively forms are available for collection from: The Climate Action, Environment and Rural Water Section, Offaly County Council, Áras an Chontae, Charleville Road, Tullamore, Co. Offaly R35 F893

The following information is taken directly from the Department of Rural and Community Development website:

From Department of Rural and Community Development 

New ownership rules in relation to XL Bully type dogs

From October 1st 2024, new regulations now prohibit the importing, breeding, selling and re-homing of XL Bully type dogs.

From February 1st 2025, it became illegal to own an XL Bully type dog without a ‘Certificate of Exemption’ issued by the local authority in which the dog resides.

XL Bully owners had until February 1st 2025 to apply for a Certificate of Exemption.

As a cross of restricted breeds, XL Bully type dogs are also subject to the existing additional controls.

This means when in a public place, these dogs must be securely muzzled and kept on a strong chain or leash (maximum 2 metres in length) by a person over 16 years of age who is capable of controlling the dog.

Need for change in ownership rules

New ownership rules have been introduced to protect public safety following a number of attacks by XL Bully type dogs.

Similar measures have recently been announced in both the UK and Northern Ireland.

How to prepare for new ownership rules

Owners that wish to keep their XL Bully type dog must apply for a Certificate of Exemption before 1st February 2025. The Certificate of Exemption will allow them to keep their dog until the end of its natural life.

After the February 1st 2025 owners of an XL Bully type dog that have a Certificate of Exemption must continue to meet the relevant criteria required to obtain the Certificate of Exemption.

Certificate of Exemption

This certificate will be unique to each XL Bully type dog and owner. It will specify the dog’s licence details, microchip details, neutering details, age and description. It will also specify the dog owner’s name, address, date of birth and contact number.

A Certificate of Exemption is issued by the Local Authority and authorises the owner of an XL Bully type dog to keep that dog at a particular premises until the natural end of the dog’s life.

After February 1st 2025 all XL Bully type dog owners should either be in possession of a Certificate of Exemption or have proof that they applied for a Certificate of Exemption.

Owners may be required to present their Certificate of Exemption to a Dog Warden within 10 Days of a request to do so.

Applying for a Certificate of Exemption

Owners must apply to their local authority after October 1st 2024. This webpage will provide links to the relevant areas of all Local Authority websites after October 1st 2024.

The completed form should be sent by post or email to the relevant local authority.

The Local Authority will process the application and send either:

  • A Certificate of Exemption,
  • A Letter of Refusal,
  • Request for further information should the application be missing any relevant information.

No fee will be charged for a Certificate of Exemption.

Documentation needed for a Certificate of Exemption application

The following documentation should be included with the application;

1. Copy of valid dog licence;

2. Copy of microchipping certificate for the dog;

3. Veterinary Confirmation of Neutering Status Form (see below);

4. Photographic proof of identity (copy of passport, drivers licence, public services card etc.); and

5. Proof of Address (copy of utility bill or bank statement within previous 3 months etc.).

Neutering

Owners must arrange to have their XL Bully type dog neutered by a registered Veterinary Practitioner in order to receive a Certificate of Exemption. Neutering of the XL Bully type dog must be carried out through castration if it’s male or spaying if it’s female.

Once the dog has been neutered, owners must complete a 

This form must be countersigned by a vet and forwarded to the Local Authority by post or email.

A Certificate of Exemption will not be granted until the Veterinary Confirmation of Neutering Status Form has been received by the Local Authority.

Owners will be able to submit a Veterinary Confirmation of Neutering Status Form where their dog is determined by a vet to be medically unfit for neutering.

Dog microchipping

It is a legal requirement in Ireland to have all dogs implanted with a microchip and registered on an approved database by the time they are 12 weeks old.

For more information on micro-chipping and registration of your dog, please consult this gov.ie page on a dog owner’s legal responsibilities.

If you’re unsure if your dog is microchipped, ask your vet to scan your dog for a Microchip.

Refusal of a Certificate of Exemption

If an application for a Certificate of Exemption is refused for any reason, the owner will be notified in writing by their local authority. Such owners may re-apply, addressing the reasons for refusal.

If further applications are refused, and a certificate of exemption is not in place before February 1st 2025, owners may be required to surrender their dog to the Local Authority Dog Warden.

The seizure and detention of any dogs may involve both the Dog Warden and An Garda Síochána.

Definition of an XL Bully type dog

The XL Bully type dog is a variant of the wider American Bully breed type. The XL Bully type dog is typically larger (both in terms of height and body shape) and more muscular than other American Bully breed types such as the ‘Micro’, ‘Pocket’, ‘Standard’ and ‘Classic’.

Owners should use the XL Bully Type Physical Conformation of Standard to determine if their dog is an XL Bully type.

Irish language Conformation of Standard available here.

It is the owner’s responsibility to determine if their dog is covered by the ban.

If owners think their dog could be an XL Bully type dog, they should comply with all new requirements.

More information on the definition of an XL Bully type dog is in the Technical Frequently Asked Questions document below.

Penalties for breaching the regulations

Any owner found to be in breach of the regulations will have committed an offence under the Control of Dogs Act 1986.

The dog may be seized and euthanized in a humane manner and the owner will be subject to the penalties outlined in that Act:

A fine of up to €2,500, or imprisonment of a term of up to 3 months, or both.

XL Bully type dog owners living abroad

The regulation will provide for applications for Certificates of Exemption after February 1st 2025 in exceptional circumstances and on a case-by-case basis.

This will specifically facilitate any owner who wishes to enter Ireland after a period abroad and is only for owners who can prove they owned the dog prior to October 1st 2024.

Such evidence could include but is not limited to; dog licence, certificate of exemption or microchipping details from other jurisdictions, dog veterinary records, or a receipt of purchase.

Technical FAQ

The Department of Rural and Community Development Technical Frequently Asked Questions document is available HERE

June 2025 Update – Control of Dogs (XL Bully) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

Following on from a Court Injunction issued in January 2025 and a review of the Control of Dogs (XL Bully) Regulations 2024 the following Amendment Regulations have been introduced and can be found here which came into effect on June 9th 2025.

These regulations set out the procedure for the seizure and review process in relation to XL Bully type dogs without a Certificate of Exemption and come into operation on the expiry of the court injunction.

The Dog Warden having seized a dog on a premises will issue a signed and dated Notice to Relevant Owner as soon as possible after the seizure, stating the reasons for belief that the dog seized is an XL Bully type dog along with supporting evidence.

The dog owner then will have three options

  • Submit a Regulation 11 Notice of No Objection to the surrender and euthanisation of the dog in a humane manner within 21 days (35 days if the dog has been seized from somebody other than the registered owners). Form here
  • Submit a Regulation 11 Review Request form within 21 days (35 days if the dog has been seized from somebody other than the registered owners) stating the reasons for the review request and including any supporting evidence the wish to be taken into consideration. Form here
  • Do not respond, with this option after the expiry of the 21 days (35 days if the dog has been seized from somebody other than the registered owners) the dog shall be euthanised in a humane manner.

On receipt of a completed Regulation 11 Review Request the dog warden must return the dog to the registered owner, with further restrictions on the dog and owner, until such time as the review has been completed. Once the 21 day Review Request period has passed, a Review Officer who will be assigned by Offaly Co. Council, will then have a further 28 days to consider all available evidence that has been submitted and they will issue a binding decision.

  • If the review officer confirms the dog is an XL Bully type dog, and the dog was born before 10th December 2024, the owner is entitled to apply for a Certificate of Exemption for the dog.
  • If the review officer confirms the dog is an XL Bully type dog, and the dog was born after 10th December 2024, the dog should be seized and euthanised in a humane manner, as no XL Bully type dogs are permitted to have been born after 10th December 2024.
  • If the review officer confirms the dog is not an XL Bully type dog, then no further action is required. The dog will still be subject to the usual restrictions if they are a restricted breed/type of dog.