Vienna is relying on a whole bundle of measures to consolidate the city budget. Many of them have already been announced. But the end of the line has not yet been reached. As the office of Finance City Councilor Barbara Novak (SPÖ) informed APA, a series of additional fee increases is on the way. Administrative charges, the dog tax, and the fees for ticket sales in public spaces, for example, will all rise.
City Hall points out that many fees have not been adjusted in decades. At the same time, costs have increased significantly. A comprehensive amendment, which is to be passed in the next state parliament session, will now counteract this. For example, the maximum possible limit for administrative charges will be raised from 1,500 to 4,000 euros. Specific administrative tariffs are not stated in the law; they will be set later by regulation. In total, around 300 items are expected to be affected, including office or commission fees.
Usage fees to rise
There will also be changes to the Usage Fee Act. Anyone who wants to place goods in front of their shop, store construction materials on the sidewalk, or erect structures will have to dig deeper into their pockets. People, often dressed in Mozart-era costumes who sell concert tickets at tourist hotspots will also have to pay more. Instead of roughly 170 euros as before, they will have to shell out nearly 350 euros per month in the future if they operate in public spaces.
The maximum amounts under the Dog Tax Act are also being raised. The annual fee for the first dog will be 120 euros instead of the previous 72.67 euros. For each additional animal, the amount increases to 160 euros instead of the previous 109 euros. However, in 2027 a uniform rate of 120 euros for all dogs will be introduced. Exemptions, for example for low-income individuals or for dogs adopted from shelters are planned. Higher fees, however, will apply to so-called listed (restricted) breeds.
According to Novak’s office, dog fees were last set in 1989 and have not been changed since. An adjustment to account for value changes is necessary to cover costs, it is stated. Reference is made to more than 200 dog zones and off-leash areas, some equipped with water access. Nearly 4,000 dog-waste bag dispensers are also available. “This infrastructure must be maintained and financed,” the office stated in a comment sent to APA.
Indexing to be enabled
Fees for sewer and water connections will also increase, as will Vienna’s sports promotion levy. For the latter, the tax rate will be raised by one quarter to 12.5 percent. The fee is calculated based on the ticket price. Anyone wishing to bet on sports results will likewise face higher costs. The fee for betting terminals will rise from 350 to 525 euros, an increase of 50 percent.
It is also planned that many charges, for which this was not previously allowed, can be indexed in the future. This will allow regular adjustments based on the consumer price index. The current measures, it is emphasized, will not be increased across the board but will be based on specific cost developments. Significant social exemptions will also remain in place, the city assures.
The amendment will be passed in the state parliament later this year. City Hall expects the increases to take effect in March or April 2026, after various deadlines expire. The estimated additional revenue is at least 65.5 million euros per year. Tariffs that still require regulations are not yet included in this figure.
