Register your pet
All dogs and cats must be registered before they're 6 months old.
Project Status: When you need to do this
- You must register your animal within 28 days of these due dates, or a late fee will be payable with your registration fee.
- If your pet goes astray, the pound or vet can use the microchip and registration details to contact you.
- Registration is cheaper if cats are desexed by 4 months and dogs are desexed by 6 months of age.
- You must also apply for an annual permit for cats over 4 months of age that aren't desexed, and dangerous and restricted dogs.
Choose one way to register your pet
Payment and lodging documents
Residents can lodge the required documents in 1 of 3 ways:
- Email your lifetime registration form with the permanent identification form or the certificate of identification along with your desexing certificate to [email protected]
When your paperwork is processed, we will email you a secure link to make your payment online. - Bring your lifetime registration form with the permanent identification form or the certificate of identification along with your desexing certificate to a customer service centre with your payment.
- Post your lifetime registration form with the permanent identification form or the certificate of identification along with your desexing certificate and a cheque/money order made payable to the City of Sydney Council.
Before you start
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Check if you qualify for a discounted or free registration
If applicable, there are other forms you can also submit to gain discounts:
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a desexing certificate (if your pet has been desexed) will make your registration cheaper
From 1 July 2020 owners of cats not desexed by 4 months of age will be required to pay an annual permit of $85 in addition to their one-off lifetime pet registration fee. If you need to do this, the annual permit form can be found below.
- pensioner concession card
- proof of assistance animals status
- proof of breeder status.
- Animal Welfare League NSW
- Council pound
- RSPCA NSW
- The Cat Protection Society
- a rehoming organisation approved by the Office of Local Government.
Adoptions from an eligible pound/shelter in NSW are eligible for free registration. This includes:
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a desexing certificate (if your pet has been desexed) will make your registration cheaper
- either a receipt of sale or a letter on the organisation’s letterhead, and must include the adopted animal’s microchip number, and rehoming organisation’s number.
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Make sure your pet is already microchipped and that you have received your certificate of identification
Get your pet microchipped at your local vet or animal welfare organisation - they are accredited to do this procedure.
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Check your pet isn’t a restricted breed
Some breeds are restricted under NSW law and these breeds can no longer be sold or given away in NSW. It is illegal to accept ownership of such a dog. If you own a restricted breed you must register the dog with the City of Sydney.
From 1 July 2020 owners of dogs of a restricted breed or formally declared to be dangerous will be required to pay a $206 annual permit in addition to their one-off lifetime pet registration fee.
If you need to do this, the annual permit form can be found below. Owners of cats not desexed by 4 months of age are also required to do this.
Please see list of approved rehoming organisations. The following documents must be supplied:
For documentation requirements, see proof of eligibility below.
After you finish
You will receive your certificate of registration once your cat or dog is registered, and where applicable the identification certificate.
Please note: The permanent identification form or a copy of your identification certificate must be included in your submission. Without it, we will not be able to contact you or complete your registration.
The registration fee is a once-only payment and covers lifetime registration in NSW, even if pet ownership changes.
Your registration details will be recorded on the NSW Companion Animals Register.
Other information
Proof of eligibility
To qualify for a discount as a pensioner concession card holder, recognised breeder or if the animal you're registering has assistance animal status, you must provide the following documentation:
Fees and documentation requirements
Please note that cats and dogs must be registered before they are 6 months old.
In addition to the below, a late fee of $19 is also payable with the registration fee if you don't register your animal within 28 days after this due date.
Fines for unregistered pets
If you do not register a dog or cat by 6 months of age or older you can be fined $330 on-the-spot. If you own a dangerous, menacing or restricted breed of dog and don't register it before it is 6 months old you face a $1,760 fine. The maximum penalty for not registering animals is $6,600 (for subsequent offences). For not registering dangerous, restricted and menacing dogs, it is $7,700 (for subsequent offences).
Pocket pets
Pets come in all shapes and sizes and many of our residents keep rats, ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs and other pocket-sized pets.
See the NSW RSPCA website for information on caring for pocket pets.
Wildlife
We do not endorse keeping snakes or other native Australian wildlife as pets.
The RSPCA notes that these animals rarely enjoy human company and require specialised housing and feeding.
In NSW, you must have a licence to keep a reptile.
Other requirements
- You must be over 18 years old to register a pet. A parent or guardian cannot register cats and dogs on behalf of children and teenagers under 18.
- If your address or ownership changes, you need to change your pet registration.
- If you are moving to NSW with your pet, you need to change your pet registration.
- When dogs or cats are in a public place they must wear an identification disc on their collar that is engraved with their name and their owner's contact number.
- We recommend all cats that are allowed to roam should wear a collar and tag. All cats must, by law, be microchipped.