Updates to registration payments
The new NSW Digital Pet Registry is a key part of the NSW Government’s work to strengthen animal welfare standards and promote responsible pet ownership.
The new NSW Pet Registry will make it easier for breeders and owners to connect and transfer ownership, keep their contact details up up-to-date, and receive notifications about important milestones in their pet’s life.
Companion Animals Regulation clause 14 a) and b)
From 1 July 2024, the Office of Local Government implemented clause 14 a) and b) of the Companion Animals Regulation 2018 wherein:
a companion animal is required to be registered—
(a) from the time the animal is 12 weeks old, or
(b) when the animal is first sold (even if it is less than 12 weeks old).
Payment of the standard registration fee is required by the time the animal is 12 weeks old, or the date on which ownership of the animal is transferred to a new owner, whichever happens first. Until payment is made, a pet is not registered.
Breeders must pay the registration fee for any pets still in their name at 12 weeks of age.
Pets do not have to be desexed by 12 weeks to avoid paying additional fees
With the rollout of the new NSW Digital Pet Registry, only the standard registration fee is payable by 12 weeks, regardless of the pet’s desexed status. This applies to registrations paid via the NSW Digital Pet Registry, or when fees are paid at council.
Owners of non-desexed cats over 4 months of age must pay an annual permit. Owners of non-desexed dogs over 6 months of age must pay a once-only additional fee.
Important notice for change of owner process at councils
You may note an increase in over-the-counter paper form processing in the coming months. Until stage 2 of the Pet Registry rollout Link my pet is released, owners will need to pay their registration fee directly at the council when the C3A form is used for ownership transfer.
If your council processes C3A Change of Owner forms in person or via post/email from a breeder for an unregistered pet under 12 weeks of age, the responsibility for paying registration sits with the new owner.
To assist new owners, after your council process a C3A form over the counter or via email, we recommend you also send the new owner their new pet’s:
- record of identification information
- instructions on how to pay registration at council
- payment due date and amount due.
- information about desexing pets by 4 months of age (cats) and 6 months (dogs).
Council discretion in applying or dismissing late fees, additional payments and annual permits
Council discretion remains in effect when determining whether to impose certain registration fee types, including whether to apply an additional late fee. This is supported by functionality within the Companion Animals Register when handling registration payments. If council decides to waive a fee for payments of a permit or additional payment for owning a non-desexed pet, they will need to contact [email protected]
Council’s responsibilities and authority remain
Councils must continue to accept payments and otherwise support pet owners in meeting their responsible pet ownership obligations under the Companion Animals Act 1998.
As registration agents, councils are responsible under the Companions Animal Act (1998), Regulation and Companion Animals Guidelines for ensuring that registration information is entered on the Companion Animals Register and accurately maintained.
Category names for registration types have been updated to comply with new registration legislation and is supported by new functionality in the Companion Animals Register (CAR) and the new NSW Digital Pet Registry.