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Apply for an animal permit

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Identify the animal permit you need, review the costs involved and check you meet the permit criteria before you apply.

ISA Brown chicken in a chicken coop.

Types of permits

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Under the Animals Local Law 2017, you need a permit to keep certain types and numbers of animals.

Animal permits help to ensure animals are kept in ways that are consistent with community expectations. The type of permit you need depends on the animal and how many you plan to keep. 

Each permit has its own set of fees and criteria.

Permit types include:

  • cat and dog permits
  • livestock permits for horses, chicken and other animals
  • racehorse permits for horses used for racing.
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No permit needed:

Unsure if you need a permit?

Answer a few questions about your animals or pets to determine if you need to register them and/or apply for a permit.

Dachshund with a blue harness on a leash at a Victoria Park event.

Check before bringing your pet home

We recommend that your follow these steps before you bring your new pet home.

  1. Check that you meet the animal permit criteria.
  2. Apply for the relevant permit.
  3. Wait to receive permit approval before bringing your animal home. 

Cat and dog permits

You need to apply for a permit if you intend to keep:

  • more than 2 dogs
  • more than 3 cats.
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Note

Unless you’re a breeder, we’re unlikely to approve applications for more than 4 dogs.

Permit criteria

Some of the criteria you need to meet when you apply.

  • Place of residence: The dwelling is a single detached dwelling (e.g. not a unit or townhouse).
  • Land area: Your property must be more than 400 square metres. 
  • Registration status: Your pet must be microchipped and registered with Council (if applicable)
  • Fencing: Your property must have adequate fencing to contain your animal(s).

We also consider whether you’ve had approval for a similar permit from another council.

If we need to inspect your property, we’ll contact you within 20 working days to arrange a time.

Information for dog breeders

If you breed, sell or give away your dogs, you need to register as a breeder with the Queensland Government.

You need to apply for a breeder permit if:

  • your dog has a litter that you plan to advertise or sell 
  • you breed as a hobby
  • you have a commercial breeding establishment or business.

When you send us your permit application, include your supply number to tell us that you’re a breeder. 

Fees for cat and dog owner permits

These fees are payable at the time you lodge the permit application, on an annual basis or as needed.

Fee type  Fee amount 
Application fee $344.65
Annual permit fee $204.95
Application to amend condition(s) of a current permit by permit holder $344.05
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The initial application fee includes the first-year permit fee. Unsuccessful applicants will be refunded the annual permit fee. 

Alternatively, complete the animal permit application form and:

  • mail the form and cheque payment to:

    Brisbane City Council
    GPO Box 1434
    Brisbane Qld 4001

Pet ownership guidance

There are important things to remember about your responsibilities as a pet owner.

Man bending down to his small white and brown dog in a Council dog park. Dog is wearing a blue registration tag.

Livestock permits for horses, chickens and other animals 

Livestock includes keeping horses, chickens and poultry, cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, deer, emus, ostriches, peafowls, or alpacas.

It also includes variants or miniatures of these animals for farming or as pets.  

When you need a permit

You need a permit if you keep your livestock in a residential zone. Use City Plan online to find your property’s zone.

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Household premises with a total area of: 

  • less than 800 square metres can keep up to 6 poultry  
  • more than 800 square metres can keep up to 20 poultry.

When you don’t need a permit

You don’t need a permit if:

  • you have authority to keep livestock under an existing development approval   
  • you keep your livestock in a rural or rural residential area.

Permit fees for livestock 

Check the fee that relates to your application. 

Fee type Fee amount
Self-assessable permit fee $13.15
Self-assessable permit fee (chickens and poultry) No fee
Application fee for full assessment (including first year's permit fee) $344.65
Annual permit fee (full assessment applications only) $204.95
Application to amend conditions of permit by the permit holder $344.05

Alternatively, complete the livestock self-assessment permit application or the animal permit application and:

  • mail the form and cheque payment to:

    Brisbane City Council
    GPO Box 1434
    Brisbane Qld 4001
  • lodge it in person at a Council Customer Centre.
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Note

You must register with the Queensland Government as a biosecurity entity if you own livestock, horses, beehives (excluding native beehives) or more than 100 captive birds such as poultry or pigeons.

Registration helps Biosecurity Queensland to keep you informed in a pest or disease emergency.

Caring for livestock

Get tips on how to take care of livestock, including what to do about waste, noise, shelter and fencing.

ISA Brown chicken free ranging in a Brisbane backyard.

Racehorse permits

Council regulates the keeping of racehorses under the Animals Local Law 2017.

You must have a permit to keep a racehorse in Brisbane. This includes stabling.

You don’t need a permit if you have authority to keep your racehorse under an existing development approval.

Permit fees for racehorses

Your annual fee depends on the number of racehorses you have. 

Number of racehorses Fee amount
1-9 $342.90
10-14 $569.70
15-19 $683.15
20-24 $756.30
25 or more $854.65
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The application to amend the conditions of the permit is $125.35.

Alternatively, complete the animal permit application form and:

  • mail the form and cheque payment to: 

    Brisbane City Council 
    GPO Box 1434 
    Brisbane Qld 4001
  • lodge it in person at a Customer Centre.

Amend or surrender a permit

You can amend or surrender your permit online.  

Amend the conditions of a permit

To amend the conditions of your permit, you must pay the application fee.

You may need to amend your permit in situations where you want to increase or decrease the approved number of animals on your permit or amend other permit conditions due to changes made since the permit was originally approved.

What you need:

  • permit details, including your permit number
  • details of your proposed amendment 
  • reason for your amendment.

Surrender a permit

You can also surrender your permit online. You may need to surrender your permit in situations where:

  • you’re a breeder and you decide to cease breeding
  • the number of animals you keep no longer requires a permit
  • you close your business.


What you need:

  • permit details, including your permit number
  • reason for your surrender.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, if you apply for a dog permit, you must also register each dog kept at the approved location on the permit.

We don’t issue permits for reptiles, amphibians and other native animals. 

You can learn about licence requirements and how to apply via the Department of Environment and Science.

Yes, a cat permit is different to a cat registration.

In Brisbane, you don't need to register your cat. However, your cat must be microchipped. If you plan on having more than 3 cats, you need to apply for a permit.

Keeping native wildlife, such as some species of birds, reptiles and other animals, requires a licence.

You can apply for a licence via the Department of Environment and Science.