Apply for an animal permit
Identify the animal permit you need, review the costs involved and check you meet the permit criteria before you apply.
Types of permits
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.
Check before bringing your pet home
We recommend that your follow these steps before you bring your new pet home.
- Check that you meet the animal permit criteria.
- Apply for the relevant permit.
- 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.
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 |
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 Council Customer Centre.
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.
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.
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 |
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.