An occupier of dog premises must not keep more than 20 female adult dogs over six months of age that have not been desexed (or rendered permanently infertile) on the premises.

A dog premises includes residential premises and commercial premises, used or intended to be used for the accommodation, shelter or care of dogs. This also covers vehicles, aircraft, vessels, trailers, or caravans. If any of these are on or next to a dog premises, they will be considered part of the premises.

This requirement does not apply in certain circumstances, such as essential government services (i.e. police and corrections dogs) and specified animal welfare functions, such as rehoming.

Penalty and offence amendments

New offences for breaching the maximum cap of female adult dogs apply from 21 November 2024. For individuals, this will provide a maximum of 1,000 penalty units ($110,000), or 2 years imprisonment, or both; and for a corporation, a maximum of 5,000 penalty units ($550,000).  There will also be a penalty notice offence of $1,000 for individuals, and $5,000 for a corporation.

Anyone breeding dogs, whether regular breeders, occasional breeders or those with accidental litters, are required to obtain a breeder identification number. All existing voluntary breeder identification numbers were set to inactive on 1 December 2025.

This means breeders holding an existing breeder identification number issued prior to 1 December 2025 will need to activate their dog breeder eligibility status by acknowledging and agreeing to comply with the new arrangements and provide updated details

Anyone who used to use a membership number from a recognised dog breeder organisation must apply for a breeder identification number.  Membership numbers will no longer be accepted in place of a breeder identification number.

If a dog becomes pregnant unexpectedly and the person in charge does not have a breeder identification number, they must apply for one either within 14 days after becoming aware of the pregnancy or 7 days after the dog gives birth, whichever comes first.

To apply or reactivate your breeder identification number visit the NSW Pet Registry via the NSW Office of Local Government website: petregistry.olg.nsw.gov.au.

To be a registered dog owner in NSW and hold a breeder identification number you must be 18 years or over.

Exceptions

Seized or surrendered dogs: For organisations who have custody of seized or surrendered dogs and where one of these dogs become pregnant accidentally, or a pregnant dog comes into their custody, a rehoming organisation number is accepted in lieu of a breeder identification number.

Working dogs: Farmers breeding working dogs for the purpose of working on the land on which they are bred will be exempt from obtaining a breeder identification number whilst they remain on that land.

Greyhounds: Greyhounds bred by a greyhound racing industry participant, the greyhound racing participant identification number issued under the Greyhound Racing Act 2017 can be used in lieu of a breeder identification number.

Rehoming organisations: All rehoming organisations are required to apply to be a designated rehoming organisation under the Companion Animals Act 1998. This application process will require additional information and is managed by the Office of Local Government.

If a designated rehoming organisation intentionally breeds dogs, it must obtain a breeder identification number to comply with the new mandatory identification laws.

Penalty and offence amendments

A new offence for failing to obtain a BIN will apply. For individuals this will provide a maximum of 100 penalty units ($11,000), or 6 months imprisonment, or both; and for a corporation, a maximum of 500 penalty units ($55,000). There will also be a penalty notice offence of $500 for individuals, and $2,500 for a corporation.

Any advertisement for the sale or transfer of dogs born after 1 December 2025 must include the dogs microchip number and the breeder’s identification number. If the breeder is unknown (such as through a rehoming organisation) the rehoming organisations number must be used instead.

In circumstances where an advertisement is not made, this information must still be provided to the purchaser before or at the time of sale.

Information required:

A mandatory a lifetime litter cap applies for all female dogs. A female dog can have up to a maximum of 5 litters over her lifetime. No more than 3 of those litters can be by caesarean.

If a dog has had 2 caesareans, veterinary approval must be obtained before a dog becomes pregnant for a third time. Veterinary approval means the veterinarian is reasonably satisfied the pregnancy will not pose a significant risk to the dog’s health. The overall litter limits still apply.

Breeders are also required to keep additional records of all births, specifying.

• date of delivery

• mode of delivery - whether caesarean or other

• a copy of the veterinary certificate if veterinary approval was required

• the details of the veterinarian who performed the caesarean if it was required

Penalty and offence amendments

New offences for breaching lifetime litter limits requirements will apply from 1 December 2025. For individuals these range from a maximum of 100 ($11,000)- 1,000 penalty units ($110,000), or 2 years imprisonment, or both; and for a corporation these range from a maximum of 500 ($55,000) - 5,000 penalty units ($550,000).  Related penalty notices offences ranging from $500 for individuals, and $2,500 for a corporation.

A dog premises* must have at least one staff member for every 20 dogs**. The person who manages or controls the premises must also make sure each dog gets proper care, food and water. Staff do not need to be present 24/7, unless extra care is needed because of illness or veterinary advice

Staff may include individuals working full-time or part-time, whether as employees, volunteers, owners, managers, or family members of the owner or manager. All staff must be aged 14 years or older.

*A dog premises includes residential premises and commercial premises, used or intended to be used for the accommodation, shelter or care of dogs. This also covers vehicles, aircraft, vessels, trailers, or caravans. If any of these are on or next to a dog premises, they will be considered part of the premises.

** For the purposes of calculating the staff to dog ratio, a dog over 12 weeks is counted as one dog. A litter of dogs under 12 weeks of age will be counted as one dog, in recognition of the critical role played by the female parent. The minimum number of staff is to be calculated by dividing the number of dogs at the premises by 20 and rounding up to the nearest whole number. For example, if there are 30 dogs at the premises, dividing 30 by 20 equals 1.5, which must be rounded up to 2 staff members.

Penalty and offence amendments

New offences for breaching staff to animal ratios will apply from 1 December 2025. For individuals this will provide a maximum of 400 penalty units ($44,000); and for a corporation, a maximum of 2,000 penalty units ($220,000).  There will also be a penalty notice offence of $1,000 for individuals, and $5,000 for a corporation.

It is a legal requirement that individuals and businesses involved in breeding dogs for a fee or reward and those litters that were not accidental comply to the standards in the Animal Welfare Code of Practice breeding cats and dogs. The Code sets out mandatory standards for ensuring acceptable animal welfare levels. These are the minimum standards that must be met under law.

Any person breeding dogs is also required to take steps to ensure all staff members comply with the Breeding Code of Practice.

Future requirement – 1 Dec 2029

From 1 December 2029, compliance with the Code will be mandatory for all dog breeders, regardless of whether the breeding was intentional or otherwise, or for fee or reward. All breeders will be required to comply with the Breeding Code of Practice.