Microchipping and Registration

The Companion Animals Act (1998) NSW is the predominant legislation that provides for the identification and registration of companion animals as well as the responsibilities of their owners.

Amongst other things, the Companion Animals Act requires dogs and cats to be permanently identified by a microchip by the age of 12 weeks of age. New changes to this legislation were made in July 2024 that requires both dogs and cats to be registered with a local council by 12 weeks of age as well, or immediately upon ownership transfer (whichever happens first).

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.

If a vet decides to delay desexing your pet, or recommends against desexing ever in its life, a temporary or permanent exemption from the additional fee may be granted.

For more information regarding desexing your pet, go to Desex a pet | Office of Local Government

The permanent identification and lifetime registration system, greatly assists authorities in returning lost and injured animals to their owners. It provides NSW Councils with a more effective means of keeping track of cats and dogs for the benefit of the wider community.

Step 1 - Microchipping your animal

Under the Companion Animals Act, cats and dogs, which reside in NSW, must be identified by microchip by 12 weeks of age. Microchipping your animal is the first step in the registration process. There are some exemptions to microchipping and registration, see below “Registration Exemptions”.

When an animal is microchipped its identification details are entered onto the NSW Companion Animals Register. Microchips are about the same size as a large grain of rice. They are very safe. Your pet will feel little pain as the chip is inserted quickly and safely under the skin between the shoulders.

When the chip is scanned, a number displayed on the scanner will be used to identify your cat or dog. The microchip implant does not hold any personal details, only a 15 digit number, similar to a bar code.

Microchipping can be arranged through your local vet or authorised implanter.

It is important to ensure that your pet details are up to date. Always confirm pet details are accurate on the NSW Pet Registry, and update pet photos and other information when necessary. Up-to-date details on the NSW Pet Registry can help reunite you with a lost pet. This includes updating your details if you move address, change phone numbers, or your pet passes away.

Step 2 - Registering your animal

Once you have microchipped your animal, you then need to lifetime register them by 12 weeks of age. Infringements may be issued to owners of animals whose animal is older than 12 weeks of age and is not registered. Until payment is made, your pet is not registered and you may be liable for fines, including a fixed penalty notice of $330. A late payment fee will also be applied if you do not pay registration within 28 days of when it was due.

Lifetime registrations can be made at any Council or online at NSW Pet Registry. Proof of desexing must be provided to be eligible for the reduced registration fee. Registration covers the dog or cat for its lifetime, even if their owner changes. You must be aged 18 years or over to own a dog or cat.

For information on costs and documentation required please contact Council on 6333 6190.

SMS reminder service

Council has a service which sends SMS reminders to dog and cat owners to register their pets.

If your pet is not registered by 12 weeks of age Bathurst Council will send a SMS reminder. Until payment is made, your pet is not registered and you may be liable for fines, including a fixed penalty notice of $330. A late payment fee will also be applied if you do not pay registration within 28 days of when it was due.

Pet owners are encouraged to register their cat or dog online at NSW Pet Registry, which is a database of registered cats or dogs that live in NSW. The registration fee is a once-only payment, which covers the cat or dog for its lifetime in NSW, regardless of any changes in ownership. It is important to have the desexing certificate from your vet to access the discounted fees.

Registration Exemptions

The only allowable registration exemptions are provided for in Section 16 of the Companion Animals Regulation:

A cat born before 1 July 1999, other than a cat whose ownership changes after that date,
An animal that is ordinarily kept outside New South Wales, but not if the animal has been in New South Wales for a continuous period of at least 3 months,
An animal in the custody of a council (including in a council pound), the Animal Welfare League NSW, The Cat Protection Society of NSW Inc. or RSPCA,
An animal in the custody of an organisation approved by the Director-General, for the purposes of this clause, by order published in the Gazette,
An animal kept at a pet shop for the purposes of sale,
An animal kept for the purposes of sale in the course of a business conducted at a booth or stall in a market or at a fair,
A greyhound registered in accordance with the rules made in relation to greyhound racing under the Greyhound Racing Act 2009,
A dog that is ordinarily used by a police officer on official duty,
a dog that is ordinarily used on official duty by a correctional officer (within the meaning of the Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Act 1999),
a dog used by a Commonwealth officer on official duty,
an animal in the custody of an accredited research establishment within the meaning of the Animal Research Act 1985, or the holder of an animal research authority or an animal supplier's licence within the meaning of that Act, for purposes in connection with animal research, as authorised under that Act,
an animal kept at a licensed animal display establishment within the meaning of the Exhibited Animals Protection Act 1986 and lawfully exhibited in accordance with that Act,
a working dog that is ordinarily kept in a part of the Western Division of the State that is not within a local government area,
a working dog that is ordinarily kept on land categorised as farmland for the purposes of Part 3 of Chapter 15 of the Local Government Act 1993.
Animals covered under these exemptions are not required to be identified or registered.
Any animal which is seized and taken into the custody of a Council pound or animal shelter must be microchipped and lifetime registered before being returned to its original owner. This requirement overrides any exemptions.

Sign up to our newsletter

Microchipping and Registration