Microchipping and Registration for Cats and Dogs
In New South Wales, all pet cats and dogs must be permanently identified with a microchip and registered for life. This is a legal requirement under the Companion Animals Act 1998 and helps reunite lost pets with their owners.
Key notes:
- All pet cats and dogs in NSW must be registered either by 12 weeks of age or immediately upon transfer (whichever happens first).
- Dogs that are NOT desexed by 6 months of age will have to pay an additional fee.
- Cats that are NOT desexed by 4 months of age, restricted dog breeds, and dogs declared to be dangerous, require an Annual Permit
Permanent Identification (Microchipping)
Cats and dogs must legally be microchipped by 12 weeks of age.
Microchipping is a quick and safe procedure, usually done by a vet or the team at the Glenfield Road Animal Shelter. The chip, about the size of a grain of rice, is implanted between your pet’s shoulders and contains a unique barcode linked to your contact information. You can have your pet microchipped and registered at the same time at the Glenfield Road Animal Shelter.
Microchipping is important as it helps return lost pets to their owners, which means it also must be kept up to date - contact Council if your details change.
Lifetime Registration
After microchipping, you must complete lifetime registration with Council. This is a one-time payment that supports community animal management services.
Important: Microchipping and lifetime registration are separate processes with separate fees - both are required.
To register your pet, you will need:
- Microchip details
- Desexing certificate (if applicable)
- Breeder’s details (if applicable)
- Pension card (if seeking a concession)
You can register:
- In person at the Glenfield Road Animal Shelter
- At the Council Customer Service desk
- Online via the NSW Pet Registry
Please Note: Registration fees are set by and paid to the NSW Office of Local Government, not Council.
Fees and Annual Permits
The fees for Permanent Identification and Lifetime Registration are listed on our Glenfield Road Animal Shelter Fees and Charges page.
In some cases, additional annual permits apply to certain animals - from 1 July 2020:
- Owners of non-desexed cats over 4 months of age will be required to pay an $99.00 annual permit in addition to microchip and registration.
- Owners of non-desexed dogs over 6 months of age must pay a once-only additional fee of $189.00.
- Owners of dogs of a restricted breed or formally declared to be dangerous will be required to pay a $236.00 annual permit in addition to their microchip and registration.
You can find more information about non-desexed cat and dog fees on the NSW Office of Local Government website.