Pet laws in Australia: what has changed and how the states differ

The big change: renting with a dog

For years a landlord could simply write "no pets" into a lease. Between 2020 and 2026 every state moved to a new model: you ask in writing, the landlord has 14 days to answer, and they can refuse only for specific reasons, usually through a tribunal or a formal process. Tasmania was the last to act, with its law starting in March 2026.

1. 2 March 2020Victoria

   Landlord must apply to VCAT within 14 days to refuse. No application means consent is given.

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2. 1 October 2022Queensland

   Refusal only on listed grounds, in writing within 14 days. Silence counts as approval.

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3. 1 July 2024South Australia

   Refusal only on listed grounds, in writing within 14 days. Silence counts as approval. No separate pet bond.

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4. 29 July 2024Western Australia

   Pet request form, 14 days to respond, silence counts as approval. One-off pet bond of up to $260 allowed.

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5. 19 May 2025New South Wales

   Landlords can refuse only for certain reasons. From 2 October 2026 new tenants can apply within 7 days of signing and keep the pet while they wait.

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6. 20 March 2026Tasmania

   Landlord has 14 days to respond and must apply to TASCAT to justify a refusal. Blanket "no pets" clauses are gone.

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The ACT and Northern Territory also let renters keep pets with a similar approval process, but we could not confirm the dates and details from an official source, so we have left them out of the list. Check the relevant government page before you rely on any of this.

What is the same everywhere

In every state that has reformed, you need to ask first, and a blanket ban is not enforceable. Assistance animals are treated differently and do not need approval. In most places your normal rental bond covers pet damage, so a separate pet bond is not charged. Western Australia is the exception, where a one-off bond of up to $260 is allowed. Strata and community by-laws can still rule dogs out, because they sit alongside tenancy law rather than under it.

Where the states differ is on who decides. In Victoria and Tasmania the landlord must go to the tribunal to prove a refusal is reasonable. In Queensland and South Australia the landlord can refuse themselves, but only on a short list of grounds, such as the home having no fencing, the number of animals being unreasonable, or a safety risk, and they must give the reason in writing.

Cracking down on puppy farms

Victoria led here. Its 2017 law capped breeders at 10 fertile females (with approval for up to 50) and, from July 2018, stopped pet shops selling puppies from anywhere other than shelters, pounds and registered foster carers.

New South Wales followed. Its Puppy Farming Act caps a property at 20 unsterilised adult female dogs, limits females to five litters in a lifetime, and requires one carer for every 20 dogs. From 1 December 2025 every breeder needs a Breeder Identification Number, and it must appear in every advertisement along with the dog's microchip number. Breeders with larger operations could apply for a 10-year exemption, and the penalties reach $110,000 and two years in prison for an individual.

If you are buying a puppy, the practical takeaway is simple: in NSW the breeder number and the dog's microchip number should be in the ad. If they are missing, walk away. In Victoria, buy from a breeder registered with their council, or adopt from a shelter or pound.

Registration and microchipping, compared

Summarised from council and government guides, which differ on detail. Fees and deadlines are set locally, so check your own council before you rely on a date. Victoria also replaced its 2015 Domestic Animal Regulations with new ones in 2025, tightening registration, microchipping and dangerous-dog controls.

Banned and restricted breeds

Importing five breeds into Australia is banned under federal customs rules: the American Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa and Presa Canario. Most states also restrict those breeds, or dogs declared dangerous after an attack, with rules on desexing, secure fencing, signs and muzzling in public. Any dog, whatever its breed, can be declared dangerous or menacing after an incident. Councils often identify breed by appearance, which is a common source of disputes, so if your dog is a cross, keep its paperwork handy.

What is coming next

South Australia passed a new Animal Welfare Act in 2025, which sets a clear duty of care and higher penalties, but it was still waiting to be proclaimed when we last checked. New South Wales is also reviewing its Companion Animals Act, which could give councils more powers. And from October 2026 NSW renters moving in with a dog will be able to keep it while their request is decided.

Planning around the rules

Whatever the state, the rules about where a dog can go sit with your council and park managers, not state law, and they change. PupFriendly lists the places that welcome dogs, with notes on leash rules where we have them.