Laws for pet owners in Queensland
As a pet owner, you must follow relevant Queensland laws to care for your pet.
On this page:
Pet ownership laws
If you own a pet, you are legally obliged under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 (PDF, 1.4MB) to provide 'appropriate care' for it by providing for its needs.
You also have a responsibility to ensure the safety of everyone in the community through responsible pet ownership.
If you have a cat or dog, you are also legally obliged to meet all conditions under the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 (AMCDA).
Changes to dog ownership laws
Changes were made to the AMCDA due to a rise in complaints about aggressive dogs and dog attacks, and the large number of dog-attack victims admitted to hospital each year in Queensland.
From 31 July 2024:
- if you do not keep a dog under effective control when in a public place, there is an on-the-spot fine of $806
- the most serious dog attack offences have increased penalties of up to $112,910, including the option of imprisonment for up to 3 years where a person encourages a dog to attack that results in death or grievous bodily harm to a person.
From 28 August 2024:
- local governments can now clarify when an authorised person must or may make a destruction order for a dog
- an authorised person is a council employee who has the power to investigate, monitor and enforce any part of the AMCDA
- 5 dog breeds are prohibited from being owned:
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Brasileiro
- Japanese Tosa
- American pit bull terrier/pit bull terrier
- Perro de Presa Canario/Presa Canari.
A person must not own or be responsible for a prohibited breed unless they have a reasonable excuse.
A person must not supply a prohibited dog to another person or give or take possession of a prohibited dog for the purposes of allowing it to breed with another dog.
More information
Contact your local council.
Read about changes to laws for regulated dog owners.
Effective control of a dog
A person who is responsible for a dog has effective control if:
- the person is physically able to control the dog
- the person is holding the dog using a leash, lead or other restraining device
- the dog is securely tethered to a fixed object and under constant supervision
- the dog is kept in an appropriate temporary enclosure that contains the dog's movement and is under the continuous supervision of the person
- the dog is being confined or tethered in, or on, a vehicle in a way that prevents the dog moving any part of its body beyond the vehicle
- the dog is under your continuous supervision and control using voice command when
- in an off-leash area
- doing obedience training
- being shown at an exhibition or a race
- acting as a working dog, a dog working for a government organisation or a security patrol dog.
More information
Read section 192 of the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008.
Read about effective control of regulated dogs.
Animal permits
Dog and cat permits
You may need a permit from local council to keep:
- more than the allowed number of domestic cats or dogs
- more than 2 dogs for breeding, racing, sale or showing
- cats for breeding or showing.
Contact your local council for:
- all cat and dog permits
- information about permits to keep other animals.
Exhibiting native wildlife or non-indigenous animal permits
In Queensland, you need a licence or permit to exhibit native wildlife or non-indigenous animals (under the Exhibited Animals Act 2015).
Animal welfare
If you own a pet, you have to provide for its needs.
Learn more about your responsibilities as a pet owner.
Registration
Dogs
In Queensland, all dogs must be registered with the local council:
- before they are 12 weeks old
- within 14 days after moving to a new local council area.
You must include the registration fee and state when lodging your completed registration form if:
- your dog is a regulated dog—including declared dangerous or menacing
- your dog has been
- desexed—include a signed certificate from your vet
- microchipped—include the permanent identification device (PID) number.
Contact your local council to check if you have to register a working dog as some types of working dogs are exempt from registration.
Cats
Contact your local council to find out whether cats must be registered in your area.
Microchipping
Microchipping in Queensland is mandatory.
All cats and dogs between 8 and 12 weeks of age must be implanted with a microchip by the person selling or giving away the pet.
Desexing
Desexing is not mandatory for cats and most dogs. However, some local councils require dogs to be desexed.
While it is not mandatory, it is strongly recommended that cats and dogs be desexed if they are not being kept for breeding.
Most Queensland local councils offer incentives to register and desex cats and dogs.
Desexing regulated dogs
Desexing is mandatory for dogs that have been declared dangerous and therefore are a regulated dog.
You must ensure the dog is desexed within 3 months after the dog is declared to be a dangerous dog unless desexing is likely to be a serious risk to the dog's health.
More information
- Talk to your local council.
- Learn about the benefits of desexing.
- Discuss with your veterinarian.
Breeding dogs
If your dog becomes pregnant or has a litter, you must meet Queensland's animal welfare standards for breeding dogs and their litter.
Within 28 days of the litter being born, you must register as a dog breeder unless you qualify for an exemption.
If you are an owner or a breeder of a dog that’s been declared dangerous you must not use it for the purposes of breeding nor allow or encourage it to breed with another dog.