Restricted Dog Breeds in Australia
Updated 2026-05-13 · Australia-wide reference
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Australia regulates five dog breeds (and crosses of them) under federal customs law, with each state and territory layering its own ownership rules on top. This page covers the national list, the conditions that apply to existing owners, and the per-state rules for registration, containment, strata living, and rental tenancies.
The five restricted breeds (national)
Under the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulation 1956, importation of the following breeds is banned in Australia. Each state and territory recognises them as restricted breeds:
- American Pit Bull Terrier (and Pit Bull Terrier)
- Japanese Tosa
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Brasileiro
- Perro de Presa Canario
Owners who already have one of these dogs (registered before the state declarations) can keep them under strict conditions — typically: desexing, microchipping, registration as a restricted dog, muzzling and leashing in public, council-approved containment, and warning signs at the property. New ownership, breeding, or transfer is generally prohibited.
State and territory rules
What 'restricted' actually means (and doesn't)
Restricted breed declarations target the breed itself, not individual dog behaviour. That means a well-behaved Pit Bull cross with no history of aggression is still legally restricted, while a (non-restricted breed) dog with a bite history is dealt with under the separate 'declared dangerous dog' provisions.
Councils have the power to declare an individual dog 'dangerous' or 'menacing' under their state's Companion Animals / Domestic Animals legislation. This is behaviour-based and applies to any breed.
Buying or rescuing a dog with restricted breed ancestry
If you're considering a rescue dog that may have Pit Bull or Staffordshire Bull Terrier ancestry, request a vet temperament assessment and ask the rescue for written breed assessment documentation. A misidentified Staffy cross can become a restricted-breed legal headache if a council identifies the dog post-adoption. Staffordshire Bull Terriers (the 'true' Staffy) are not on the restricted list — only American Pit Bull Terrier is.
Strata, rentals, and the new pet rights
Pet ownership in apartments and rentals has changed significantly across Australia over the last 5 years. NSW, ACT, VIC and QLD all now have laws limiting blanket pet bans in strata and tenancies. WA and SA remain the most restrictive jurisdictions. See each state page for the current position and how to escalate a dispute.