Restricted Dog Breeds in New South Wales

Updated 2026-05-13 · NSW state-by-state reference

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Restricted breeds in New South Wales

• American Pit Bull Terrier / Pit Bull Terrier
• Japanese Tosa
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro
• Perro de Presa Canario

All five breeds (and crosses) are declared restricted under the Companion Animals Act 1998. Existing dogs must be desexed, microchipped, registered with their council as restricted, kept in a child-proof enclosure, and muzzled and leashed in public. New imports and breeding are banned.

Registration fees and process

Fee: $72 (puppies <6 months free if registered before 6 months)

Desexing discount: Desexed: $72 lifetime · Entire: $268 lifetime

Register through Office of Local Government NSW — register through your council or via the Pet Registry portal. Most NSW owners now complete this online.

Microchipping deadline

Puppies in New South Wales must be microchipped by 12 weeks of age or before the dog changes hands — whichever happens first. Vets and most council pounds offer microchipping for $40–$80. Always confirm the chip number is registered to your name and current address on the national chip registry — a chip registered to a previous owner is functionally useless.

Strata and apartment living

Since 2020, strata by-laws cannot unreasonably ban pets in NSW. Owners corporations may set reasonable conditions (size, behaviour) but a blanket no-pets rule is unenforceable.

Renting with a dog in New South Wales

Landlords may include a 'no pets' clause — but from late 2025 tenants can apply to NCAT to override an unreasonable refusal. Tenancy reform is in progress, check the latest NSW Fair Trading guidance.

What you'd actually budget for your first year

A new puppy in New South Wales costs more in the first year than most owners expect. Beyond the purchase price, you're looking at registration ($72), microchipping ($40–$80), C5 vaccinations ($180–$300), desexing ($300–$700 depending on size), council registration, and the first 12 months of food and vet visits.

Pet insurance is the single biggest variable. A serious incident — cruciate surgery, GDV (bloat), snake bite, or a swallowed-object obstruction — can run $4,000–$12,000 in New South Walesmetropolitan vets. Even high-excess policies pay back their first 6 months of premium with one such claim.

Local council resources

Each NSW council has its own animal management officer, infringement schedule, and off-leash areas. Find your council on the Office of Local Government NSW portal above — local information will always be more current than state-level summaries.

New South Wales pet-owner notes

Council registration is a one-off lifetime fee, not annual. Snake-bite incidents peak Oct–Mar — most NSW vet hospitals stock antivenom but cost is $1,200–$3,000.

Compare to other states