Registration and Microchipping
As part of the New South Wales Companion Animals Act 1998, the State Government introduced new microchipping and lifetime registration laws for all companion animals on 1 July 1999.
The Act States:
- all dogs (except farm working dogs and greyhounds) must be microchipped and registered for life
- puppies must be microchipped at the change of ownership or by twelve weeks of age and registered for life by six months of age
- if you own a cat born prior to 1 July 1999 you do not have to register it for life, however all cats must be identified either by microchip or collar and tag
- a cat sold or given away after 1 July 1999 has to be microchipped and registered for life
- kittens born/sold after 1 July 1999 should be microchipped by twelve weeks or before change of ownership and registered for life by six months of age
- all of your animals must wear a collar and tag at all times when outside your property.
Registration Process
- Microchip your pet at your vet
- Register your pet - visit our Customer Service Centre
If you want to keep, board, train, breed or care for animals for commercial purposes you'll need to lodge a development application and get Council's approval.
How to Pay
Payments can be made by cash, eftpos and credit card can be made at Council's Customer Service Centre, located on the ground floor 41 Burelli Street.
If you can't get to Council's Customer Service Centre you can post your payments with a cheque or money order, made payable to:
Wollongong City Council
Locked Bag 8821
Wollongong NSW 2500
Please include all relevant documentation, including desexing certificate and microchip number
Unfortunately, we don't have online credit card payments or BPay for animal registration.
Lifetime Registration Fees
- $40 for a desexed dog/cat
- $150 for an entire or undesexed dog/cat
- $40 for an entire or undesexed dog/cat owned by a registered breeder. You'll need to provide certification.
- $15 for a desexed dog/cat owned by an eligible pensioner. You'll need to provide certification.
For more information, contact Council.
Notification of Changes and Events by Owners of Identified Companion Animals
Owners of cats and dogs must contact Council when their pet's circumstance change. This might be the death or sale of an animal, or if you've changed address. If you don't notify Council of any changes, you can be fined $165.
You'll need to contact Council for the following:
- Death of an animal - notification required within 28 days
- Animal missing for more than 72 hours - notification required within 96 hours
- Change of address - notification required within 14 days
- Animal sold or given away - notification required within 14 days
To help you meet this legal obligation Council has developed a form. Please complete it and return it to Council. It's important to note, by having your animal's details up to date, if your animal should stray and be taken to Council's animal shelter, it'll help you be reunited with your animal faster.
For more information, contact Council on (02) 4227 7111.