Georges River Council is advising residents of important changes to dog breeding regulations in New South Wales. The changes came into effect on 1 December 2025 under the NSW Puppy Farming Act. The new laws apply to all dog breeders, including regular breeders, occasional breeders, and owners with accidental litters.
The updated legislation aims to prevent unethical breeding practices, improve animal welfare, and ensure greater transparency across the sector.
Under the new requirements, anyone breeding dogs in NSW must comply with the following:
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A valid Breeder Identification Number (BIN) must be obtained or activated through the NSW Pet Registry. All previous voluntary BINs became inactive on 1 December 2025.
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Owners of dogs that become pregnant unexpectedly must apply for a BIN within 14 days of becoming aware of the pregnancy, or within 7 days of birth, whichever is earlier.
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Female dogs are now capped at five litters across their lifetime, or three caesarean litters, whichever comes first.
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Breeders must complete written records within 14 days of delivery and retain them for three years.
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A mandatory cap of 20 non-desexed female dogs over six months of age to be kept at a premises with one staff member for every 20 dogs over 12 weeks.
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Any advertisement for dogs born after 1 December 2025 must include both the animal's microchip number and the breeder's BIN.
Non-compliance with the new dog breeding laws carries significant penalties. Breeders who fail to apply for a BIN may face fines of up to $11,000 and 6 months imprisonment. Those who breach lifetime litter limits could face fines of up to $110,000 and 2 years imprisonment. The maximum penalty for advertising a pet for sale or transfer without a microchip number and Breeder Identification Number is $16,500 and 6 months imprisonment.
