Keeping or selling animals in the ACT

Keeping or selling animals in the ACT

To keep or sell an animal in the ACT, you must have a licence unless the animal is on the Exempt List.

Native animals in the ACT are protected under the Nature Conservation Act 2014.

It’s illegal to take, release, keep, kill, import or export most native animals in the ACT without a licence.

Exempt animals

There are some species of animals that you don’t need a licence to keep. These are listed on the Nature Conservation (Exempt Animals) Declaration 2026 (the Exempt List) and are also listed below.

If an animal is not on the Exempt List you will need a licence to keep it. Even though you don’t need a licence to keep some native animals, it's illegal to take them from the wild.

Native animals in the ACT are protected under the Nature Conservation Act 2014 (NC Act). There are animals that can’t be killed, harmed, endangered, taken from the wild or kept in the ACT without a licence.

Non-exempt animals

To import, keep, sell, export, species not listed on the Exempt List, you need a nature conservation licence.

This helps protect the animals and prevents wild and captive bred animals from entering the illegal wildlife trade. The Nature Conservation (Licensing Related to Non-exempt Animals) Conservator Guidelines have information:

• about keeping a non-exempt animal in the ACT
• on how to apply for a nature conservation licence.

The Conservator of Flora and Fauna will assess your licence application and decide in line with the guidelines.

Use the NC Act to understand your legal responsibilities, duties, and possible offenses related to keeping these animals.

Keep a non-exempt animal

Under the NC Act, you must have a licence for all animals, dead (whole or parts) or alive, except for those on the Exempt List. The application process for this licence considers your suitability, and relevant regulations and policies under legislation. You’ll receive a response within 28 days of submitting an application.

Conservation Officers regularly conduct inspections of all licence type holders. You'll need to:

• Make sure your animal is from a legal source and not taken/come from the wild.
• Keep records of every non-exempt animal in your possession using the Nature Conservation Regulation Record Book [DOC 63.7 KB]. This can be requested at any time by a Conservation Officer.
• Notify a change of your address within 30 days if you move.
• Only keep animals on the location listed on your licence.

You are also responsible for looking after the animals in your care, including:

• food and water
• shelter
• treatment for illness, disease or injury.

Sell a non-exempt animal

You'll need a separate licence to sell a non-exempt animal. Selling includes barter, exchange and offering to sell.

When selling a non-exempt animal, you must:

• include your licence number in the advertisement
• sell the non-exempt animal to a person with an appropriate licence.

Import or export a non-exempt animal

You'll need a separate licence on every occasion that you import a non-exempt animal into or out of the ACT.

There's no fee to import or export non-exempt animals for hobby purposes.

Pet shops

Pet shops in the ACT must have a licence to sell, import and keep non-exempt animals. Pet shops can sell certain animals to licensed people, including:

• reptiles
• ferrets
• birds
• axolotls
• frogs.

Under the Fisheries Act 2000, pet shops must also get a licence to export or import live fish.

Apply for licences

A licence to keep a non-exempt animal is valid for 3 years.

The application process considers your suitability and the laws for keeping non-exempt animals.

You must apply for a licence, or update your licence, before you get an animal not listed on an existing licence you have.

To add a new species to an existing licence, you must submit a new application. There is no extra fee for this.

You’ll receive a response within 28 days of submitting an application.

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