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Biodiversity Conservation Licence (Reptile Keeper) - New South Wales

Description

You may need this licence if you intend to keep a native reptile as a pet. You may keep native reptiles as pets under a Companion, R1 and / or R2 class licence. The class of licence depends on the number and species of reptiles you intend to keep.

For one reptile, you will require a Companion Animal Keeper Licence that allows you to keep one native reptile that has been bred by a licensed pet shop or breeder in captivity. For a list of what reptiles can be kept please see the attached document.

For more than one reptile, you will require:

  • Native Animal Keeper Licence (R1) Basic Reptile - This licence allows you to keep more than one reptile that has been bred in captivity as a pet. This licence allows you to add another class of animal in addition to a reptile. For example, you may also keep a snake and another kind of native animal as a pet. Reptiles covered by this licence have basic keeping requirements and are readily available from a licensed pet shop or breeder.
  • Advanced (R2) Reptile Licence - This licence allows you to keep reptiles that may be rare and are more difficult to keep than Companion or R1 class reptiles. These reptiles are not traded by pet shops and can only be obtained from specialist reptile breeders.

Service type

Licence

A licence defines the need to obtain recognition / certification and registration to undertake a certain business activity.

Eligibility requirements

For one reptile you must be aged 16 years and over or the parent or guardian of children under 16. For more than one R1 reptile you must:

  • be aged 16 years and over or the parent or guardian of children under 16
  • keep an electronic record book or paper record about your animal(s).

For more than one R2 reptile you must:

  • be aged 18 years or over
  • have held a Companion or Basic Reptile Class 1 (R1) licence for at least 2 years
  • reptiles kept under an advanced (R2) licence must be from the same group (species) as those you've kept under a Companion or R1 licence.

You will need to demonstrate your experience and training if you're planning to keep venomous reptiles.

Ongoing eligibility requirements

All reptile keepers must comply with the Code of Practice for the Keeping and Trading of Reptiles for R1 and R2 reptiles you must:

  • keep an electronic record book or paper record about your animal/s
  • record when you buy your bird(s) (including the supplier's details, your details and date of purchase), plus all births, deaths and disposals
  • lodge records with the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) in April each year.

Snake owners should comply with the Hygiene Protocol for the Control of Disease in Captive Snakes.

Duration

Up to five years

Fees

Fees Details for this service in table format.

Task Type Business Structure Amount Description
Apply Application All $50.00

Companion Animal Keeper Licence. Fees for 2023-24
Apply Application All $63.00

Native Animal Keeper Licence: fee per class for two years. Fees for 2023-24
Vary Application All $120.00

Advanced Native Animal Keeper Licence: fee per class for two year upgrade. Fees for 2023-24

Administering agency

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Environment and Heritage Group

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Contact details

Contact Email, Phone and Address Details for this service in simple two column table format, header then data.