Biodiversity Conservation Licence (Bird Keeper) - New South Wales

Description

You may require this licence if you intend to keep a native bird as a pet. You may keep a native bird as a pet under a Companion, B1 and / or B2 class licence. The class of licence depends on the number and species of birds you intend to keep.

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

For more than one bird, you will require:

  • Native Animal Keeper Licence, B1 Basic Bird - This licence allows you to keep more than one bird that has been bred in captivity as a pet. This licence allows you to add another class of animal in addition to a bird. For example, you may also keep a frog and another kind of native animal as a pet. Birds covered by this licence have basic keeping requirements and are readily available from a licensed pet shop or breeder.
  • Advanced (B2) Bird Licence - This licence allows you to keep birds that may be rare and are more difficult to keep than Companion or B1 class birds. These birds are not traded by pet shops and can only be obtained from specialist bird breeders.

Please consult the Contact Officer for more information.

Service type

Licence

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

Exemptions

There are forty-one native bird species you can keep without a licence. You also don't need a licence to keep exotic (non-native) bird species.

Eligibility requirements

To keep one Companion class bird, you must be aged 16 years and over or the parent or guardian of children under 16.

To keep more than one Companion or B1 class bird 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.

To keep a B2 class bird you must:

  • be aged 18 years or over
  • have held a Companion or Basic Bird Class 1 (B1) licence for at least 2 years
  • birds kept under an advanced (B2) licence must be from the same group (species) as those you've kept under a Companion or B1 licence.

Please consult the Contact Officer for more information regarding eligibility requirements.

Ongoing eligibility requirements

All bird keepers must comply with the Code of Practice for the Keeping and Trading of Birds.

For B1 and B2 birds 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.

Please consult with the Contact Officer for information on any eligibility requirements.

Duration

A licence for one bird lasts 5 years. A licence for more than one bird lasts 2 years.

Fees

Fees Details for this service in table format.

Task Type Business Structure Amount Description
Apply Application All $50.00

One bird.
Apply Application All $63.00

More than one bird: fee per class for two year licence.
Vary Variation All $120.00

Advanced Native Animal Keeper Licence: fee per class for two year upgrade.

Act(s) name

Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 New South Wales

Regulation(s) name

Biodiversity Conservation Regulation 2017 New South Wales

Approval time

21 working days

Additional information

You are not allowed to take native birds or release unwanted birds from the wild.

Administering agency

Department of Planning, Industry and Environment

Office of Environment and Heritage

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.

Please use these contact details for help or more information:

Enquiries, Wildlife Licensing and Management Unit

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Office of Environment and Heritage

Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
Mailing address: PO BOX 1967, Hurstville, New South Wales, 1481
Phone: 02 9585 6406
Fax: 02 9585 6401
Email: Wildlife.licensing@environment.nsw.gov.au