The City of Stonnington has moved to a new online service system. There may be processing delays during the transition period.
A domestic animal business can be for a bird, cat, dog, ferret, fish, guinea pig, hermit crab, mouse, poultry, rabbit, rat, reptile, spider or turtle.
You need a domestic animal business permit to:
- open a business that buys, sells, trains or boards domestic animals
- breed cats or dogs to sell, regardless of whether you make a profit
- have three or more fertile female cats or dogs and you are not a member of an 'applicable organisation', as defined by Agriculture Victoria.
Businesses that require a domestic animal business permit include:
- for-profit dog training establishments
- pet shops in permanent locations, open at least five days per week
- shelters, pounds or welfare organisations such as the RSPCA or Lost Dogs' Home
- for-profit, overnight, day-care or homecare boarding premises for cats or dogs.
You do not need to register if you are a member of an 'applicable organisation' and have less than 10 fertile female cats and dogs in total.
How to apply
Log in to the platform to apply. If you don’t have an account, you can sign up. Find out more about our online self-service platform.
Once logged in:
- select ‘All applications and permits' under Apply for something
- find ‘Operate a domestic animal business’ and select ‘Start’
- follow the prompts.
Apply for a domestic animal business permit
You can track the progress of your applications anytime through the platform.
Animal welfare and compliance
As a domestic animal-related business, you must comply with Victorian codes of practice. We will inspect your business before opening and then every year to ensure you're compliant and providing good care for animals.
For more information on your responsibilities, check the Animal Welfare Victoria website.