All domestic animal businesses must apply to be registered with Council and comply with the appropriate mandatory Victorian Government Domestic Animal Business Codes of Practice.
Domestic animal businesses include:
- Breeding businesses (cats and/or dogs)
- Training facilities for dogs
- Pet shops
- Animal (welfare) shelters
- Dog or cat rearing premises
- Animal pounds either run by Council or a Council contractor
- Establishment boarding dogs or cats – overnight, doggy daycare and in-home care.
Depending on the Planning Zone of the property location you are considering, you may also require a Council Planning Permit.
Council's authorised Officers annually inspect all Domestic Animal Businesses to ensure compliance with the Codes of Practice.
Domestic Animal Business Registration
All domestic animal businesses in the City of Whitehorse are required to apply to be registered with Council. You can submit your application online and pay the required fee.
Council will make an inspection of the facilities prior to approving your registration.
Annual Registration fee is $292.00
Existing registrations will be sent a renewal form in early March and must be renewed by 10 April each year.
Registration Conditions and Condition Breaches
Registration Conditions
- The permit holder must ensure that all the permit conditions are complied with at all times.
- The applicant must have $20 million of public liability insurance for the permit period.
- The registration is not transferrable:
- Registrations are not to be photocopied and the copies used by someone not named on the registration
- Registrations are not to be leased, sold or given away
- No form of advertising of a registration for rent, lease, sale profit or other beneficial or fraudulent consideration of causing such an advertisement to be published is permitted.
- The registration is valid only for the stated location.
- The registration is valid only for the stated period.
- The manager and staff operating the domestic animal business are to comply with the Domestic Animals Act 1994, Domestic Animals Regulations 2015, Codes of Practice and the Whitehorse Community Local Law 2024 ( PDF 973.95KB) Part 6.
- The business premises are subject to inspections during business hours by an Authorised Council Officer.
- The registration document must be produced for an Authorised Council Officer on request.
- At the conclusion of the registration period a new application form must be submitted.
- The registered business will comply with all directions by a member of Victoria Police or AN Authorised Council Officer, including a direction that the business should not operate.
Registration Condition Breaches
If the registration holder breaches the registration conditions:
- The registration may be cancelled.
- Fines may be issued.
- Costs incurred by Council may be charged directly to the registration holder.
- Goods or equipment may be impounded.
- Future registration applications may be declined.
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