About wildlife licensing

All native birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals (except the dingo) and some plants are protected in New South Wales by the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. For most activities involving native animals and plants, a biodiversity conservation licence is required.

To obtain a licence, you must apply to the department and your application will be assessed. If granted, you must follow the conditions of your licence which may include record keeping.

Please watch our informative video below on general licensing conditions.

If you keep a native animal, work with plants and animals in the wild, or deal with problem native animals, you might need a licence or need to follow a code of practice. This helps protect native plants and animals.

Before commencing an activity needing a licence, you must apply to the department. Some licences, like keeping a venomous snake, may need extra information like references and proof of your skills. The department uses this info to assess your application.

If granted a licence, you must read and understand your licence conditions, as not following them can lead to fines or licence cancellation. One common condition is to report your records to the department to ensure animals are not taken from the wild illegally.

We all value our unique biodiversity, so let's do our part to protect it.