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Up to two dogs may be kept on a standard property and up to four dogs may be kept on a property 2,000m² or more without the need for a permit.

As a dog owner in Ipswich you need to:

  • Register and microchip your dog
  • Confine your dog to the property at all times
  • Keep your dog on a leash in public
  • Clean up after your dog when out in public
  • Desex your dog if you do not intend to breed.

Check out our series of responsible dog owner videos:

Registration

Registration helps lost pets be reunited with their owners. All dogs over the age of 12 weeks must be registered with council and issued a registration tag.

For all information relating to dog registration, including registering your dog, discounts and change of details, see Dog Registration.

Microchipping and desexing

Why should you microchip your dog?

  • All dogs must be microchipped before they are sold or given away, regardless of their age.
  • If your dog gets lost, details from the microchip can be used to reunite you faster. The Animal Management Centre has a microchip scanner and whenever possible will scan all impounded dogs for microchips to obtain owner identification.
  • Should your pet should get lost and be taken to the Animal Management Centre, it will be released for free, once only, if it is financially registered and wearing its current registration tag, is desexed and microchipped with up to date, contactable owner details.
  • A microchip provides a permanent form of ID for your pet. Microchips cannot be removed or fall off like the traditional collar and ID tag.
  • Microchipping (for cats and dogs over 12 weeks) is a state government requirement. Penalties can apply for non-compliance.

How to microchip your dog

Contact your local veterinarian to arrange for your dog to be microchipped.

Desexing

  • Whether you have a male or female dog, you should have it desexed if you do not intend breeding.
  • Desexed dogs are less likely to develop cancers, roam, participate in fights and be aggressive.
  • Ipswich City Council does not provide a desexing service for dogs - however, if you provide proof that your dog is desexed you will be eligible for discounted dog registration.

Keeping your pet in your yard

  • If your dog or cat gets out of your yard they are at significant risk of being injured, stolen or getting into fights with other animals, as well as becoming a nuisance to others and presenting a threat to community safety.
  • It is also a legal requirement to keep your pets securely in your yard – dogs and cats are not allowed to roam.
  • Fencing and/or enclosures must be suitable to keep your dog from escaping your property - browse through our step-by-step DIY tutorials and videos to learn practical, simple and affordable ways to build solutions that will keep your pet happily in your yard and give you maximum peace of mind.

Caring for your pet in an emergency

Permit types and requirements

You can keep up to two dogs on your property (less than 2,000m2) or four dogs (more than 2,000m2) without needing a permit. A puppy is considered a dog at three months of age.

No permit required

  • Keeping up to 2 dogs
  • Keeping up to 4 dogs on land 2,000m2 or more

Permit required

  • Keeping 3 or 4 dogs on land less than 2,000m2
  • Keeping 5 or more dogs
  • Keeping dogs for guarding or security purposes
  • Commercial Kennel Licence - keeping dogs for boarding, breeding and/or sale

Permit applications

  • Dog Permit Application Kit
  • If you are not the owner of the property, you must provide written approval from the owner for the keeping of animals, as per the permit application form
  • Keepers of any animals must comply with minimum standards set out in the Council’s Local Laws.

For more information on operating a kennel, visit Kennel, Cattery and Stable Licences.

Dogs prohibited in conservation areas

Dogs are prohibited at highly valued conservation areas including the following:

  • Flinders – Goolman Conservation Estate
  • White Rock – Spring Mountain Conservation Estate
  • Mt Grandchester Conservation Estate
  • Purga Nature Reserve
  • Kholo Enviroplan reserve
  • Sapling Pocket
  • Stirling Road Reserve; and
  • Kholo Gardens

Where can you enjoy outdoor time with your dog?

Dogs are allowed in most other parks and public places within Ipswich, including smaller local bushland reserves, as long as they are on a leash. Council also provides a number of off-leash dog parks and some reserves, so you can also let your pooch run free.

On-leash parks and reserves

To enjoy the great outdoors with your dog why not visit the following places with your dog on a leash:

Off-leash parks and reserves

Council provides a number of dedicated dog off-leash parks:

Things to remember when outdoors with your dog

  • At no time should your dog interfere with the enjoyment of other people or dogs using public areas.
  • Respect other’s space and keep your dog on a leash in public places.
  • Always socialise your dog while it’s on a leash to assess its behaviour around people and other dogs.
  • Never let your dog run up to or approach another dog without checking first to see if its ok. Just because your dog is friendly doesn’t mean other dogs will be.
  • Take a bag and pick up after your dog.
  • You are responsible for keeping your dog under effective control, this includes in off-leash areas where a person is still required to supervise and control their dog using voice command.
  • Having effective control of a dog includes being physically able to control the dog and to be holding the dog using a leash or similar restraining device or the dog is securely tethered to a fixed object and is under constant supervision.
  • As of 31 July 2024, amendments to the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 were introduced, including increased penalties with fines starting at $806 for not keeping a dog under effective control when in a public place.