Reptile keeper's licence

All lizards, snakes and turtles are protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act and it is against the law to take them from the wild. You can get a licence from the NPWS to keep captive-bred reptiles as pets.

The following webpages explain the very basic points about the law on keeping reptiles as pets in NSW. However, they are not a full description of the law.

Getting a reptile keeper's licence
Find out what sort of licence you'll need, and how much it will cost. Download licence application forms.

Buying and caring for reptiles
Once you have a licence, you can buy reptiles - but only from other licence holders. It's a good idea to join a herpetological society, to benefit from others' experience.

Hygiene protocol for the control of disease in captive snakes (PDF - 1.0MB)
A number of diseases of reptiles, particularly snakes, could pose a serious risk in Australia if they were able to spread from captive animals into the wild. This protocol aims to reduce this risk, and has practical guidelines for anyone involved in keeping reptiles.

Draft code of practice for the private keeping of reptiles
The draft code establishes a set of minimum care requirements that will help to ensure the welfare of reptiles held in captivity. You are invited to provide comments to the draft code.

More information
Contact the NPWS Wildlife Licensing Section if you have any further queries.