Keep and sell native animal or egg permits
You can keep and sell most species of native animals or native animal eggs in South Australia, but you are likely to need a permit. Keep in mind that to ‘sell’ an animal includes to gift or give it away. This page will help you find out if you need a permit and which permit you need to get.
For important information on the knowledge and skills you need before applying for a permit, see Keeping native animals.
Native animal keeping categories
Native animals or eggs are grouped into four keeping categories: Basic, Specialist, Exempt and Unprotected. Animals listed in the first three categories are protected animals and must have been:
- bred in captivity by a permit holder; or
- imported from interstate under a protected animals import permit; or
- sourced through a take from the wild permit.
Whether you require a permit to keep and sell protected animals is determined by the native animal keeping category your animal is in.
There are certain species that are not allowed to be kept under a private permit in South Australia, such as koalas or saltwater crocodiles. See PIRSA Biosecurity for restrictions on keeping dingoes in South Australia.
Find out your keeping category by searching this list by common name or species name.
How to know if you need a permit
Once you have found out which keeping category your native animal or eggs are in, find out if you need a permit by the number of animals and what you want to do with them.
Select your keeping category
| How many animals? | What do you want to do with the animal? | Is a permit required? |
1 Basic animal | Keep | No, you don’t need a permit to keep one Basic animal. |
| 1 Basic animal | Sell or give away | Yes, you do need a permit to sell or give away one Basic animal. |
| 2 or more Basic animals | Keep | Yes, you do need a permit to keep two or more Basic animals. |
| 2 or more Basic animals | Sell or give away | Yes, you do need a permit to sell or give away two or more Basic animals. |
| How many animals? | What do you want to do with the animal? | Is a permit required? |
| 1 or more Specialist animals | Keep | Yes, you do need a permit to keep any Specialist animal. |
| 1 or more Specialist animals | Sell or give away | Yes, you do need a permit to sell or give away any Specialist animal. |
| How many animals? | What do you want to do with the animal? | Is a permit required? |
| 1 or more Exempt animals | Keep | No, you don’t need a permit to keep any Exempt animal. |
| 1 or more Exempt animals | Sell or give away | No, you don’t need a permit to sell or give away any Exempt animal. |
*Important: Whilst Exempt animals do not require a permit to keep and sell, Exempt animals still require wildlife permits for import, export, rescue or to be taken from the wild.
| How many animals? | What do you want to do with the animal? | Is a permit required? |
| 1 or more Unprotected animals | Keep | No, you don’t need a permit to keep any Unprotected animal*. |
| 1 or more Unprotected animals | Sell or give away | No, you don’t need a permit to sell or give away any Unprotected animal*. |
*Dingoes:see PIRSA Biosecurity for restrictions on keeping dingoes in South Australia.
Permit types
The type of permit you need depends on why you want to keep or sell the native animals or eggs. Find information about the permit you need to apply for by selecting your purpose below.
Select your keeping purpose
You will need a Permit to Keep and Sell Protected Animals (Hobbyist/Recreational) if you:
- want to keep, sell or breed a native animal as a pet or hobby; or
- already own a native animal and you would like to sell or give it away; or
- have been gifted a native animal.
Key permit information
- Required for two or more Basic and any number of Specialist category native animals
- Permit is issued per financial year and is available for 1, 3 or 5 years
- Breeding is permitted
- Purchased or gifted animals must be kept for 6 months before selling or giving away
- Permit is for private use, not commercial dealing of protected species
- A Basic Permit allows for any animal on the Basic category species list
- A Specialist Permit allows only the Specialist category species or group that is listed on the permit, any Basic animals may also be kept on a Specialist permit
- Record keeping is required
- Annual reporting is required
- You may apply to add Specialist species or groups to an existing permit
- You may apply to add a site (premises) where the animals are being held to an existing permit
- An additional Import or Export Permit may be required
- Notify change of address if you relocate with your native animals.
Application forms:
- Apply for a Basic Hobbyist/Recreational Permit (online)
- Apply for a Specialist Hobbyist/Recreational Permit(online)
- Apply for a Permit to Sell a Protected Animal (online) – to sell or gift one Basic animal
- Apply to Add a species or group to your permit (PDF form)
- Apply to Add a premises to your permit (PDF form)
Application processing times:
- allow at least 2 weeks for Basic animal/egg applications
- allow at least 6 weeks for Specialist animal/egg applications
Please note: processing times are a guide and may take longer for complex or incomplete applications, during peak demand periods or if a site inspection is required to complete the assessment.
See below for more information on fees, assessment criteria and permit conditions.
If you want to keep and commercially sell native animals, you will need a Permit to Keep and Sell Protected Animals (Fauna Dealer).
Key permit information
- Required for Basic and Specialist category native animals
- Permit is issued per financial year and is available for 1, 3 or 5 years
- Breeding is permitted
- To sell or give away animals they must have been in the permit holders possession for at least 7 days
- A Basic Permit allows for any animal on the Basic category species list
- A Specialist Permit allows only the Specialist category species or group that is listed on the permit, any Basic animals may also be kept on a Specialist permit
- Record keeping is required
- Quarterly reporting is required
- You may apply to add Specialist species or groups to an existing permit
- You may apply to add a site (premises) where the animals are being held to an existing permit
- An additional Import or Export Permit may be required.
Application forms:
- Apply for a Basic Fauna Dealer Permit (online)
- Apply for a Specialist Fauna Dealer Permit (online)
- Apply to Add a species or group to your permit (PDF form)
- Apply to Add a premises to your permit (PDF form)
Application processing time: allow at least 8 weeks
Please note: processing times are a guide and may take longer for complex or incomplete applications, during peak demand periods or if a site inspection is required to complete the assessment.
See below for more information on fees, assessment criteria and permit conditions.
If you want to keep and display native animals in a zoo or wildlife park, or with a mobile exhibit for education or entertainment purposes, you/your commercial business will need a Wildlife Displayer Permit or a Mobile Wildlife Educator/Demonstrator Permit.
Key permit information
- Required for Basic and Specialist category native animals
- Permit is issued per financial year and is available for 1, 3 or 5 years
- Breeding is permitted
- Fixed location and mobile permits available
- To sell or give away animals they must have been in the permit holders possession for at least 6 months
- A permit allows for any Basic category species
- A permit only allows the Specialist category species or group listed on the permit
- Record keeping is required
- Annual reporting is required
- You may apply to add Specialist species or groups to an existing permit
- You may apply to add a site (premises) where the animals are being held to an existing permit
- An additional Import or Export Permit may be required.
Application forms:
- Apply for a Wildlife Displayer Permit (online)
- Apply for a Mobile Wildlife Educator/Demonstrator Permit(online)
- Apply to Add a species or group to your permit (PDF form)
- Apply to Add a premises to your permit (PDF form)
Application processing time: allow at least 8 weeks
Please note: processing times are a guide and may take longer for complex or incomplete applications, during peak demand periods or if a site inspection is required to complete the assessment.
See below for more information on fees, assessment criteria and permit conditions.
If you want to keep a native animal to use for scientific purposes including research, or for purposes related to the production of biological products such as harvesting snake venom, you will need to apply for a Permit to Keep and Sell Protected Animals (Scientific/Biological Products).
Key permit information
- Required for Basic and Specialist category native animals
- Permit is issued per financial year and is available for 1, 3 or 5 years
- Available for private or commercial keepers
- Breeding is permitted
- To sell or give away animals they must have been in the permit holders possession for at least 6 months
- A permit only allows for the native animal species or group of species listed on the permit
- Record keeping is required
- Annual reporting is required
- Where research is being carried out on native animals, additional permits, licenses and approvals are required, including for species in the Exempt native animal keeping category, see information on Using animals for research and teaching
- You may apply to add species or group to an existing permit
- You may apply to add a site (premises) where the animals are being held to an existing permit.
Application forms:
- Apply for a Scientific/Biological Products Permit(online)
- Apply to Add a species or group to your permit (PDF form)
- Apply to Add a premises to your permit (PDF form)
Application processing time: allow at least 8 weeks
Please note: processing times are a guide and may take longer for complex or incomplete applications, during peak demand periods or if a site inspection is required to complete the assessment.
See below for more information on fees, assessment criteria and permit conditions.
Fees
See the current wildlife permit fees by permit type.
Fees apply to:
- new applications
- reapplications upon permit expiry
- applications to add a species or group to your permit
- applications to add additional premises to your permit
- reapplications for additional premises (annual fee).
Assessment criteria
Permit applications are assessed with consideration to the following:
- how you will keep and care for the native animals
- Specialist category native animal applications require demonstration of appropriate knowledge, skills, training, certifications, site and facilities (a site visit may be required)
- if you already hold the animals, proof of purchase or a declaration explaining why you can’t provide this information is required
- evidence of current public liability insurance (commercial applicants)
- national police clearance (commercial applicants)
- a parent/guardian declaration (if under the age of 18)
- applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a permit.
Permit conditions
Conditions on a permit may include, but are not limited to:
- Permit holders must provide protected animals with suitable enclosures, water, food, environmental enrichment and when required, treatment and care by a veterinarian.
- Access and handling of protected animals may only occur by the permit holder or competent persons acting with the authority of the permit holder.
- For displayer or demonstrator permits, protected animals must be kept and handled in a manner that minimises risk to the welfare of the animal or to any person.
- For displayer, demonstrator or dealer permits, protected animals on display to the public must be accompanied by evidence of a permit.
- Dangerous protected animals may only be accessed and handled by the permit holder or persons who possess sufficient demonstrable knowledge, experience and competency in the handling of those protected animals.
- Appropriate PPE must be worn where relevant for the species
- Required records (electronic or hard copy) must be kept at the permitted location (premises) where the protected animal/s are kept and be readily accessible to produce to a warden upon request.
- Required permit returns must be supplied in line with relevant regulations.
- Permit holders must not sell or give away protected animals to someone without an appropriate permit or receive protected animals without holding the required permit.
- Permit holders must not advertise protected animals for sale without the permit number listed in the advertisement.
- Permit holders must not sell or give away protected animals that have been in their possession for less than the specified time on the permit unless written approval has been received.
- Permit holders may only sell protected animals from the premises listed on their permit.
Contact us
If you need more information about permits, please contact the Fauna Permits Unit.
