Step 1: Understand the Regulatory Landscape
Dog daycares in NSW fall under several regulatory frameworks:
Local council controls:
State government controls:
Federal government controls:
In NSW the animal welfare standards sit under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 as codes of practice. If your daycare also boards dogs overnight, Animal Welfare Code of Practice No 5 applies to dogs and cats in animal boarding establishments, and commercial boarding services must comply with it (dpird.nsw.gov.au). If you offer grooming or bathing, Code of Practice No 8 sets the standards for pet grooming establishments (dpird.nsw.gov.au).
Most of your compliance effort will be with your local council. Requirements vary significantly by council area, so your first step is contacting them directly.
Step 2: Check Zoning and Council Requirements
Not every location is suitable for a dog daycare. Councils control this through zoning.
Generally suitable zones:
Industrial (light industrial often works)
Commercial (with some restrictions)
Mixed-use
Rural (fewer neighbours to complain)
Usually unsuitable zones:
What to ask your council:
Is dog daycare permitted in this zone?
What type of approval is required? (DA vs CDC)
Are there specific conditions for animal-related businesses?
What are the noise restrictions?
Are there parking requirements?
Development Application (DA) vs Complying Development Certificate (CDC)
NSW has nine planning approval pathways, and the size and scale of your development decides which one applies (planning.nsw.gov.au).
DA (Development Application):
More complex, longer process
Required for most commercial pet care operations
Lodged with the consent authority, usually your local council
Involves public notification for some categories, so neighbours can object
CDC (Complying Development Certificate):
A combined planning and construction approval, fast-tracked
Only available if your proposal meets the standards in the Codes SEPP
Determined by your council or an accredited certifier, with no full DA needed
Fast-tracked complying development approvals can be issued in
as little as 20 days (
planning.nsw.gov.au)
Most dog daycares require a full DA. The process is longer but gives you more flexibility in your setup.
Application fees are set by each council and scale with the estimated cost of works, so ask your council for its current fee schedule rather than budgeting off a figure you read online.
Step 3: Insurance Requirements
Public liability insurance is essential. If a dog injures someone or damages property, you need to be covered.
Minimum recommended coverage:
| Insurance Type | Minimum Cover | Typical Annual Cost |
|---|
| Public Liability | $10-20 million | $800-2,000 |
| Professional Indemnity | $2-5 million | $500-1,500 |
| Business Insurance | Property value | $1,000-3,000 |
| Workers Compensation | As required | Varies by wages |
Specialist pet business insurers understand the risks better than general insurers. Get quotes from:
Make sure your policy specifically covers dog-on-dog incidents, not just dog-on-human.
Step 4: Facility Requirements
Your facility needs to meet specific standards for animal welfare and safety.
Outdoor space requirements:
Minimum 4-5 sqm per dog (check council specifics)
Secure fencing (minimum 1.8m, dig-proof base)
Shade and shelter
Fresh water access
Secure double-gate entry (prevents escapes)
Indoor space requirements:
Adequate ventilation
Easy-to-clean flooring (epoxy, concrete, commercial vinyl)
Separation areas for rest periods
Temperature control (heating/cooling)
Fire safety compliance
Sanitation requirements:
Step 5: Business Registration
Before you start operating, you need the basics in place:
ABN (Australian Business Number)
Business Name Registration
GST Registration
Required once your GST turnover is
$75,000 or more, and you have
21 days to register from the point you exceed it (
ato.gov.au)
Register through the ATO
Local council business registration
Step 6: Staffing and Workplace Compliance
If you're employing staff, Fair Work requirements apply:
Check your award first. There is no "pet industry award". Fair Work's Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award (MA000118) explicitly does not cover private boarding kennels, dog grooming businesses or dog walkers (fairwork.gov.au). The Miscellaneous Award (MA000104) covers pet groomers working for a pet grooming business, and animal attendants working for pet boarding businesses, where no industry or occupation award has a classification for them (library.fairwork.gov.au). Confirm your own staff's classification with Fair Work before you set a rate.
Key obligations:
Staff-to-dog ratios:
Industry standard: 1 staff per 10-15 dogs
More for puppy groups or high-energy dogs
Consider backup arrangements for breaks
Step 7: Operational Policies
Before opening, establish clear policies for:
Dog intake:
Vaccination requirements (C3/C5, Kennel Cough)
Desexing requirements (age-dependent)
Behaviour assessment process
Trial day procedures
Health and safety:
Emergency procedures
Incident reporting
First aid protocols
Veterinary arrangements
Customer policies:
Booking and cancellation
Payment terms
Liability waivers
Communication procedures
How Petboost Helps
Petboost for daycares tracks vaccination status, stores customer documents, and enforces booking policies automatically. Dogs without current vaccinations can't be booked via self-service booking. Emergency contacts are always accessible in pet profiles.
The Realistic Timeline
Don't underestimate how long this takes:
| Stage | Typical Duration |
|---|
| Finding a suitable location | 1-3 months |
| Council pre-lodgement meeting | 2-4 weeks |
| Preparing DA submission | 2-4 weeks |
| DA assessment | 3-6 months |
| Fit-out and facility setup | 1-3 months |
| Staff hiring and training | 1-2 months |
| Soft launch and testing | 2-4 weeks |
Total: 9-18 months from decision to opening
This sounds long, but cutting corners on compliance creates problems later. Do it right from the start.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Skipping the pre-lodgement meeting
Councils offer free or cheap pre-lodgement meetings. They tell you exactly what they need. Use them.
Mistake 2: Underestimating noise concerns
Neighbours can derail your DA with noise objections. Address this proactively with soundproofing, setbacks, and operating hours.
Mistake 3: Insufficient insurance
Don't cheap out. One serious incident without proper coverage can end your business.
Mistake 4: Ignoring the business basics
Get your pricing, systems, and policies right before you open. It's much harder to fix these later.
The Bottom Line
Starting a dog daycare in NSW requires significant planning and compliance. But many successful daycares operate across the state. With proper preparation, yours can too.
The key is starting early, working closely with your council, and getting professional advice where needed.
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Have questions? Book a demo or see our daycare FAQs.
This article is general information for Australian pet business owners. It is not legal, accounting, tax or financial advice. Rates, thresholds and fees change, commonly on 1 July, and council fees are set annually with each council's budget. Check the linked primary source, or your accountant or solicitor, before you act on anything here.
Sources
Australian Taxation Office, Registering for GST:
ato.gov.auAustralian Taxation Office, How to work out and pay super under Payday Super:
ato.gov.auAustralian Taxation Office, Payment deadlines for Payday Super:
ato.gov.aubusiness.gov.au, Register for an Australian Business Number (ABN):
business.gov.auFair Work Ombudsman, Animal and Veterinary Services Award MA000118 summary:
fairwork.gov.auNSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, Planning approval pathways:
planning.nsw.gov.auNSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, Complying development:
planning.nsw.gov.auNSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Animal Welfare Code of Practice No 5 - Dogs and cats in animal boarding establishments:
dpird.nsw.gov.auNSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Animal Welfare Code of Practice No 8 - Animals in pet grooming establishments:
dpird.nsw.gov.au
