New laws governing the keeping of animals in a strata scheme started on 25 August 2021 and have been further updated in the strata legislation amendment bill 2023. Under the new laws, keeping an animal in a strata scheme can’t be prohibited unless the animal unreasonably interferes with another resident’s use and enjoyment of their lot or the common property.

However, you still need to apply for approval so that the strata committee can determine whether or not the animal unreasonably interferes with the use and enjoyment of the common property. Click the ‘Apply for approval now’ button above. Approval is dependent on your strata committee, however usually takes up to 14 days.

The laws were informed by public feedback received from the pets in strata survey. The survey was conducted earlier this year as part of the strata schemes statutory review.

The NSW Government has developed the Strata Schemes Management Amendment (Pets) Regulation 2021, which sets out circumstances in which keeping an animal causes an unreasonable interference.

We have also produced a report that sets out the public feedback received from the pets in strata survey and how the list of circumstances was developed.

Under the new laws, an owners corporation:

• can only refuse to allow an animal into the scheme if that animal unreasonably interferes with another resident’s use and enjoyment of their lot or the common property
• may still require residents to apply for approval from the owners corporation to keep an animal on their lot
• may still set reasonable conditions in their by-laws to manage the keeping of animals in the scheme. Strata by-laws that set a blanket ban on the keeping of any animals within a scheme are not valid.
• Strata residents cannot be charged a fee, bond or insurance by an owner’s corporation to keep an animal in their home

The laws also include a list of circumstances where an animal causes an unreasonable interference to residents in a scheme. The owners corporation can take steps to prohibit an animal that is being kept in the scheme if the animal causes a nuisance, hazard or unreasonable interference.

Visit the Fair Trading website for more information.

The new laws are available on the NSW Legislation website:

• section 137B of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015
• clause 36A of the Strata Schemes Management Regulation 2016.