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Keeping extra animals and birds

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There are laws on how many animals and birds you can keep, including how and where you can keep them.

You need a special permit for keeping extra pets, animals and birds that must be renewed each year.

Keeping extra animals

Under Council’s Local Law there are limits to how many animals you can keep on your property based on its size.

You do not need to apply for a permit to keep additional animals if your property is over 4,000 square metres in size, however Planning Scheme controls may apply.

For properties that are under 4,000 square metres in size, the number of animals allowed on your property without an additional permit are listed below.

If you would like to keep more than this, you will need to apply for a permit to keep additional animals.

Animal type Number allowed without a permit

Dogs

 2 

Cats

 2

Poultry: 
Such as chickens, geese, peacocks, pheasants, turkeys, bantams, squabs, guinea fowl or any similar of any age excluding roosters.

 5

Roosters

 None

Small birds: 
Such as budgerigars, canaries, finches or other similar sized birds, excluding poultry.

 25

Large birds: 
Such as cockatoos or other bird of similar size of any age, excluding poultry or pigeons.

 5

Ferrets, guinea pigs, rabbits or rodents

 5

Livestock

 None

Other rules

  • Roosters are not permitted to be kept on any land unless permitted under an applicable Act or Planning Scheme.
  • Livestock are not permitted to be kept on any land less than 4,000 square metres unless permitted under an applicable Act or Planning Scheme.
  • Permits are valid for the number and type of animals specified on the permit.
  • You must renew your permit each year.

Apply for an additional animal permit

To apply for an additional animal permit, follow the steps below.

Expand all
Step 1: Before you apply

Guidelines

All cats and dogs over 3 months old must be microchipped and registered with Council.

If you already have cats and dogs living at your property, they must be registered with Council before you lodge an application to keep additional animals.

Register your pet online

If you have not yet purchased an additional cat or dog, please apply for the additional animal permit before making the purchase.

Further reading

Before applying, please read:

Step 2: Apply for the permit

You can apply to keep additional animals online.

Apply for an additional animal permit

Step 3: Consultation with your neighbours

Once your permit application is received, we will contact your neighbours to seek their feedback.

This gives your neighbours the opportunity to advise whether they have any concerns regarding your application.

This process takes approximately 3 weeks.

Step 4: Inspection by a Council officer

A Community Laws officer will attend your property as part of your permit application process.

During this inspection, the officer will:

We do this to protect the health and wellbeing of animals, limit inconvenience to neighbours and prevent stray animals.

Step 5: Permit decision

Permit conditions

When we decide whether to grant an additional animal permit, we may consider:

  • the area of the land
  • the zoning of the land
  • the reason for the application
  • the proximity to adjoining occupiers
  • the amenity (facilities) of the area
  • the type and number of animals to be kept at the location
  • the likely effect on adjoining properties/neighbours
  • the adequacy of the proposed accommodation
  • any membership by the applicant of any relevant authorised association or organisation
  • the age of the animals
  • the cleanliness of the area
  • any other matter relevant to the circumstances of the application.

Next steps

If your permit application is approved, we will email it to you.

If your permit application is not approved, the permit fee will be refunded to you (note the application fee is non-refundable).

Fees and charges

The fee for an additional animal permit is $295 (this includes a $188 non-refundable application fee and a $107 permit fee).

This fee is current from 1 July 2025 until 30 June 2026.

Amenity Local Law

The Amenity Local Law 2020 references keeping animals.

This protects the safety of the neighbourhood and the welfare of animals and pets. It covers:

  • numbers of animals that can live on a property
  • animal housing
  • the secure confinement of animals within the area.

Need help?

Contact us and we will get back to you.

Or call our Community Laws department on 9298 8000.

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