How many pets am I able to have?
Requirement for approval to keep animals (up to four dogs or four cats)
Problem Animals
Working Dogs
Horse
Poultry
Rooster
Donkey, Cow, Bull, Camel, Deer, Sheep, Goat, llama or Pig
Other animals/species

Council has local laws outlining the number of animals allowed to be kept, conditions in which they are to be kept and fencing requirements for specific species.

Refer to Subordinate Local Law No. 2 (Animal Management) 2011 for information in relation to:

• Minimum standards for keeping animals generally - Schedule 4 – section 8(1)
• Minimum standards for keeping particular animals - Schedule 5 – section 8(2)
• Minimum standards of fencing for animals - Schedule 8 – section 13.

How many pets am I able to have?

Below are excerpts from the local law, for most common categories of animals, which outlines the number of animals/species allowed to reside on an allotment.

Please refer to Subordinate Local Law No. 2 (Animal Management) 2011 for other animals/species.

Number of allowed dogs

The number of dogs you can keep on your property depends on the size of your property and the location in which your property is situated.

The number of dogs, over three months of age, allowed are:

• One dog on a multi-residential premises (unit, duplex, townhouse, apartment)
• Two dogs on an allotment in a designated town area 
• Four dogs on an allotment in a designated town area with approval OR with an allotment size over 10,000m2
• Over four dogs on an allotment classed as rural.

Number of allowable cats

• Two cats on an allotment in designated town area
• Four cats on an allotment in a designated town area with approval.

Requirement for approval to keep animals (up to four dogs or four cats)

Two dogs and/or two cats can be kept on an allotment in a designated town area. Approval is required for the keeping of more than two dogs or cats in a designated town area. 

A Keeping More Than Allowable application is required to be lodged for Council to assess along with all relevant documentation and non-refundable application fee. Approval cannot be given for more than four dogs or more than four cats (over the age of three months) in a designated town area.

Under Council’s Local Laws, only one dog is allowed to be kept on premises that are considered multi-residential (i.e. residential units). If you wish to have two dogs, you are required to complete and submit with payment, a Keeping More Than Allowable application with Council for assessment. Approval will not be given for the keeping of more than two dogs (three and more dogs) in a multi-residential premises.

If an application has been approved to keep four dogs, two cats are still able to be kept on the allotment, and vice versa.

Frequently Asked Questions

Problem Animals

For more information on:

• Noise from animals
• Roaming animals
• Dogs off leash
• Excessive numbers of animals being kept on a property.

Please refer to our Problem Animals information.

Working Dogs

Registration is compulsory for all dogs and cats however exemptions apply for working dogs.

Working dog by assessment ONLY may qualify for free registration. Under the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008, working dogs may be exempt from mandatory microchipping. You may also be exempt from microchipping if you are able to supply Council with a Veterinary Certificate indicating that your pet’s health may be compromised if microchipped.  You may be eligible to qualify your dog as a working dog in accordance with the Animal Management Act (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 and Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Regulation 2009, if you answer yes to the questions below:

1. Are you a primary producer or employed by a primary producer? A ‘primary producer’ is a person primarily engaged in the occupation of a dairy farmer, wheat, cane or fruit grower, grazier or farmer, etc. This does not include hunting or pigging dogs.
2. Do you live on rural land? Being zoned Rural Land does not qualify you under the Act. Rural land for the purpose of the legislation means your land is used for grazing or cultivating on a commercial basis.

If you believe your animal is classified as a working dog, please complete Council’s Working Dog - Animal Registration Form and submit along with all supporting documents. 

Officers will access and determine if you qualify for registration exemption. If you are not approved for registration exemption, you will be required to pay annual animal registrations and may be required to microchip your animal.

Horse

• No horses are allowed to be kept on an allotment with an area less than 4000m2
• One horse can be kept on an allotment with an area between 4000m2 and 6000m2
• Two horses can be kept on an allotment with an area between 6001m2 and 10,000m2
• Four horses can be kept on an allotment with an area between 10,001m2 and 20,000m2
• Six horses can be kept on an allotment with an area between 20,001m2 and 40,000m2.

Poultry

Including chickens, pheasants, partridge, quail, dove and pigeons (excluding racing pigeons)

• Six can be kept on an allotment with an area from 0m2 to 1500m2
• Ten can be kept on an allotment with an area between 1500m2 and 4000m2.

Rooster

A rooster can not be kept in a designated town area.

Donkey, Cow, Bull, Camel, Deer, Sheep, Goat, llama or Pig

• No animals can be kept on an allotment with an area less than 10,000m2
• Four animals can be kept on an allotment with an area between 10,000m2 and 20,000m2.
• Six animals can be kept on an allotment with an area between 20,001m2 and 40,000m2.

Other animals/species

Refer to Subordinate Local Law No. 2 (Animal Management) 2011 for other animals/species.

Return to top