Keeping animals at home

Keeping animals in urban areas requires consideration by the owners of the impact of animals, particularly noise and odour, to neighbours.

Animals must be kept in a manner which does not:

- Create unclean or unhealthy conditions for people or the animals

- Attract or provide a harbourage for vermin

- Create offensive noise or odours

- cause a drainage or dust nuisance

- Create waste disposal or pollution problems

- Create an unreasonable annoyance to neighbouring residents

- Cause nuisance due to proliferation of flies, lice, fleas or other pests and parasites

- Cause neighbouring residents to fear for safety.

Council recommends that the number of animals kept at a suburban property be limited to the following:

2 Dogs

2 Cats

15 Poultry - includes chickens, ducks, geese etc. Roosters are not recommended.

100 Pigeon - racing birds, 40 stock birds

50 Small birds - includes budgies, canaries, quails finches

2 Large birds - includes cockatoo and corella

1 Pet rat

10 Mice or guinea pigs

1 Sheep or goat. Billy goats are not recommended.

Suitable shelters are to be provided for all animals. Refer to the information below for specific requirements for keeping of restricted dogs.

Prior to constructing a larger shelter you will need to refer to Council's 'Development Control Plan - Exempt and Complying Development Policy' to check if you need approval for the structure on your property.

Keeping of Restricted Dogs

The Companion Animals Act 1998 classifies certain breeds of dog as 'restricted dogs'. There are strict conditions under which you are permitted to own and keep a restricted dog with penalties of on-the-spot-fines of $1320.00 if you are found in breach of any of the conditions.

The breeds include: Pit bull terriers, Japanese tosas, Argentinian fighting dogs and Brazillian fighting dogs. Refer to the brochure for further information.

Pets & Animals_ Restricted Breeds Brochure