To keep more animals than allowed on your property, you must apply for an Excess Animal Permit.
There is a maximum number of animals you can keep without a permit. The number depends on the type of animal and dwelling. If you want to keep more animals than this, you must apply for an Excess Animal Permit.
| Animal type | Number of animals allowed without a permit in private single dwelling | Number of animals allowed without a permit in private multi-residential dwelling |
|---|---|---|
| Dogs (aged over 3 months) | 2 | 1 |
| Cats (aged over 3 months) | 2 | 2 |
| Ferrets | 2 | 0 |
| Rabbits, guinea pigs and mice | 5 | 2 |
| Farm animals | 0 | 0 |
| Roosters, pea fowl or guinea fowl | 0 | 0 |
| Chickens and pheasants | 6 | 0 |
| Turkeys, ducks and geese | 2 | 0 |
| Poultry (other than those specified above) | 4 | 0 |
| Domestic birds (caged, non-poultry) | 20 | 5 |
Exceptions
You do not need an Excess Animal Permit if any of these 3 conditions apply:
- You live in a multi-residential dwelling and got your animals before 20 December 2019.
- You already have a Planning Permit for animal boarding or breeding.
- You’re caring for someone else’s animals for up to 14 days.
Apply for an Excess Animal Permit
You may apply for more than one animal. With your application, you’ll need to provide:
- details of sanitation, shelter and food storage for the animals
- details or any structures you’ve built or plan to build to house them
- a photo of each animal
- proof that dogs and cats have been desexed and microchipped
- a diagram showing your property has enough space to house the animals and they are not located too close to your neighbours to be noisy or a nuisance.
Apply for an Excess Animal Permit using a hard copy form.
What happens after you apply?
Once your application is submitted, an Animal Management Officer from Council will inspect your property. They’ll check your pets, their shelter, food storage, and other important details to make sure everything matches what you’ve included in your application.
We'll tell your neighbours about your application, so they have an opportunity to comment.
After reviewing your application and any feedback from your neighbours, we’ll make a decision and get in touch to let you know the outcome.
Non-domestic animals
If you want to keep non-domestic animals (like roosters, farm animals or livestock), you must put your request in writing to our Civic Services department and we'll respond within 10 days. Refer to Non-domestic animals KBA.
Fees
The fee for an Excess Animal Permit is $133.50 per application. You can apply for multiple animals in one application.
We must receive payment before we start assessing your application. The application fee won't be refunded if your application is unsuccessful.
Download application form
More information
For further information please contact us on (03) 9278 4444 or email [email protected]