If you want to keep poultry (including chickens, turkey and geese) on your property, and you are not an exempt commercial business, you must comply with the following rules as set out in our Local Laws.
If your property is in an urban zone and measures less than 2,000 m2, you must keep poultry in a bird enclosure.
No more than 2
- drakes
- ducks
- turkeys
- geese.
No more than 10 head of poultry unless you have a permit
One head of poultry equals:
- 1 chicken
- 3 pigeons
- 3 quail
- 1 pigeon and 2 quail
- 2 pigeons and 1 quail.
One bird for every 0.5 m2 of floor area in your bird enclosure
The only exception is where you have an Excess Animal Permit.
No roosters unless you have consent from us
Get consent by emailing us at animal.management@whittlesea.vic.gov.au or phoning 03 9217 2170.
Get a permit to keep multiple animals
Apply for an excess animal permit
Every bird enclosure on any premises must:
- not be higher than 2.4 m
- be at least 3m from the boundary of any adjoining premises
- be roofed and free of vermin.
If your bird enclosure does not meet these criteria, you can receive an on-the-spot fine of $200. You may also have to pay a court-imposed penalty of up to $2,000.
If you keep any birds on your property, you must:
- provide an enclosure that is well protected from the elements and well ventilated
- ensure the enclosure has predator barriers including underneath the enclosure
- provide clean drinking water at all times
- ensure any waste or other matter is not left to become offensive or dangerous to health
- remove any matter that is likely to attract or harbour rodents or other vermin immediately
- dispose of any dead or diseased bird.
You must store bird food in a vermin-proof container.
If you find any injured birds or wildlife, you can call the 24-hour wildlife emergency hotline on 03 8400 7300.
For more information, visit the Wildlife Victoria website.