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. Residents are not allowed to have large/noisy birds or roosters.
Type of animal
|
Maximum allowed |
| |
Flats, apartments, units or townhouses |
Land less than 4,000 sqm |
Land between 4,000 and 20,000 sqm |
Land 20,000 sqm or greater |
| Dogs |
2 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
| Cats |
2 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
| Poultry |
Not allowed |
12 |
24 |
Not regulated by Local Law |
| Pigs |
Not allowed |
Not allowed |
Not allowed |
Not regulated by Local Law |
| Large and/or noisy birds (including roosters) |
Not allowed |
Not allowed |
5 |
Not regulated by Local Law |
| Pigeons |
Not allowed |
12 pairs |
20 pairs |
Not regulated by Local Law |
| Domestic birds (caged, excluding large and/or noisy birds) |
6 |
30 |
Not regulated by Local Law |
Not regulated by Local Law |
| Domestic rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs and mice |
2 |
4 |
Not regulated by Local Law |
Not regulated by Local Law |
| Horses, donkeys, camels |
Not allowed |
Not allowed |
1 |
Not regulated by Local Law |
| Cattle |
Not allowed |
Not allowed |
1 |
Not regulated by Local Law |
| Sheep, goats and alpacas |
Not allowed |
Not allowed |
2 |
Not regulated by Local Law |
| Large introduced animal (e.g. deer, elks) |
Not allowed |
Not allowed |
Not allowed |
Not allowed |
Get a permit to keep multiple animals
Apply for an excess animal permit
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.