There is a limit of how many animals you can have on your property, depending on the kind of property you live on. If you have more animals than the limit allows, and you are not a domestic animal business, you will need an excess animal permit.
Apply for an excess animal permit
When you will need a permit
The number of animals you can own without needing an excess animal permit depends on the kind of property you live in.
See the table to learn how many animals you can have on your property without needing a permit.
Number of animals allowed on different kinds of properties
| Flat, unit or townhouse | Residential property | Rural property | |
| Dogs | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Cats | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Both dogs and cats | 1 dog and 1 cat | 2 dogs and 2 cats OR 1 dog and 3 cats | 4 dogs and 4 cats |
| Rabbits, guinea pigs or ferrets | 2 (total) | 4 (total) | No limit |
| Chickens | 0 | 6 | No limit |
| Pigeons | 0 | 10 | No limit |
| Other small domestic birds | 3 | 10 | No limit |
If you have more animals than this, you will need to get an excess animal permit.
Limits on residential properties
If you live on a residential property (including freestanding houses, flats, units and townhouses), you will not be able to get an excess animal permit for:
- keeping roosters
- keeping poultry other than chickens (for example ducks or geese)
- keeping more than five cats or dogs.
The number of cats and dogs allowed on a residential property is set out in the Wyndham Planning Scheme.
How to apply for an excess animal permit
To get an excess animal permit, you will need to provide:
- details of all your animals, including registration numbers if they are dogs or cats
- a site plan of your property showing where your animals are kept and in what kind of structure.
Apply for an excess animal permit
Once you have submitted your application and paid the fee, we will:
- notify your neighbours and give them a chance to object
- contact you to arrange an inspection of your property.
When processing your application, we will take into account any issues you have had with animals on your property in the past, like complaints about barking dogs or roaming cats.
Conditions of your permit
There are several standard conditions that apply to all excess animal permits. This includes:
- requirements around cleanliness
- prevention of nuisance issues
- ensuring only animals approved under the permit are kept on the property.
Where necessary, an authorised officer may impose additional specific conditions to address individual circumstances or particular concerns associated with the permit application.