Excess or other animals

Along with registering your dog or cat, you will need a Local Law Permit to own excess cats or dogs, or to own various other animals.

Excess pets

A permit to keep excess dogs and cats allows you to apply to keep more than the approved number of cats and dogs. For example, if you are moving to a residential property in Hepburn Shire with three cats, you would need to apply for a permit to register all three cats. See the table below for details.

Apply for an Excess Cats and Dogs Permit

Owning other animals

If you own pets or farm animals (other than dogs or cats) in the Shire, you need to meet some state and local government requirements. These requirements help to:

  • Keep your animals safe
  • Prevent your animals from being a nuisance to the community
  • Ensure public safety

Certain types of animals require a permit, as there are obligations that must be met – e.g. you must have sufficient space and provide appropriate care, including additional feed if needed, and adequate protection from the weather. See the table below for maximum numbers of pets and types allowed, as detailed in Hepburn Shire Council's Local Law No. 2.

Request a permit to keep other animals

Type of Animal

Max. no. allowed in a residential area having a land size under 2500sq metres

Max. no. allowed in a residential area having a land size between 2500 and 4000sq metres

Max. no. allowed in a residential area having land size between 4000sq metres and 2 hectares

Max. no. allowed in a non-residential area regardless of land size

Dogs

2

2

4

4

Cats

2

2

2

2

Pigeons

20

50

50

No permit required

Poultry

10

15

20

No permit required

Domestic birds

20

40

50

100

Large birds

2

5

5

10

Horses / donkeys

0

Permit required

2

No permit required

Cattle

0

4

2

No permit required

Sheep

Permit required

4

10

No permit required

Goats

Permit required

4

10

No permit required

Pigs

0

0

Permit required

No permit required

Other agricultural animals

0

Permit Required

Permit required

No permit required