Keeping and Owning Multiple Pets

Owning multiple pets is a greater responsibility for any member of the community.

The Whitehorse Community Local Law 2024 ( PDF 973.95KB) S6.1 lists how many animals you can keep on your property without a permit. Limiting the number of pets on a property helps to ensure that your pets are kept in a healthy environment and that neighbours are not inconvenienced your pets.

Without a permit, the number of animals on one property at any time must not exceed the maximum number set out in the table below.

Type of Bird or Animal	Number	Conditions
Dogs	2	An additional dog can be kept where according to Council records, the dog is 10 years old or more
Cats	2	An additional cat can be kept where according to Council records, the cat is 10 years old or more
Rooster	0	A rooster is not permitted. Contact Council to discuss
Poultry (excluding roosters)	6	Poultry must be kept in a poultry house
Domestic Caged birds	20	Birds must be kept in appropriate housing
Pigeons	20	Pigeons must be kept in appropriate housing
Farm animals	0	A permit to keep farm animals can be applied for if the property is over 2000 sqm
Ferrets, Guinea Pigs, Rabbits	5
Rodents	6
Reptiles	5

Application Fee (Ex-GST)

Standard fee: $118.00
Concession* fee: $55.00

* Concession fees only apply to Pensioner card, War Widow Entitlement and TPI card holders. Health Care and Concession cards are not accepted. Proof must be provided.

Permit Application

Whitehorse City Council requires residents to pay a permit fee and apply for a permit to keep more than the specified number of pets including dogs and cats and other animals on their property. You can apply for a permit online.

NOTE: If you have excess animals without a valid permit, Council may issue you a fine.

Permit Conditions and Permit Breaches

Permit Conditions

The permit holder must ensure that all the permit conditions are complied with at all times.
The permit is not transferrable:
- Permits are not to be photocopied and the copies used by someone not named on the permit
- Permits are not to be leased, sold or given away
- No form of advertising of a permit for rent, lease, sale profit or other beneficial or fraudulent consideration of causing such an advertisement to be published is permitted.
The permit is only valid at the stated location.
The permit is only valid for the stated period.
The animals must be registered with Whitehorse City Council at all times.
The permit is only valid for the registered animals listed on the permit. Additional animals require a new permit application.
The animals are to be confined to the property at all times, (except when being exercised under effective control).
The keeping of the animals must not cause a noise or odour nuisance.
Faeces must be removed from the area as soon as possible where the animals are kept.
The animals shall be kept in a manner which complies with Whitehorse Community Local Law 2024 ( PDF 973.95KB), PART 6, Keeping of Animals.
The permit must be produced for an Authorised Council Officer on request.
At the conclusion of the permit period a new application form must be submitted.
The permit holder will comply with all directions by a member of Victoria Police or an Authorised Council Officer, including a direction that the excess animals be removed from that site.

Permit Condition Breaches

If the permit holder breaches the permit conditions:

The permit may be cancelled
Fines may be issued
Costs incurred by Council may be charged directly to the permit holder
Future permit applications may be declined.

Online Multiple Animals Permit Application Form

You are here

Application Fee (Ex-GST)

Permit Application