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Animals in the City
Keeping backyard chickens or ducks
Keeping chickens or ducks is a great way to recycle your household food scraps.

There are limits to how many animals you can have in residential areas without a permit.

A permit is not required for up to

  • 12 hens (excluding roosters) on land less than 4 000m2
  • 24 hens (excluding roosters) on land between 4 000m2 and 20 000m2

If you live in a flat unit or townhouse you are not permitted to keep poultry.

Please note:

Roosters geese or turkeys are not permitted on residential land less than 4 000 square metres without a permit.

If you choose to keep ducks or chickens keep them in a secure coop or fenced area to prevent them from getting out (or other animals getting in).

You must also provide them with adequate shelter food and water at all times and minimise noise or smells that might impact your neighbours.

If your hen hatches chicks and you exceed the permitted number on your property you may keep the chicks until they are 12-weeks old.

    Animals in the City
    Backyard chickens
    With backyard chickens reportedly in high demand - as people look to become more self-sufficient during the pandemic - we spoke to a local chicken owner about her experience.