If you wish 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 you own or occupy a property in an urban zone that is smaller than 0.2 hectares, you cannot keep:
any live poultry except in a bird enclosure
The maximum number of poultry you can keep in a bird enclosure is one for every 0.5 square metres of floor area.
The only exception is where a Planning Scheme town planning permit has been issued for the keeping of birds.
Every bird enclosure on any premises must:
If your bird enclosure does not meet these criteria, you can be issued with an on-the-spot fine of $200, and may have to pay a court imposed penalty of up to $2000.
If you occupy a property where a bird is kept, you must ensure that:
You must store bird food in in a vermin proof container.
If you find an injured native bird or other wildlife, you can contact a 24-hour wildlife emergency hotline. For more information, visit the Wildlife Victoria website.