Number of birds you can keep
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
- more than 2:
- drakes, or
- ducks, or
- turkeys, or
- geese
- more than 10 head of poultry unless you have a permit, where 1 head of poultry equal one of the following:
- 1 chicken
- 3 pigeons
- 3 quail
- 1 pigeon and 2 quail
- 2 pigeons and 1 quail
- unless with the consent of Council, no roosters can be kept on any land in an urban residential area
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.
Bird enclosures
Every bird enclosure on any premises must:
- not be higher than 2.4m
- be at least 3m from the boundary of any adjoining premises
- be roofed and be free of vermin
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.
Bird health
If you occupy a property where a bird is kept, you must ensure that:
- any bird enclosure or bird cage is maintained so that it does not create any condition that may be offensive, dangerous to health, unsightly or a nuisance
- any waste or other matter is not left in a place or way that it may become offensive, dangerous to health or likely to attract or harbour rodents or other vermin
- any dead or diseased bird is immediately disposed of
Storage of food
You must store bird food in in a vermin proof container.
Help for injured native birds and wildlife
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.