Birds, poultry & other animals

Council regulates the keeping of birds, poultry, pigs, goats, sheep, horses and cows to ensure the health and safety of the community and environment.

Under Council's Local Laws, the keeping of various animals is based on the size of your property. If you wish to keep more animals than is allowed in the below table, then you must apply for an "excess permit".

You are not permitted to keep any of the animals listed below in a conservation planning area (under CairnsPlan 2016) or in a unit or dual occupancy premises.

Council recognises that there are different types of birds that are kept in the community and because of their natural instincts they require individual consideration. The different types are as follows:

Birds means all birds other than noisy birds, special birds, poultry and roosters.

Noisy birds means a bird that is noisy in the opinion of an authorised person and includes a cacophonous birds of the galah, cockatoo, magpie, peacock or currawong variety. Roosters are not included in this group.

Poultry includes any species of chickens (including bantam chickens), geese, ducks, guinea fowls, turkeys, pheasants or quails.

Special birds include emus and ostriches.