Domestic animals have an important role to play in our community.
We recognise this in our actions and response to them across the Alpine Shire.
How many animals can I have?
The table below indicates the number of animals allowed in a residential area.
You do not need a permit if you do not exceed the maximum number of animals allowed.
| Type of animal | Maximum number |
|---|---|
| Cats | 2 |
| Cockatoos | 2 |
| Dogs | 2 |
| Domestic birds | 50 |
| Domestic rabbits | 10 |
| Ferrets | 3 |
| Guinea pigs | 10 |
| Peacocks | 2 |
| Pigeons | 50 |
| Poultry | 10 |
| Roosters | 0 |
How can I keep more animals?
If you would like to keep more than the maximum number of animals allowed, you can submit an application to Council.
Can I keep bees?
You can keep bees only if you:
- Register with Agriculture Victoria
- Have the consent of your neighbours
- Apply for a permit from Council
A permit from Council is only required if you keep more than one hive. When applying for a permit, you will need to provide proof of registration with Agriculture Victoria.
Frequently asked questions
Dogs can be walked off-lead outside of town centres as outlined in Council's on lead maps. However, dogs must be under effective control at all times.
A dog is considered under effective control if:
- It returns to the person in charge of the dog upon immediate command
- The person in charge of the dog has a clear and unobstructed view of the dog and the dog is securely tethered
- It does not bother, attack, worry or interfere with any person or animal
These requirements are outlined in the Council Order - Dog Control.
Dogs must be on-lead in designated areas of town centres as identified in the below maps:
Our Local Laws team may have picked up your lost animal and taken it to our pound. Find out by contacting Council during business hours.
If your animal is in our care, you need to sign a release form and pay the appropriate impounding fee at the Council Office in Bright.
Our Local Laws team will collect your animal and bring it to you at the Council Office in Bright for a happy reunion.
Our Local Laws team will advise of appropriate pickup or drop off for larger animals.
You can borrow a cat trap free of charge from our Council Office in Bright.
If you catch a stray cat, please give it sufficient water and food and contact Council.
Our Local Laws team will only pick up trapped cats during working hours. They will also collect the trap.
Contact Council during business hours. In after-hours emergencies, you will be redirected to our On-Call team.
In the case that our Local Laws team has captured a wandering dog, the owner of the animal will have to pay a release fee plus the registration fee, if unregistered, to get the animal back.
The owner has eight days to reclaim their lost pet. After this time, the pound can sell or destroy it.
We encourage you to talk to the owner if a barking dog is causing you trouble. The owner of the dog can then try to resolve the problem first.
If the barking doesn’t stop, you can lodge a complaint with Council. You will be asked to log the barking for at least one week before our Local Laws team speaks to the owner of the dog. Our Local Laws team will tell them how to stop the barking, or issue a notice to comply to the owner.
If the barking continues after this, you will need to keep a log for a further seven days. Our Local Laws team may then issue an infringement notice on the owner.
If you find a European Wasp nest on your property, you must remove or destroy it. Council is responsible for destroying nests on Council land.
Please bear in mind that European Wasps may aggressively defend their nest.
If you find a nest on your property or on Council land, please contact Council and ask to speak to our Environmental Health team.
If you want to report an Elm with a suspected leaf beetle infestation, please contact Council and ask to speak to our Tree team.
All Victorian native wildlife is protected by law and it is illegal to harass or harm native birds and other wildlife without authorisation.
Swooping birds may be a frightening or even a dangerous experience. However, not all birds swoop to protect their eggs and young during breeding season, so don't be concerned simply because there are magpies or other common swooping birds in the area. Native birds can swoop in urban and rural areas, in parks and gardens, along bike tracks and in school yards, or anywhere that birds are nesting.
Visit the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action for tips to protect yourself from swooping birds.