PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
City of Cape Town Draft Animal Keeping By-law
Sun, 27 September 2026
This page is part of a more easily readable version of the controversial Draft Animal Keeping By-law published for public comment until 29 September 2026. There are links below to the other 44 sections.
Comments and submissions should be emailed to animal.bylaw@capetown.gov.za
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SECTION 24
24. Permits
(1) Any person that wants to undertake an activity or keep animals listed in this By-law for which a permit is required, must apply to the City in writing prior to undertaking the relevant activity.
(2) The City may charge the applicant a prescribed fee for considering and for granting a permit.
(3) The City may refuse to consider an application for a permit until the prescribed fee has been paid and until it has been provided with the information that it reasonably requires to make an informed decision.
(4) The City may, after consideration of a report and recommendation of an authorised official, animal welfare inspector or veterinary surgeon, by written notice to the holder of a permit, amend, suspend or cancel the permit after giving the permit holder an opportunity to make representations—
(a) if it is satisfied that failure to do so would result in—
(i) the creation or continuation of a nuisance in a public place;
(ii) a continued contravention of any provision of this By-law; or
(iii) a risk to public health or where it is necessary to take account of changed circumstances since the permit was issued;
(b) with immediate effect, if an authorised official reasonably believes that it is urgently necessary to do so to eliminate or reduce a significant risk to public health posed by a nuisance; or
(c) after expiry of the period stipulated in a notice affording the holder of a permit a reasonable opportunity to comply with the notice and the holder of the permit has failed to comply with the notice.
(1) Any person that wants to undertake an activity or keep animals listed in this By-law for which a permit is required, must apply to the City in writing prior to undertaking the relevant activity.
(2) The City may charge the applicant a prescribed fee for considering and for granting a permit.
(3) The City may refuse to consider an application for a permit until the prescribed fee has been paid and until it has been provided with the information that it reasonably requires to make an informed decision.
(4) The City may, after consideration of a report and recommendation of an authorised official, animal welfare inspector or veterinary surgeon, by written notice to the holder of a permit, amend, suspend or cancel the permit after giving the permit holder an opportunity to make representations—
(a) if it is satisfied that failure to do so would result in—
(i) the creation or continuation of a nuisance in a public place;
(ii) a continued contravention of any provision of this By-law; or
(iii) a risk to public health or where it is necessary to take account of changed circumstances since the permit was issued;
(b) with immediate effect, if an authorised official reasonably believes that it is urgently necessary to do so to eliminate or reduce a significant risk to public health posed by a nuisance; or
(c) after expiry of the period stipulated in a notice affording the holder of a permit a reasonable opportunity to comply with the notice and the holder of the permit has failed to comply with the notice.
See next section
Comments and submissions should be emailed to animal.bylaw@capetown.gov.za
Other sections
CHAPTER 1 – General Provisions
CHAPTER 2 – Keeping of Animals
CHAPTER 3 – Bee Keeping
CHAPTER 4 – Enforcement