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
See next section
SECTION 30
30. Standards and Requirements for Pet Parlours, Pet Shops, Pet Day Care Facilities, and Pet Hotels
(1) An application for a permit to operate a pet parlour, pet shop, pet day care facility or pet hotel must be submitted to City Health and be accompanied by an approved building plan indicating all existing or proposed structures on the property. The City may determine the maximum number of pets that may be accommodated at any pet shop, pet parlour, pet day care centre or pet hotel.
(2) The City may refuse to approve an application or grant approval subject to specific conditions if, in its opinion, the property, owing to its location, siting or geographical features or size, is unsuitable for the keeping of pets.
(3) For the purposes of washing, clipping or grooming of pets, a bathroom fitted with a bath, or similar fitting, and a wash hand basin supplied with running water must be provided on the premises.
(4) An adequate supply of potable water must be maintained for drinking and cleaning purposes.
(5) A clipping and grooming room must be provided. This room must be equipped with tables that have impervious surfaces to ensure easy cleaning and durability. In addition, an adequate number of portable storage containers with close fitting lids made from impervious and durable material must be available specifically for storing cut fur until it can be removed.
(6) Breeding of vermin and pests must be controlled at the premises.
(7) Portable storage receptacles of an impervious material and with close fitting lids must be provided for storage of animal faeces. The contents of the manure storage receptacles must be removed from the premises at least once every seven days and disposed of in a way that will not create a public health nuisance.
(8) Animals may not be accommodated overnight at a pet parlour, pet shop, pet day care facility or pet hotel, unless adequate provision has been made to ensure the welfare and well-being of the animals and the accommodation complies with the requirements of this By-law.
(9) Should noise nuisances or disturbances be linked to activities on site, the City may set additional requirements that must be complied with to control noise from the premises, including ―
(a) double glazing or insulation of windows;
(b) closed‑cell foam or acoustic panels on walls;
(c) rubber mats;
(d) windbreaks or vegetation buffers to muffle sound and reduce the noise; and
(e) any other measure deemed necessary by the authorised official to control the noise emanating from the premises.
(10) Measures must be taken to ensure that no fly breeding, harbourage of vermin or offensive odours or other unsatisfactory conditions, as determined by a health officer appointed in terms of Section 80 of the National Health Act, 2003 (Act 61 of 2003) occurs on site.
(11) The premises and every cage, tray, container, receptacle, basket and all apparatus, equipment or appliances used in connection with the operation of the pet parlour, pet shop, pet day care or pet hotel must be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, free from pests and in good repair.
(12) Wet‑contact tools (clippers, blades, scissors, combs, brushes, nail clippers, ear‑cleaning tools) and shared surfaces should be physically cleaned and disinfected with a pet‑safe, veterinary‑approved disinfectant after each animal.
(13) Built in pet cages in pet shops and pet parlours must be kept at a suitable distance above floor level to enable cleaning below the cages, and the space below every cage must be unobstructed.
(14) Rodent-proof receptacles, of an impervious material and with close fitting lids, for the storage of any unpackaged bulk pet food supply must be provided.
(15) Adequate refrigeration facilities to store all wet pet food must be provided on the premises.
(16) Animals may not be displayed outside a pet shop or on the pavement outside the pet shop.
(17) No sick or injured animal may be kept, displayed or sold in a pet shop.
(18) Breeding of animals is not permitted in a pet shop, parlour or hotel. Male and female animals must be kept separate at all times to avoid breeding. No pregnant animals may be sold.
(19) Aggressive or reactive animals must be separated from other animals until collection.
(20) No overcrowding of cages or enclosures in a pet shop, pet parlour, pet hotel or pet day care is permitted.
(21) No unsterilised male or female pets on heat must be permitted on the premises at any pet day care, hotel or parlour.
(1) An application for a permit to operate a pet parlour, pet shop, pet day care facility or pet hotel must be submitted to City Health and be accompanied by an approved building plan indicating all existing or proposed structures on the property. The City may determine the maximum number of pets that may be accommodated at any pet shop, pet parlour, pet day care centre or pet hotel.
(2) The City may refuse to approve an application or grant approval subject to specific conditions if, in its opinion, the property, owing to its location, siting or geographical features or size, is unsuitable for the keeping of pets.
(3) For the purposes of washing, clipping or grooming of pets, a bathroom fitted with a bath, or similar fitting, and a wash hand basin supplied with running water must be provided on the premises.
(4) An adequate supply of potable water must be maintained for drinking and cleaning purposes.
(5) A clipping and grooming room must be provided. This room must be equipped with tables that have impervious surfaces to ensure easy cleaning and durability. In addition, an adequate number of portable storage containers with close fitting lids made from impervious and durable material must be available specifically for storing cut fur until it can be removed.
(6) Breeding of vermin and pests must be controlled at the premises.
(7) Portable storage receptacles of an impervious material and with close fitting lids must be provided for storage of animal faeces. The contents of the manure storage receptacles must be removed from the premises at least once every seven days and disposed of in a way that will not create a public health nuisance.
(8) Animals may not be accommodated overnight at a pet parlour, pet shop, pet day care facility or pet hotel, unless adequate provision has been made to ensure the welfare and well-being of the animals and the accommodation complies with the requirements of this By-law.
(9) Should noise nuisances or disturbances be linked to activities on site, the City may set additional requirements that must be complied with to control noise from the premises, including ―
(a) double glazing or insulation of windows;
(b) closed‑cell foam or acoustic panels on walls;
(c) rubber mats;
(d) windbreaks or vegetation buffers to muffle sound and reduce the noise; and
(e) any other measure deemed necessary by the authorised official to control the noise emanating from the premises.
(10) Measures must be taken to ensure that no fly breeding, harbourage of vermin or offensive odours or other unsatisfactory conditions, as determined by a health officer appointed in terms of Section 80 of the National Health Act, 2003 (Act 61 of 2003) occurs on site.
(11) The premises and every cage, tray, container, receptacle, basket and all apparatus, equipment or appliances used in connection with the operation of the pet parlour, pet shop, pet day care or pet hotel must be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, free from pests and in good repair.
(12) Wet‑contact tools (clippers, blades, scissors, combs, brushes, nail clippers, ear‑cleaning tools) and shared surfaces should be physically cleaned and disinfected with a pet‑safe, veterinary‑approved disinfectant after each animal.
(13) Built in pet cages in pet shops and pet parlours must be kept at a suitable distance above floor level to enable cleaning below the cages, and the space below every cage must be unobstructed.
(14) Rodent-proof receptacles, of an impervious material and with close fitting lids, for the storage of any unpackaged bulk pet food supply must be provided.
(15) Adequate refrigeration facilities to store all wet pet food must be provided on the premises.
(16) Animals may not be displayed outside a pet shop or on the pavement outside the pet shop.
(17) No sick or injured animal may be kept, displayed or sold in a pet shop.
(18) Breeding of animals is not permitted in a pet shop, parlour or hotel. Male and female animals must be kept separate at all times to avoid breeding. No pregnant animals may be sold.
(19) Aggressive or reactive animals must be separated from other animals until collection.
(20) No overcrowding of cages or enclosures in a pet shop, pet parlour, pet hotel or pet day care is permitted.
(21) No unsterilised male or female pets on heat must be permitted on the premises at any pet day care, hotel or parlour.
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