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 33
33. Standards and requirements for keeping poultry
(1) The owner, person in charge or occupier of any premises must keep poultry in an enclosure designed for that purpose.
(2) An application for a permit to keep poultry must be accompanied by an approved building plan indicating all existing or proposed structures and fences on the property. No poultry that are likely to cause a noise nuisance will be permitted - no roosters, geese, turkeys, or peacocks.
(3) 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 poultry.
(4) A poultry house must not be situated within 3m of the boundary of a residential erf and 3m from any dwelling or other structure used for human habitation, or 50m of any water resource or water supply intended for human consumption and within 6m of any boundary of the erf which abuts any road or public open space.
(5) The walls of a poultry house must be constructed of brick, stone, concrete or other impervious material, with a smooth internal surface.
(6) The floors must be constructed of concrete or other impervious material and brought to a smooth finish.
(7) The upper floor of a two or more story structure must be constructed of an impervious and easily cleanable material.
(8) If the poultry house is raised off the ground, the underside thereof must be constructed of an impervious and durable material, and it must be raised at least 300mm above ground level.
(9) A minimum floor area of at least 0, 20 m² must be provided for each grown fowl, duck, Muscovy duck or guinea fowl; and the minimum floor area should be at least 4m². (10) A poultry run, if provided, shall be enclosed with wire mesh or other durable material. (11) A water supply adequate for drinking and cleaning must be provided in or next to every poultry house and poultry run.
(1) The owner, person in charge or occupier of any premises must keep poultry in an enclosure designed for that purpose.
(2) An application for a permit to keep poultry must be accompanied by an approved building plan indicating all existing or proposed structures and fences on the property. No poultry that are likely to cause a noise nuisance will be permitted - no roosters, geese, turkeys, or peacocks.
(3) 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 poultry.
(4) A poultry house must not be situated within 3m of the boundary of a residential erf and 3m from any dwelling or other structure used for human habitation, or 50m of any water resource or water supply intended for human consumption and within 6m of any boundary of the erf which abuts any road or public open space.
(5) The walls of a poultry house must be constructed of brick, stone, concrete or other impervious material, with a smooth internal surface.
(6) The floors must be constructed of concrete or other impervious material and brought to a smooth finish.
(7) The upper floor of a two or more story structure must be constructed of an impervious and easily cleanable material.
(8) If the poultry house is raised off the ground, the underside thereof must be constructed of an impervious and durable material, and it must be raised at least 300mm above ground level.
(9) A minimum floor area of at least 0, 20 m² must be provided for each grown fowl, duck, Muscovy duck or guinea fowl; and the minimum floor area should be at least 4m². (10) A poultry run, if provided, shall be enclosed with wire mesh or other durable material. (11) A water supply adequate for drinking and cleaning must be provided in or next to every poultry house and poultry run.
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