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 4
4. Permits to keep more dogs and cats than the prescribed number
(1) Any person who wants to keep a greater number of dogs or cats on any premises than the number permitted for that type of premises in terms of sections 2 and 3, must apply to the City for a permit to keep excess dogs or cats.
(2) An application in terms of subsection (1) must be in writing on a prescribed form and must be accompanied by the prescribed fee.
(3) The City may require the applicant to provide any information which it considers relevant to enable it to make an informed decision.
(4) The City may refuse to consider an application in terms of subsection (1) in respect of which the provisions of subsection (2) have not been complied with or information contemplated in subsection (3), has not been furnished.
(5) The City may only consider an application in terms of subsection (1) after receipt of a written report from an authorised official, or a contracted entity upon the request of the City, setting out –
(a) whether the dog or cat, for which the permit is required, is likely to cause a nuisance or a health nuisance or the keeping of such dog or cat may result in a contravention of section 2 or 3;
(b) the results of an inspection of the premises on which the dog or cat concerned is being kept or is to be kept;
(c) whether the applicant has previously had a dog or cat removed from his or her care or has a previous criminal conviction or civil judgement against him or her in respect of any dog, cat or any other animal in his or her care; and
(d) whether the application is supported in writing by at least two neighbours directly adjacent to the applicant’s premises, where such support is required by the authorised official.
(6) The City may refuse an application in terms of subsection (1) or approve it subject to any conditions aimed at reducing the risk of any nuisance or health nuisance created by the dogs or cats on the premises concerned occurring, continuing or to reduce such risk to a level acceptable to the City.
(7) The City must refuse an application in terms of subsection (1) where the applicant, the premises concerned, or the keeping, breeding, trading, boarding or sale of animals conducted therefrom, does not comply with the provisions of this By-law or any other applicable legislation, permit, approval or condition imposed by any competent authority.
(1) Any person who wants to keep a greater number of dogs or cats on any premises than the number permitted for that type of premises in terms of sections 2 and 3, must apply to the City for a permit to keep excess dogs or cats.
(2) An application in terms of subsection (1) must be in writing on a prescribed form and must be accompanied by the prescribed fee.
(3) The City may require the applicant to provide any information which it considers relevant to enable it to make an informed decision.
(4) The City may refuse to consider an application in terms of subsection (1) in respect of which the provisions of subsection (2) have not been complied with or information contemplated in subsection (3), has not been furnished.
(5) The City may only consider an application in terms of subsection (1) after receipt of a written report from an authorised official, or a contracted entity upon the request of the City, setting out –
(a) whether the dog or cat, for which the permit is required, is likely to cause a nuisance or a health nuisance or the keeping of such dog or cat may result in a contravention of section 2 or 3;
(b) the results of an inspection of the premises on which the dog or cat concerned is being kept or is to be kept;
(c) whether the applicant has previously had a dog or cat removed from his or her care or has a previous criminal conviction or civil judgement against him or her in respect of any dog, cat or any other animal in his or her care; and
(d) whether the application is supported in writing by at least two neighbours directly adjacent to the applicant’s premises, where such support is required by the authorised official.
(6) The City may refuse an application in terms of subsection (1) or approve it subject to any conditions aimed at reducing the risk of any nuisance or health nuisance created by the dogs or cats on the premises concerned occurring, continuing or to reduce such risk to a level acceptable to the City.
(7) The City must refuse an application in terms of subsection (1) where the applicant, the premises concerned, or the keeping, breeding, trading, boarding or sale of animals conducted therefrom, does not comply with the provisions of this By-law or any other applicable legislation, permit, approval or condition imposed by any competent authority.
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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