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 5
5. Regulation of Breeding
(1) All dogs and cats whether male and female, over six months of age must be sterilized, unless the owner obtains a permit from the City to keep the animal unsterilized.
(2) An application to keep an unsterilized animal must be in writing on a prescribed form, in accordance with relevant City policies and standard operating procedures and must be accompanied by the prescribed fee.
(3) The City may refuse an application contemplated in subsection (2) where it is found that the keeping of the unsterilized animal may -
(a) constitute a nuisance or health nuisance; or
(b) contravene any provision of the City’s Municipal Planning By-law, 2015, or any other applicable law.
(4) An authorised official may cause an animal to be sterilized and the costs thereof may be recovered from the owner, should the authorised official deem it necessary –
(a) in the interests of the welfare of the animal;
(b) to prevent nuisance;
(c) when the animal is stray;
(d) at the request of the owner; or
(e) pursuant to the seizure and impoundment of the animal or a contravention involving the animal.
(1) All dogs and cats whether male and female, over six months of age must be sterilized, unless the owner obtains a permit from the City to keep the animal unsterilized.
(2) An application to keep an unsterilized animal must be in writing on a prescribed form, in accordance with relevant City policies and standard operating procedures and must be accompanied by the prescribed fee.
(3) The City may refuse an application contemplated in subsection (2) where it is found that the keeping of the unsterilized animal may -
(a) constitute a nuisance or health nuisance; or
(b) contravene any provision of the City’s Municipal Planning By-law, 2015, or any other applicable law.
(4) An authorised official may cause an animal to be sterilized and the costs thereof may be recovered from the owner, should the authorised official deem it necessary –
(a) in the interests of the welfare of the animal;
(b) to prevent nuisance;
(c) when the animal is stray;
(d) at the request of the owner; or
(e) pursuant to the seizure and impoundment of the animal or a contravention involving the animal.
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