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Last Updated: Thursday, 13 June 2024 08:47

Council’s local laws have requirements in place to ensure animals are cared for and managed and to ensure animals and people can live together harmoniously. In these local laws, there is a maximum amount of dogs and cats that you are allowed to have on your property.

If you are wanting to have more dogs and cats than what you can have under the council’s local laws, or you want to board/breed animals, you will be considered as a kennel or cattery and will need a development permit from Council.

Council permits for kennels and catteries

Regardless of where your property is in the Toowoomba Region, you are required to submit an application for a development permit to operate a kennel or cattery – this is defined as ‘Animal Keeping’.

However, Council is more likely to support your application if you are in a Rural Zone, where the properties are generally larger in size and your kennel/cattery is less likely to be located close to your neighbours.

You may be expected to:

  • Provide adequate animal enclosures that are secure;
  • Demonstrate to Council how you’ll be dealing with animal waste, effluent and wastewater;
  • Provide adequate on-site parking areas for people utilising your facility;
  • Restrict your operating hours to limit the potential noise affecting your neighbours;
  • Keep a Noise Management Procedure that outlines how you’ll deal with any noise complaints;
  • Provide landscaping on the property for amenity, shade and to assist with odour; or
  • Provide an asset protection zone around any animal enclosures and yards to ensure animal safety if you are in a Bushfire Hazard overlay.

It may be a good idea to speak to Council prior to considering a kennel or cattery. 

Other considerations for kennels and catteries

If you are breeding dogs, you may need to register as a dog breeder. Refer to the Queensland Government for further information. You must also meet Queensland’s animal welfare standards for breeding dogs. 

Further assistance

For further information please phone Council’s Technical Advice Officers on 131 872, or visit your nearest Customer Service Centre.