Many Gold Coast residents own birds for a variety of reasons, including companionship and special interest. Learn about your requirements and responsibilities when owning birds or poultry and the numbers allowed on your property.
To ensure minimum standards are met to keep birds or poultry without causing nuisance to your neighbours, you are required to:
- keep your birds or poultry contained to an aviary or enclosure
- keep seed or any bird food in a sealed, vermin-proof container
- thoroughly clean aviaries and enclosures on a weekly basis
- dispose of waste to prevent smell or odour
- manage noise and avoid excessive vocalisation.
If you are keeping poultry, minimum enclosure requirements must also be met. These are prescribed within Council's Subordinate Local Law No. 12.1 (Animal Management) 2013(PDF, 2MB).
They include that the pen must be located:
- more than one metre from your property boundary
- at the rear of, and behind, any residence
- more than 10 metres from any residence, food storage or preparation area.
To learn more about your birds and poultry and where to seek help, see our page on how to care for them and be a responsible pet owner.
Permit requirements
Restrictions apply to the number of birds or poultry that can be kept depending on the size of a property.
Budgerigars, canaries, similar-sized birds and pigeons
| Property size |
Number allowed |
Permit applicable |
| Less than 300m2 |
4 |
Yes for more than 4 |
| 300m2 - 1999m2 |
20 |
Yes for more than 20 |
| 2000m2 or more |
30 |
Yes for more than 30 |
Cockatiels and similar-sized birds
| Property size |
Number allowed |
Permit applicable |
| Less than 300m2 |
2 |
Yes for more than 2 |
| 300m2 - 1999m2 |
10 |
Yes for more than 10 |
| 2000m2 or more |
30 |
Yes for more than 30 |
Cockatoos, galahs and similar-sized birds
| Property size |
Number allowed |
Permit applicable |
| Less than 300m2 |
1 |
Yes for more than 1 |
| 300m2 - 1999m2 |
2 |
Yes for more than 2 |
| 2000m2 or more |
4 |
Yes for more than 4 |
Geese, turkeys and ducks
| Property size |
Number allowed |
Permit applicable |
| Less than 4000m2 |
0 |
Prohibited |
| 4000m2 or more |
1 per 300m2 |
No |
Domestic hens
| Property size |
Number allowed |
Permit applicable |
| 600m2 or less |
0 |
Prohibited |
| More than 600m2 |
1 per 150m2 |
No |
Roosters, peacocks, ostriches and emus
| Property size |
Number allowed |
Permit applicable |
| Less than 4000m2 |
0 |
Prohibited |
| 4000m2 or more |
Minimum standards |
No |
If you wish to keep more than the allowed number of birds and poultry, you will need to apply for a permit.
Permits are lifetime permits while your animals are on your property. If circumstances change, such as moving house, please inform the City of Gold Coast.
Permit fees must be paid at the time of permit lodgement – these fees are non-refundable.
Once your application has been received, Council officers will assess your property to determine if additional animals are suitable and do not impact on your neighbours.
A permit holder must comply with the minimum standards or may be liable for an on-the-spot fine or be required to remove the animals from the property.
Apply by using one of the options below.
Amend excess animals permit
Use the Amend excess animals permit form to apply to let us know of the following changes:
- approval holder contact details (for example, address, email, nominate a new contact person)
- business name and/or contact details
- dog/cat/livestock details, including removing/adding animals to your permit.