Livestock requirements & permits

Many Gold Coast residents own livestock for a variety of reasons, including farming, cultivation, and companionship. These animals include cattle, horses, pigs, sheep, camels, goats, deer, llamas and the like. Learn more about your requirements and responsibilities as an owner and how to apply for a permit to keep additional animals.

For the protection of the animals and the local environment, there are a number of ownership requirements you must meet in order to keep livestock on your property.

To ensure minimum standards are met to keep your livestock without nuisance to your neighbours, you are required to:

• keep your livestock contained to your property
• ensure animals are adequately identified (e.g. ear tag, branding, microchip)
• keep animal's food in a sealed, vermin-proof container
• thoroughly clean enclosure and dispose of waste to not cause odour or pest nuisance
• animals being kept must not cause environmental harm
• adequate feed must be provided
• manage noise to not cause a nuisance to any person on their property.

Minimum enclosure standards must also be met to keep livestock. These are prescribed within Council’s Subordinate Local Law No. 12.1 (Animal Management) 2013(PDF, 2MB)

They include that the enclosure must be located:

• more than 10 metres from any residence, food storage or preparation area
• suitably fenced to contain the animal safely on the property and prevent them from wandering
• a second or additional suitable fence if you are keeping a stallion.

Suitable fencing

A suitable fence is a physical barrier made of strong materials to prevent the animal from escaping over, under or through the fence to adjoining land or any public place.

A suitable fence does not include:

• electronic animal containment systems, for example, electric fencing above or below the ground
• electronic systems that operate by a radio or GPS signal
• a device attached to an animal's bridle or halter giving an electric shock when near the boundary of the enclosure.

It is important to regularly check your fencing or other measures to prevent your livestock escaping.

If you own or keep livestock on your property, you are required to have a Property Identification Code (PIC). Please visit Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for more information on how to register.

Stock register

You will need to register your livestock with the City. To do so, contact us via:

• email loveyourpet@goldcoast.qld.gov.au
• phone 07 5667 5990.

You will need to provide these details when you register:

• stock owner details
• property details
• stock description and number.

Agistment

Animal Management recommends you post appropriate signage with a contact number if your livestock are located on an agistment property. This will help residents or officers to notify you or the property owner/s if livestock are found lost or wandering.

Numbers allowed on a property size

Restrictions apply to the number of livestock that can be kept on a property.

*Exemption for Bundall equestrian area precinct.

If you wish to keep more than the allowed number of livestock, 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.

You may require development approval on your location and activity (i.e. horse stables or shelters). Refer to Planning & building for application requirements.

Apply by using one of the options below.