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.
To ensure minimum standards are met to keep livestock, you are required to:
- ensure animals are adequately identified (e.g. ear tag, branding, microchip)
- keep animal's food in a sealed, vermin-proof container and dispose of food scraps and spilt feed on a daily basis
- dispose of waste (including faeces, urine and other material) and store waste containers to not cause an odour or pest nuisance
- ensure animals being kept do not cause environmental harm or endanger the health or safety of any person or another animal
- manage dust, odour and noise to not cause a nuisance or disturbance to neighbours or anyone in the vicinity of where the animal is kept.
In addition to the above requirements, enclosures (including stables) must be:
- in good condition and not appear unsightly
- thoroughly cleaned and kept in a hygienic manner free from insects and vermin
- designed to ensure all wastewater and run-off does not cause a nuisance to neighbours
- located more than 10 metres from any residence on an adjoining property, food storage or preparation area (excluding a domestic kitchen)
- suitably fenced to contain the animal safely on the property and prevent them from wandering (excluding electronic containment systems, i.e. hot wire)
- built to have a second or additional suitable fence if you are keeping a stallion.
All pet owners must comply with minimum standards for keeping animals. Penalties apply for breaches. To find out more, visit Animal laws, breaches and fines.
If livestock are causing problems in your area, you can contact us or visit the Report a problem – Animals page.
Other requirements and considerations
Property Identification Code
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
Help city officers safely reunite wandering animals with their owners by registering your livestock with the city. To do so, contact us via:
You will need to provide these details when you register:
- stock owner details
- property details
- stock description and number.
It is important to regularly check fencing to help prevent livestock from escaping.
Keeping livestock on unsupervised properties
It is recommended that you post appropriate signage with a contact number if your livestock are located on a property where there is no on-site supervision. This will help residents or officers to notify you or the property owner/s if livestock are found lost or wandering or are injured or sick.
Planning requirements
You may require development approval for certain activities (e.g. riding schools) or structures (e.g. constructions of stables/shelters) related to keeping livestock.
To find out what planning and building requirements might be applicable to your activities please phone 07 5582 8708 or refer to the Planning & building section.
Numbers allowed on a property size
As a responsible pet owner, you must ensure the animals kept on your property do not negatively impact your neighbours and the environment.
If you wish to keep livestock on a property 4000m2 or more, there’s no specific allowable number of animals for your property size. However, you must ensure you comply with minimum standards.
If the property size is less than 4000m2, you will need a permit to keep livestock on the property. Outside of the Bundall equestrian precinct, keeping of livestock is prohibited on property size 2000m2 or less.
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 (e.g. address, email, nominate a new contact person)
- business name and/or contact details
- dog/cat/livestock details, including removing/adding animals to your permit.