The Draft Keeping of Animals Policy is open for public comment until August 13, 2026. Photo: Abdellatif Jellab / Pexels
Under Moree Plains Shire Council’s draft policy, a residential property measuring 2,000m² or less could keep up to two dogs, two cats and six hens. Keeping one horse would require at least 4,000m² of usable land.
Council is asking residents to comment on the proposed limits, which would change according to property size.
The Draft Keeping of Animals Policy is open for public comment for 28 days from Friday, July 17, 2026. Submissions close at 5pm on Thursday, August 13, 2026.
Council is seeking feedback before the draft returns for consideration.
The draft covers dogs, cats, poultry and livestock. It aims to give residents clearer guidance and help Council respond to animal-related complaints.
Roaming dogs among concerns
Director of Planning and Development Kari Musgrove said Council often received complaints about stray and roaming dogs, barking, roosters in town areas, and dogs acting aggressively or rushing at people.
She said the draft was a first step towards clearer guidance and better education for animal owners.
Under the draft, owners would need to:
- keep animals behind secure fences or in suitable enclosures;
- control excessive barking; and
- make sure their animals did not threaten people, livestock or native wildlife.
Separately, Mayor Cr Susannah Pearse said Council planned to promote its new local rangers and encourage owners to secure their dogs. This forms part of Council’s wider work on roaming dogs and is separate from the draft policy.
Proposed limits for dogs, cats and poultry
The draft proposes the following limits based on property size:
| Property size | Dogs | Cats | Poultry |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,000m² or less | 2 | 2 | 6 hens, no roosters |
| 2,001m² to 5,000m² | 3 | 3 | 10 hens, no roosters |
| 5,001m² to 1 hectare | 4 | 4 | 20 poultry, no roosters |
| More than 1 hectare | No set limit | No set limit | No set limit |
Puppies and kittens younger than three months would not count towards the limits if they were born to an animal lawfully kept at the property.
Once they reached three months, they would count towards the property limit. Owners would need to rehome, sell or legally remove them if the property was over the proposed limit.
Livestock included after Council debate
The draft now includes proposed limits for livestock kept on residential and rural residential land.
Livestock was added after councillors asked why the earlier draft covered dogs, cats and poultry but not animals such as sheep, goats and pigs.
Councillor Brooke Sauer said:
“I think it would be remiss of us, if we’re going to the extent of doing a policy, to not potentially factor in livestock … particularly on those rural residential blocks.”
She said:
“It’s been … a long-term challenge … for people living next to livestock … and we’ve had no real way to address it. And I think this is a real opportunity to address that now.”
Proposed livestock limits
Livestock numbers would be based on “usable land”. This means land that can be used for grazing or keeping animals.
| Animal | Proposed limit |
|---|---|
| Horses | 1 horse for every 4,000m² of usable land |
| Ponies, donkeys, alpacas and llamas | Up to 2 animals on 4,000m², then one more animal for each extra 2,000m² |
| Cattle | 1 animal for every 8,000m² of usable land. Bulls not permitted |
| Goats | 1 goat for every 2,000m² of usable land. Entire male goats not permitted |
| Sheep | 1 sheep for every 2,000m² of usable land. Rams not permitted |
| Pigs | Up to 2 pigs per hectare. Boars, breeding pigs and commercial pig keeping not permitted |
Usable land does not include houses, driveways, sheds, waterways, drainage areas, steep slopes or other land that is not suitable for grazing.
Who would not be covered?
The draft would not apply to:
- land that is not used for housing;
- working dogs on genuine rural properties;
- approved boarding or breeding businesses;
- veterinary practices;
- Council pounds, shelters or animal management facilities;
- registered breeders operating under NSW law; or
- temporary animal-care arrangements approved or supported by Council, such as fostering.
What would happen to existing animal owners?
Residents who were already legally keeping more animals than the proposed limits would not automatically have to reduce their numbers.
Council would consider each property separately. It would look at any nuisance, health risks, animal welfare concerns, environmental harm and the details of the property.
If the number of animals later increased, Council could use the proposed limits when deciding whether the extra animals were reasonable.
Keeping animals within the proposed limits would not stop Council from acting if they caused other problems.
Council could require animal numbers to be reduced, or animals to be removed, if their keeping caused:
- bad smells;
- unreasonable noise;
- too many flies or vermin;
- damage to nearby properties;
- risks to public health or safety;
- environmental harm; or
- animal welfare concerns.
The draft says Council would usually try to resolve the issue with the owner before taking formal action.
Manager Environment and Compliance Scott Bastow said:
“We know animals are an important part of many households across the Shire, which is why we want to hear from residents before the policy is finalised. I encourage everyone to take the time to review the Draft and provide their feedback during the exhibition period.”
How to have your say
The Draft Keeping of Animals Policy can be viewed on the Moree Plains Shire Council website:
Comments can be submitted by:
Email: council@mpsc.nsw.gov.au
Post: Acting General Manager, Moree Plains Shire Council, PO Box 420, Moree NSW 2400
Deadline: 5pm, Thursday, August 13, 2026
The draft will return to Council for consideration after the public comment period.
