We've collated council by council regulations (last updated September 2011) for keeping poultry in the cities of Melbourne.  These change from time to time so please check the links.  In summary it seems all cities in Melbourne allow some poultry without a permit, except Stonnington.  Most specify that you can't keep poultry in flats, and many specify extra information not listed here about housing requirements.  A common law is that all poultry houses should be at least 1m or 1.5m from the neighbours' fence, although some councils are more restrictive (Whittlesea and Moreland in particular).  Follow the links and you will find out more.  If you notice any broken links or changed information, please let us know.  Thanks!

See also our pages on:

• Tips on Keeping Chooks
• VEG Backyard Chicken Systems

Banyule:

Up to 10 poultry without a permit.

http://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/animals/

Bayside:

Up to 10 poultry without a permit.

http://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/local_law_no_2.pdf

Boroondara:

Rooster, peafowl or guinea fowl: not allowed.
Chickens and pheasants: six.
Turkeys, ducks and geese: two.
Poultry other than those specified above: four.

http://www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/residents/animals/excess-animals

Brimbank:

Up to 10 poultry without a permit on non-farming land, no roosters.

http://www.brimbank.vic.gov.au/Page/PagePrint.asp?Page_Id=67

Darebin:

Appears to be 10 poultry without a permit.

http://www.darebin.vic.gov.au/Files/Darebin_Animal_Management_Strategy_Revised_2008.pdf

Frankston:

Up to 6 poultry without permit.

http://www.frankston.vic.gov.au/library/scripts/objectifyMedia.aspx?file=pdf/43/13.pdf&str_title=Local%20Law%20No%202.pdf

Glen Eira:

Up to 6 poultry without a permit.

http://www.gleneira.vic.gov.au/Page/PagePrint.asp?Page_Id=121

Greater Dandenong:

Up to 20 poultry without permit, except roosters.  Housing to be 1m from boundary.

http://www.greaterdandenong.com/Documents.asp?ID=1500&Title=Laws+for+Animal+Owners

Hobson's Bay:

10 chickens without a permit.  Housing 1.5m from boundary and 10m from any dwelling.

http://www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/Files/Community_Local_Law_to_be_effective_from_April_2011.pdf

Hume:

Up to 5 poultry without permit (on blocks less than 1 acre (4000 sq metres)).

http://www.hume.vic.gov.au/files/5c972c79-8501-4e34-836f-9e0501185e25/Multiple_Animal_PermitApplication2010-2011.pdf

Kingston:

Up to 10 poultry and two live game birds (peacocks, pheasants etc) without permit.

"Phone the Local Laws Department on 1300 653 356 for more info."

http://business.kingston.vic.gov.au/Files/KYC_June_2008_LR.pdf

Knox:

Up to 10 poultry without permit, including ducks, geese, peacocks, pheasants and turkeys.

http://www.knox.vic.gov.au/Page/Page.asp?Page_Id=643&h=1

Manningham:

Up to 4 poultry or pigeons without a permit.

http://www.manningham.vic.gov.au/live/pets_and_animals/responsible_ownership.html

Maribyrnong:

Up to 10 poultry without permit.  House should be 18 metres from any road to which the land has a frontage, three (3) metres from any other road, one and one-half (1.5) metres from the boundary of any adjoining land in separate ownership or occupation.

http://www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Page/Page.asp?Page_Id=190&h=0
http://www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Files/General_Purposes_Local_Law.doc

Maroondah:

Up to 5 poultry:

http://www.maroondah.vic.gov.au/PermittedPets.aspx

Melbourne:

"There are no restrictions in regards to the proper housing and maintenance of poultry in the City of Melbourne municipality. It is worth noting however, if there are any complaints received - our Health Services branch are required to investigate any suspected health or animal cruelty breaches." (Personal communication).

Moonee Valley:

Up to 10 poultry without a permit.

http://www.mvcc.vic.gov.au/for-residents/animals/other-animals-and-pets.aspx

Monash:

Up to 5 poultry without a permit, no roosters.

http://www.monash.vic.gov.au/community/animals-regulations.htm

Moreland:

Up to 6 poultry without a permit, no roosters, geese, turkeys, or peafowl.  The guidelines suggest a chook house can not be less than 1.5 metres from another fence, or 7 metres from a dwelling although we've also discovered some conflicting information, which say that the chook house should be 6 metres from either boundary or dwelling.  In that case your backyard needs to be at least 13m wide with the chook house in the middle, which would be the most restrictive laws on this front that we know of.

http://www.moreland.vic.gov.au/animals-and-local-laws/pet-care/chicken-care.html

Port Philip:

Up to 4 hens, no roosters, without a permit.

• "You may keep Hens however, Roosters must not be kept or harboured due to the noise nuisance.
• You must apply for a multiple animal permit if the number of poultry increases the overall number of animals at the property to over four...
• Poultry or animal housing or a similar structure must be located on the property so that the amenity of the area or other premises is not affected by nuisance, noise or odour experienced because of proximity of the poultry or animal housing.
• An owner or occupier must not construct or use any poultry or animal housing on any property unless it has adequate roofing, drainage, is rodent proof and has a floor paved with impervious material.
• All poultry and animal housing must be maintained so that it does not cause a nuisance or offensive conditions or harbour vermin."

http://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/animal_registration.htm

Stonnington:

Permit required for all poultry, the only city within Greater Melbourne where this is true.  "Please contact the Council's Animal Management Department on Ph: 03 8290 1333 regarding applications for the keeping of Poultry."

http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/residents-and-services/pets-and-wildlife/keeping-extra-pets/

Whitehorse:

Up to six poultry excluding roosters without a permit on 'large' properties only.  Large we're told is defined as having no less than 200sqm of available land (excluding dwelling) available -- not necessarily all dedicated to the chooks.

http://www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au/Keeping-Additional-Pets.html

Whittlesea:

Up to 10 hens, no roosters in urban zones on blocks under 0.2 hectares.  The chicken run it seems, not just the housing, is supposed to be located at least 3m from neighbours boundary, and chicken are not allowed to free range in full backyard.  [Strange that a semi-rural municipality would have some of the most restrictive rules.]

Page 35: http://www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/files/2749_General_Municipal_Law_%20No_1_of_2008_Oct.pdf

Wyndham:

Up to 6 poultry (other than rooster, fowl, guinea fowl, turkey, geese or ducks) without a permit.

http://www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/residents/home/animals/keeping/animal_permit_application_form

City of Yarra:

Up to 5 poultry without a permit.

http://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/Services/Animal-management/Other-animals--pests/Chickens/