Housing of Poultry

Housing of poultry in a residential premises/area:

The housing of poultry and the like can often cause potential health issues with neighbouring properties such as odour nuisances, noise issues and rodent complaints. Poultry can be unhygienic, messy and their housing is often difficult to keep maintained to standards which will not create a risk or potential risk to human health.

What is poultry?

This includes domestic fowls collectively, including chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and guinea fowl.

Legal requirements

The following are the minimum standards required with the Waverley Council area. These standards are gazetted in the Local Government General Regulation 2005 part 5 Division 2.

To house poultry and the like within the Waverley Council are the following circumstances must be on the premises:

Distance of neighbouring premises

Poultry must not at any time be kept nearer than 4.5 meters or greater distance as Council may determine in a particular case from any dwelling.

Approval required

Dependant upon the size of the poultry house, Council’s relevant planning documents/tools should be consulted to ensure development approval is not required.

Poultry sheds must not be constructed closer than 600mm to any boundary of an allotment and must not be supported by any dividing fence. Roof waters shall be drained to an approved stormwater system and shall not be allowed to disperse over adjoining property or into the poultry house or enclosure.

Housing conditions required at the site

1. The housing of poultry must not create a nuisance or danger to health including but not limited to vermin, odour or noise.

2. The poultry house/yard must be kept clean and free from offensive odours at all times.

3. The poultry house/yard must be enclosed to prevent poultry escaping.

4. The floors of the poultry house must be paved with concrete or mineral asphalt underneath the roosts or perches. This waste water must not enter the stormwater system and must be appropriately disposed of to sewer Note: Clause 4 does not apply to the poultry house;

  (a)  that are not within 15.2 meters of a dwelling, public hall or school, or

  (b)  that are situated on clean sand

5. Poultry feed should be stored in sealed metal containers and scraps should not be left in the yard so as to attract vermin.

6. Internal walls of house must be regularly cleaned with lime.

Consulting your neighbours

Waverley Council strongly suggests consultation with your neighbours regarding your proposal prior to the poultry being housed at your premises. Discussing and informing your neighbour has many benefits including

(a)  General neighbour awareness and notification of planned housing

(b)  A forum to discuss any issues which concern the neighbours.

Initial contact with your neighbours, you should discuss any health issues such as odour, vermin and noise which may arise once the poultry are housed at your premises.

Mediation and discussion between neighbours which may lead to mutual agreement rather than Council intervening and imposing orders if a complaint is received requiring the removal of the poultry from the premises.

Keeping of roosters

The housing of roosters is not encouraged or supported with the Council area due to the additional impact of early morning crowing which is commonly the immediate reason an Order is served for the removal of the rooster.

The nature of a rooster is to make noise early in the mornings and this inturn disturbs the peace of the neighbouring premises/residents. Roosters are generally farm animals and the built urban city environment does not provide conditions which allow for the housing of them.

Non compliance

Failure to comply with there requirements may result in Council serving an Order or Emergency Order for the immediate removal of the nuisance under the Local Government Act, 1993.

If you require any further information, contact Council’s Environmental Health Section on 9369 8000