Different animals. Different associations. Different interests. One By-law.
The City of Cape Town has published its Draft Animal Keeping By-law, 2026 for public comment, with submissions closing on 29 September 2026. The City says the proposed changes cover animal management, permitting, stray animals, animal keeping, bees, nuisance complaints, impoundment and related matters.
The proposed By-law reaches far beyond one type of animal or one association.
For this reason, the Parrot Breeders Association of Southern Africa (PASA) is calling on associations, clubs, hobbyists, breeders, pet keepers, businesses and professionals from the different affected sectors to come together.
This is bigger than aviculture.
Our interests may be different, but many of us are affected by the same proposed By-law.
PASA believes this is an opportunity to get everyone around the same table, understand how the proposals affect the different sectors, identify areas of common concern and work towards practical, informed alternatives.
Who could be affected?
Bird keepers and aviculturists
This includes parrot breeders, companion-bird owners, budgerigar breeders, canary and finch keepers and other specialist bird keepers.
One of the most significant proposals is that keeping or breeding more than five birds in captivity on residential premises would require an application for a City permit.
The draft also proposes detailed standards for aviaries, including building plans, setback distances, construction materials, floor areas, ventilation, water supply and rodent-proofing.
Pigeon fanciers and clubs
The draft contains specific provisions for varieties of Columba livia kept on residential premises, including permitting and proof of membership of a Pigeon Racing Club or Show Pigeon Club.
Poultry keepers
People keeping chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, peacocks, guinea fowl and other poultry need to read the proposed poultry provisions.
The draft contains specific requirements relating to permits, building plans, prohibited noise-causing poultry, setback distances, construction, floor areas and poultry housing.
Rabbit keepers and breeders
Rabbit owners, hobby breeders and clubs are also directly affected.
The draft contains a complete section regulating rabbit enclosures, including building plans, distances from boundaries and dwellings, construction, flooring, water, feed storage and cleaning facilities.
Beekeepers and beekeeping associations
Beekeepers are specifically regulated under Chapter 3.
Among other things, the draft deals with City permits, agricultural registration, association membership, training, hive placement, distances, water, hive numbers and inspections.
Importantly for people who keep both birds and bees, a hive would have to be at least 50 metres from a place used for keeping animals, poultry or birds.
Horse and equine owners
Owners and keepers of horses, mules and donkeys should examine the proposed requirements relating to large livestock and residential animal keeping.
Livestock owners and smallholders
People keeping cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and other livestock may be affected by permitting, property-size requirements, building plans, shelter standards, setback distances, enclosure sizes, drainage and waste-management requirements.
Dog and cat owners
The Draft By-law also deals extensively with dogs and cats, including dangerous animals, attacks, control, breeding, kennels, catteries, nuisance and other responsibilities.
The City’s own public-participation information specifically identifies provisions dealing with vicious dog attacks and broader responsibilities of pet owners and animal keepers.
Dog and cat breeders, kennels and catteries
Commercial kennels and catteries are subject to detailed proposed standards, including property size, land-use approval, approved building plans, enclosure construction, drainage, shelter, distances, food storage and waste management.
Hobby breeders
This is an important group.
The draft states that no person or entity may engage in keeping, breeding or selling animals for “business purposes or gain” without first obtaining a City permit.
Hobby breeders across different animal sectors should therefore consider how these provisions could apply to them.
Commercial breeders
Businesses breeding and selling animals could face permit, record-keeping, animal-welfare, premises and inspection requirements under the proposed By-law.
Pet shops and pet businesses
Pet shops, pet parlours, pet day-care facilities and pet hotels have their own proposed standards.
These include permits, approved building plans, maximum numbers of animals, hygiene, pest control, accommodation, noise management and other requirements.
Exotic and captive-bred animal keepers
The draft defines an “exotic animal” broadly enough to include a non-indigenous, non-domestic animal even where it was born in captivity.
People keeping established captive-bred exotic species should therefore examine the proposed definitions and permitting provisions carefully.
Wild-animal keepers
The draft provides that a person may not keep a wild animal without the applicable nature-conservation permit and a City permit.
This makes the relationship between municipal permitting and existing provincial or national conservation regulation particularly important.
Animal shows, exhibitions, clubs and associations
Associations organising shows, exhibitions and other animal events should also pay attention.
The draft provides that, subject to specified exclusions, a person may not display or exhibit an animal for show or financial gain without a City permit.
People selling animals on Facebook, WhatsApp and online
The proposed By-law could also affect the way animals are advertised.
Without the permit contemplated in Section 12(3), the draft prohibits selling or offering animals for sale in several settings, including online and through social-media platforms.
This is relevant to breeders and hobbyists using Facebook, WhatsApp, websites and other online platforms.
Animal transporters
Businesses and individuals transporting animals should examine the proposed transport provisions, which deal with the suitability of vehicles, containers and enclosures and requirements for space, light, ventilation, protection and welfare.
Veterinarians and animal-health professionals
Veterinarians and other animal-health professionals have an important role in this discussion because the draft deals with veterinary care, animal welfare, disease, biosecurity, breeding establishments, impoundment and professional input.
Animal welfare, rescue and shelter organisations
Animal welfare organisations, rescue groups, shelters and sanctuaries should participate because the draft contains provisions concerning rescued and stray animals, pounds, impoundment, rehoming and animal welfare.
Property owners and ordinary hobbyists
You do not necessarily have to operate a commercial business to be affected.
The draft contains provisions applying to animal keeping on residential premises, permits, numbers of animals, structures, nuisance, hygiene and other activities.
Why PASA is calling this forum
This meeting is not intended to be a forum where everyone simply complains about the Draft By-law.
The purpose is to bring together associations, clubs, hobbyists, breeders, pet keepers, businesses and professionals with the same interests and practical experience in the different sections of the Draft Animal Keeping By-law.
We want everyone affected to have an opportunity to come together.
PASA does not want to speak on behalf of every animal sector. Instead, we want to help bring the different sectors together so that the people who understand each field can contribute to the discussion.
Through the Teams meeting, we want to:
identify which sectors are affected; identify associations and individuals with practical knowledge in those sectors; understand the concerns with specific sections of the Draft By-law; identify areas where different sectors share the same concerns; develop practical alternatives and proposed amendments; and identify knowledgeable representatives who can engage constructively with the relevant City of Cape Town officials.
We want associations and hobbyists to stand together.
A beekeeper understands beekeeping.
A pigeon fancier understands pigeons.
An aviculturist understands birds.
A veterinarian understands animal health and biosecurity.
A breeder understands the practical realities of breeding.
A pet business understands the practical effect of commercial regulation.
Animal welfare organisations bring another important perspective.
We need all of those voices around the same table.
This is not about one association attempting to represent everyone.
It is about collaboration.
Different animals. Different associations. Different interests. One By-law.
Let us get around the same table.
Join the Microsoft Teams discussion
CITY OF CAPE TOWN DRAFT ANIMAL KEEPING BY-LAW 2026
Stakeholder Collaboration Meeting
Date: Monday, September 14, 2026
Time: 19:00
Platform: Microsoft Teams
Teams meeting link: https://teams.live.com/meet/9337445672193?p=JuVwCqEti3r9ipWs5N
Who should attend?
If you keep animals, breed animals, belong to an animal club or association, operate an animal-related business, organise shows or exhibitions, work professionally with animals, or believe your hobby or activities may be affected by the proposed By-law, we encourage you to attend.
You do not need to represent an organisation.
Individual hobbyists and animal keepers are just as important to this discussion.
Read the Draft By-law before the meeting
We strongly encourage everyone attending the meeting to read the Draft By-law beforehand and identify the sections that could affect them.
The City’s page provides access to the Draft Animal Keeping By-law and its Executive Summary, as well as the official public-comment process.
For comparison, the City’s currently published Animal Keeping By-law, 2021 can be accessed through its policies and by-laws section:
The City has also published an explanation of some of the principal proposed amendments:
Have your say before 29 September 2026
The official public-comment period runs from 28 August to 29 September 2026.
Comments can be submitted through the City’s online public-participation page or by email to Animal.bylaw@capetown.gov.za. Written submissions can also be delivered to the Law Enforcement Department at the Omniforum Building in Kuils River.
The Teams meeting does not replace your right to make your own submission.
We encourage associations, clubs, businesses and individual hobbyists to read the proposals and participate in the official process.
STAND TOGETHER. COLLABORATE. HAVE YOUR SAY.
This is an opportunity for the broader animal-keeping community to work together before the proposed By-law is finalised.
Read it. Understand it. Discuss it. Submit informed comments.
One By-law affects many communities. Let those communities come together.
PASA | Parrot Breeders Association of Southern Africa