24/7 cat containment in the Shire of Baw Baw.

Yes. Baw Baw Shire has a 24-hour cat curfew under its Community Local Law, which means owners must keep their cat securely confined to their own property and not let it wander at any time of the day or night. The rule is there to protect local wildlife and to keep cats safe from cars, dogs and fights. A fully enclosed cat run or catio is a simple way to give your cat safe outdoor time while keeping it on your property and on the right side of the curfew.

Yes. All cats over three months of age must be registered with Baw Baw Shire Council, and registration renews each year, with renewals due around 10 April. Your cat needs to be microchipped before you can register it, and you can register or renew through the council. Fees are set each year, and desexed cats and pension concession card holders pay a lower rate, so check the current amounts with the council.

Yes to both in most cases. All cats living in Baw Baw Shire must be desexed unless an exemption applies, such as a registered breeder, membership of an approved organisation, or a vet exemption on health grounds. Microchipping is a Victorian requirement and has to be done before you can register. The council also runs subsidised cat desexing vouchers from time to time, so it's worth asking whether that can help with the cost.

On a standard residential block you can generally keep up to two cats without a permit. Rural properties can usually keep more, up to around five, before a permit comes into it. If you want to keep more than that, you apply to the council for an Excess Animals Permit. The limits can depend on your property size and zone, so it's worth confirming the current numbers with the council.

The cat run itself usually doesn't need an animal permit. What can trigger a permit is the building side of things: a larger or taller structure, or a build close to a boundary, may need a building permit, and a planning overlay on some properties can add extra rules. As a rough Victorian guide, small and low structures often sit under the building-permit threshold, but it's best to check with the council's building and planning team before you start. Baw Baw also publishes a DIY cat enclosures booklet worth a look.

There can be, depending on the size of the enclosure and where it sits on your block. As a general Victorian guide a freestanding enclosure is often exempt from a building permit when it's under about 10 square metres and no more than around 3 metres high, though those figures are a guide rather than a guarantee. Setbacks from the boundary and any heritage or environmental overlay on your land can change what's allowed. We design each cat run to suit the spot and keep it within the sizes that usually avoid a permit, and a quick call to the council's building team will confirm what applies to your address.

Because of the 24-hour curfew, a cat found off your property can be picked up by the council or an authorised officer, and you may be issued a fine. Cats that are caught can be held at the pound, and you'd usually pay release and daily holding fees to get them back. Keeping your cat contained, registered and microchipped makes it far easier to reunite you and avoids the penalties, and a secure cat run is the most reliable way to keep them home.

Often yes, you've just got a couple of extra people to keep onside. For rentals we can build freestanding or lightweight enclosures that don't damage the property and can come with you when you move, so get your landlord or agent's okay first. In a unit or apartment with an owners corporation you'll likely need their sign-off for anything on shared areas, and a window or balcony enclosure can work well. Check your lease or owners corporation rules, and if a fixed structure is involved, confirm any council permit needs before you start.

A fully enclosed catio keeps your cat safely on your property, which is exactly what containment rules ask for, while still giving them fresh air and the sounds and smells of outside. We build a range of escape-proof enclosures, from a discreet patio catio to a side run or netting over the whole backyard, so there's an option to suit your home. Build a quote to get started.

Yes, we build custom catios right across greater Melbourne, including the Shire of Baw Baw. If you're not sure you're in range, get in touch and we'll let you know.

Always confirm the current rules with the council directly via the Shire of Baw Baw website (opens in a new tab). The guide above is research we've collated to help you get started, not legal advice, see the note at the foot of this page.