Night-time cat rules for the City of Greater Dandenong.

Yes. Greater Dandenong has a night-time cat curfew, which means your cat has to be kept on your property from dusk until dawn, and the council has been enforcing it since 10 April 2024. The simplest way to meet the curfew is a fully enclosed cat run, because it keeps your cat safely on your own property day and night without you having to watch the clock. Check the council's cat curfew page for the current detail.

Yes. Under Victorian law and the council's rules, cats over three months old must be registered with Greater Dandenong. Registration runs for a yearly period and is due by 10 April each year, so you renew it annually. Your cat needs to be microchipped before you can register it.

Microchipping is required before you can register any cat with the council. Desexing is not compulsory, but the council gives desexed cats a much lower registration fee for life, so you just need to provide the desexing certificate for their records. Desexing also cuts down on wandering and unwanted litters, which is part of why the council encourages it.

You can keep up to two cats on a residential property without needing extra approval. If you want more than that, you have to apply to the council for an excess animals permit, which is a one-off application. It's worth confirming the current fee and any conditions with the council before you go over the limit.

The cat run itself doesn't need an animal or local law permit. What can apply is a building permit, and that depends on the size, height and design of the structure. As a guide, the council treats a small unattached shed under 10 square metres and no more than 2.4 metres high as not needing a building permit, but a bigger or roofed structure generally does, so it's best to check with the council's building team before you build.

Yes, height and how close you build to a boundary both matter under the building rules the council applies. Smaller freestanding structures that stay under the exempt size and height, and keep off the boundary, are the easiest to build without a permit. Because the exact setbacks depend on your block and the design, confirm the height and boundary requirements with the council before you start, and we can build to suit.

If your cat is picked up wandering, especially during the dusk to dawn curfew, it can be impounded and you'll pay a reclaim fee to get it back. You may also cop a warning in the first instance, or a fine for repeat issues. Having your cat registered and microchipped makes it far easier for the council to identify it and get it home to you quickly.

Yes, it's often doable. If you rent, you'll need your landlord or agent's permission first, and a freestanding or less permanent enclosure is usually the easiest to get approved. For apartments and units, you may also need the owners corporation's okay for anything on a balcony or shared area. Once you've sorted permission, we can design a cat enclosure to fit the space, and it's worth a quick check with the council on any building requirements.

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 City of Greater Dandenong. 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 City of Greater Dandenong 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.