Night curfew rules across the Shire of Hindmarsh.

Yes. Hindmarsh's Municipal Local Law says an owner must not let a dog or cat roam at large between dusk and dawn in a zoned residential area. The council also says that if a cat is found at large or not securely confined to its owner's property, the owner can be fined under its local laws, with stricter penalties for repeat offenders. A fully enclosed cat run is a tidy way to handle it, because it keeps your cat safely on the property while still letting it sit in the garden and get some fresh air.

Yes. Any cat over three months old must be registered with the council, and registration is renewed every year, with renewals due by 10 April. Your cat needs to be microchipped before you can register it. New registrations, changes of address and lost tags all go through the council.

A microchip is required before the council will register your cat. Desexing isn't compulsory, but desexed cats attract a much lower registration fee than entire ones. The council also runs a low-cost desexing program, and its Domestic Animal Management Plan 2026-2029 keeps promoting it, so it's worth asking what support is available.

In a residential or township zone you can keep up to two cats over three months of age without needing a permit. If you want to keep more, you have to apply to the council for an excess animal permit, which checks the animals can be kept in a clean, safe and neighbour-friendly setup. Fees and exact conditions are set by the council, so confirm the current details with them.

The cat enclosure itself is not something you register as an animal permit. A building permit is a separate question and depends on the size and height of what you put up, plus where it sits on the block. Small, low structures are often exempt, but it is always worth a quick call to the council to confirm before you build.

As a general Victorian guide, a freestanding structure under about 10 square metres in floor area and under 3 metres high often does not need a building permit, but setbacks, easements and any planning overlays can change that. On rural or heritage-affected land the rules can be stricter. We design each cat run to suit your yard, and we suggest confirming the setback and height details with the council's building surveyor for your address.

A cat found off its owner's property can be picked up and impounded, and you may be fined under the council's local laws, with stricter penalties for repeat offenders. The council holds a seized cat with a microchip for 8 days for its owner to collect it. A registered, microchipped cat is far quicker and cheaper to get home. Keeping your cat contained at home is the simplest way to avoid the stress and the fees altogether.

Yes, though if you rent you will need your landlord or property manager's permission first, and freestanding or modular designs are handy because they can often come with you when you move. In a unit or apartment a window or balcony enclosure can still give your cat safe access to the outside. Either way, a good cat run keeps your cat home at night, as Hindmarsh's local law requires in residential zones, without your cat missing out.

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 Hindmarsh. 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 Hindmarsh 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.