The cat curfew rules for the Shire of Macedon Ranges.

Yes. Since July 2020 the shire has run a night-time cat curfew, so your cat needs to be kept on your property from sunset to sunrise. The council has also adopted a plan to move to round-the-clock cat containment, though that step has been pushed back and is not expected to start until 2029. A fully enclosed cat run is the easy way to meet both the current curfew and the coming 24-hour rule, since it keeps your cat safely on your own land day and night.

Yes. In Victoria cats are registered with the council once they reach three months of age, and Macedon Ranges renews registrations every year, with fees due by 10 April. You register through the council and pay the annual fee. Desexed cats and pension or concession holders qualify for a lower rate.

Your cat has to be microchipped before it can be registered with the council. Desexing is not compulsory across the shire yet, but desexed cats pay a much lower registration fee, and the council runs low-cost desexing days for eligible residents. Mandatory desexing is one of the changes being considered under the new animal management plan, so it's worth staying across council updates.

Under the council's local law you can generally keep up to two cats on a standard house block, or up to four on land larger than about 4,000 square metres (roughly an acre), without a permit. If you want to keep more than that you need to apply to the council for a permit. The exact numbers can change, so it's worth confirming with the council before you plan a multi-cat setup.

A cat enclosure or catio isn't something you register as an animal permit. What can apply is a building permit, and that usually comes down to the size and height of the structure rather than the fact it's for a cat. Smaller, freestanding runs often sit under the threshold where a building permit kicks in, but the Macedon Ranges has plenty of bushfire, environmental and heritage overlays that can change what you need. The safe move is a quick call to the council's building or planning team before you start.

As a general Victorian guide, a freestanding enclosure under about 10 square metres in floor area and under 3 metres high, set back from your boundaries, usually doesn't need a building permit. Those are guide figures though, not a set Macedon Ranges rule, and overlays across the shire can lower the threshold. We build to suit your space and will flag anything that looks like it might need council sign-off, and the exact size, height and setback limits are worth confirming with the council for your address.

A cat found off your property, especially during the sunset-to-sunrise curfew or in a signed environmentally sensitive area, can be picked up and impounded, and you may face release fees or a fine. Making sure your cat is registered and microchipped is the quickest way for the council to reunite you if it's found. A secure cat run avoids the problem entirely by keeping your cat on your land.

You can, though it pays to sort permission first. If you rent, get your landlord or agent's okay in writing, and freestanding or window-mounted enclosures that don't alter the building are usually the easiest to get across the line. In an apartment or unit a balcony or window catio can work well, but check your owners corporation rules first. We build to suit both, including portable options renters can take with them.

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 Macedon Ranges. 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 Macedon Ranges 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.