Cat containment rules for the Shire of Yarra Ranges.

Yes. Yarra Ranges Council has a 24/7 cat curfew, so your cat has to stay within your property boundary at all times, day and night. You can keep them indoors, in a yard they can't get out of, or in a secure cat enclosure. A fully enclosed cat run is the easy way to give them fresh air and outdoor time while keeping them on the property, naturally.

Yes. Under the Domestic Animals Act every cat must be microchipped and registered with the council by 3 months of age. Registration renews each year and falls due on 10 April. Fees are set every financial year, so check the council's current fee list for the exact amount.

Microchipping is required before you can register, for every cat over 3 months. In Yarra Ranges, cats registered for the first time also have to be desexed, a rule that has applied since April 2010, unless the cat is a registered breeding animal or you belong to an approved cat organisation. Desexed cats also pay a lower registration fee.

There's a limit before you need an excess animal permit, but the council doesn't publish one fixed number. It depends on the type of animal, how many you want to keep and where you live, so the council looks at your land size and location. If you're planning on several cats, contact the council to check whether a permit is needed.

A backyard cat run usually needs no animal permit. A building or planning permit can still be triggered by the size and height of the structure, how close it sits to a boundary, or an overlay on your land. A lot of the Ranges sits under bushfire or environmental overlays, so it's worth a quick check with the council or a registered building surveyor before you start.

Small, low enclosures often fall within the size and height limits that let you build without a building permit, but bigger or taller structures, or ones close to the fence line, can need one. Boundary setbacks and overlays can also change what's allowed on your block. We build to suit your space and will flag anything that looks like it might need council sign-off, and the exact thresholds are worth confirming with the council.

If your cat is picked up, the council's Safer Communities team will try to reunite you using the microchip and registration details, which is exactly why those matter. Cats they can't identify are taken to the Animal Aid pound at Coldstream, and release fees set by the pound apply. Keeping your cat contained on your property avoids the stress and the cost.

You can, but get written approval from your landlord or owners corporation first, since it's their building. A freestanding or window-style cat enclosure that doesn't need permanent fixing is usually the easiest option for a rental. We can design an outdoor cat space to suit a balcony, courtyard or small yard.

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 Yarra 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 Yarra 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.