Keeping animals on residential properties

Domestic animals are an important part of many households. However, they need to be kept in a way that protects the public from nuisance, maintains public health and safety, and protects the welfare of the animal.

For details and more information on restrictions or required approvals for keeping animals in Wellington, see: Animal Bylaw 2024

For more information about running or setting up an animal boarding establishment, such as a kennel or doggy day care, see: Animal boarding establishments

Bees

If you want to keep bees in your garden, the position of your hive is important. Bees establish a single flight path and drop wax and waste along their way. Hives on private property must not affect neighbouring properties and public spaces.

The Council's Environmental Health Officers will respond to complaints where bees might be causing any nuisance or danger to other residents.

If you want to establish a hive on Council-administered land (e.g. at a community garden), you will need a licence. See our guidelines to find out more about what conditions need to be met to receive a licence.

Contact Apiculture New Zealand about beekeeping registration and disease prevention in your area.

Guidelines for keeping Bees on a private property

• Hives must be registered with AsureQuality and all hives must prominently show the Beekeeper’s Apiary Registration Number. Register here: Apiary Registry 
• A maximum of four hives can be placed on any one urban or residential site  
• The bees must not be kept in such conditions or hives sited in such a way that creates or is likely to create a nuisance to any person e.g. bee flight-paths and aggression. 
• Beekeepers must ensure that gentle strains of bees only kept, if the bees become aggressive, the colony should be re-queened or removed.
• Council will investigate any complaints or may recommend removing some hives 

Avoid placing hives close to:

• a neighbours house 
• vegetable gardens
• clothes lines
• children’s play areas
• areas frequently used by people, e.g. walkways, playgrounds 
• driveways
• road side/footpaths

In residential areas the hive should be behind a two meter high fence, trellis or hedge.

Properties in urban areas should have no more than four hives – in some cases on smaller properties only two hives are appropriate. For example townhouses, apartments, small sections and houses within a close proximity.

Please consider the below when looking to have up to four hives on your property:

• How big the property is
• How close the neighbours are
• Previous complaints about your bees 
• How many neighbours border your property

If you are unsure on hive numbers feel free to email Wellington City Council on publichealthenquiries@wcc.govt.nz to set up an appointment with an Officer.

Cats

All domestic cats over the age of 12 weeks in Wellington must be microchipped and registered with NZCAR (New Zealand Companion Animal Register).

All domestic cats over the age of 6 months in Wellington must be desexed. There are some exemptions to this bylaw which can be viewed in the Animal Bylaw 2024.

Dogs

For detailed information about keeping dogs, registration, exercise areas, and dog control, see our Dogs pages.

Stock

Stock refers to livestock, which may include alpacas, cattle, deer, donkeys, sheep, goats, and pigs.  Under the bylaw keeping any stock and/or horses in a residential area is prohibited unless prior written permission from the Council is obtained. 

Written permission is not required to keep stock and/or horses within a rural area. 

Poultry

Poultry includes hens, roosters, ducks, geese, quail, peafowl, pheasants, swans, and guinea fowls. There are welfare and health requirements that owners need to meet when keeping poultry. Check the Animal Bylaw 2024 for more information.

Under the bylaw:

• No roosters or peafowl are to be kept in residential areas unless written permission has been granted by the council. 
• Permission is required to keep more than eight hens and/or female ducks or more than twelve female quails. 
• Poultry must be always contained within the owner’s property. 
• Poultry feed must be stored securely in vermin-proof containers. 
• The poultry enclosure must be cleaned regularly to prevent offensive odours, and all waste must be disposed of appropriately. 

For permission to keep more than eight poultry, contact a Public Health Officer on 04 499 4444 or publichealthenquiries@wcc.govt.nz

Guidelines for housing and cleaning chickens:

• The location of chicken coops can be very important for minimising potential nuisance to neighbours. When locating a chicken coop, owners should consider how this may affect their neighbours and locate the coop in a place that is least likely to cause a nuisance. Placing it right up against neighbouring properties or near outdoor living areas has the potential to cause a nuisance, as hens can be noisy when they lay and there is a risk of chicken coops becoming smelly in the summer months.
• The owner of any chicken must regularly clean their chicken coop as appropriate to maintain the chicken coop in a dry, clean condition and state of good repair, free from any offensive smell, overflow and vermin.

Other Poultry

Council do not recommend owning geese, peacocks or any other vocal bird in an urban area, as they are likely to become a nuisance  

Rabbits and Guinea pigs

These animals need to be confined to a cage, or if free ranging, need to be contained within your property to not cause a nuisance to neighbours.

The owner of any rabbit or Guinea pig must regularly clean their hutch as appropriate to maintain the rabbit or Guinea pig in a dry, clean condition and state of good repair, free from any offensive smell, overflow and vermin.

Stock impounds

Wellington City Council has contracted Hutt City Animal Services to investigate reports of wandering stock. Animal Services officers have the right to seize and impound any wandering stock.

Fees

Stock will not be released until all costs have been paid. Failure to claim impounded stock does not relieve the owner from costs.