Find the guidelines and rules about keeping pigeons on your property. To keep pigeons on your property, you must apply to the City for a Certificate of Registration.
Definition
A pigeon includes homing pigeon and racing pigeon. A young bird is any pigeon under 24 days of age and, unless the contrary can be shown, a pigeon shall be deemed under this local law to be a young bird if it is without feathers on the flesh under the wings.
Restrictions
- Pigeons are not to be kept on a property of less than 600m2, unless approved prior to the 1999 Local Law.
- Current financial members of a recognised incorporated racing pigeon body, or a registered pigeon fancier, may apply to keep up to 150 pigeons, excluding young birds. The maximum number of birds that may be considered for registration, excluding young birds, for any other land would be 20 pigeons.
Exercise of pigeons
When exercising your pigeons, the following rules should be observed:
- Racing or homing pigeons may be released for exercise between sunrise and 9am and between 3.30pm and 7pm, as outlined in the Code of Practice for Pigeon Keeping and Racing in Western Australia
- No more than 60 registered racing or homing pigeons are to be released for exercise at any one time
- Only the holder of a Certificate of Registration may release pigeons for exercise
- Implementation of practices that minimise aerial soiling and discourage pigeons from roof sitting.
The City may impose and amend conditions on a Certificate of Registration, as required, to minimise any nuisance associated with the keeping of pigeons.
Cage, enclosure, or loft requirements
A pigeons’ cage, enclosure, or loft must blend in with its surroundings and be constructed of new materials. The minimum requirements for a loft are:
- The floor is to be constructed using a minimum of 50 millimetres thick concrete
- The cladding of the loft, including the roof, is to be of a smooth material
- The loft height is not to exceed 2.4 metres
- Where the loft roof has a gable, the height is not to exceed 3m.
- A cage, enclosure or loft is not to be located nearer than:
- 1.2 metres from the boundary of any adjacent land
- 9 metres from any dwelling or food premises
- 9 metres from any road, reserve or street.
Apply for Certificate of Registration
A Certificate of Registration is required to keep pigeons.
The following items must be included in your application for a Certificate of Registration:
- Your name/s and contact numbers
- Your address (same as the address of where the pigeons are to be kept)
- A plan of the premises showing the location of the pigeon loft, cage or enclosure in relation to all dwellings, other buildings, structures and fences
- The plans and specifications of the proposed loft, cage or enclosure
- The written opinion of all owner/occupiers whose land is adjacent to the land where the pigeons are to be kept
- The proposed number of adult pigeons to be kept
- An application fee.
Registration is only valid between 1 July and 30 June each financial year and is required to be renewed annually. The current fee for keeping pigeons is $138 per application.
The application form is provide below.
Lodge via myJoondalup customer portal
Please note: Planning and/or building approval may also be required for pigeon cages, enclosures or lofts. For more advice contact the City via info@joondalup.wa.gov.au.