The City of Karratha is a pet and animal-friendly City, and encourages the responsible keeping of all animals.
Under the City’s Animals, Environment and Nuisance Local Law 2012, you may keep up to 12 poultry in a residential area if you follow the particular rules around keeping poultry. Under this local law, poultry includes domestic fowl or chickens, bantams, ducks, guinea fowl and pheasants.
It is important to note that roosters, turkeys, geese or gander, peacocks or peahens may not be kept in a residential area.
Visit the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development website for detailed information about lookin after your backyard chickens.
Contact Environmental Health team on 9186 8555 for any queries.
Applying for approval to keep bees, poultry, or miniature animals
The applicant completes an Application for Keeping Birds, Bees and Farm Animals 
The application may be submitted in person at Customer Services at the Administration Building on Welcome Road or by email to enquiries@karratha.wa.gov.au.
All applications are subject to payment of an application fee on submission.
The City distributes survey forms to surrounding residents providing an opportunity for them to respond, either by support of or objection to the proposal. If no response is received, it is assumed they have no objection. The response period is two weeks from the date of the letter.
After assessment of the application and objections (if any), the City issues the applicant with a letter of approval or refusal.
The local law advises:
Poultry
A person who keeps poultry or permits poultry to be kept shall ensure that:
- no poultry shall be kept less than 9 metres from any residential building;
- no poultry is able to approach within 15 metres of a public street, public building, commercial premises or food premises;
- all poultry is kept in a properly constructed and securely fastened structure;
- the structure has an impervious floor laid with a fall to the front of at least 1 in 50;
- all structures or enclosures within which poultry are kept are maintained at all times in a clean condition; and
- all poultry is kept continually confined.
Aviary birds
A person who keeps, or permits to be kept, aviary birds shall ensure that:
- the aviary or cage in which the birds are kept is located at least 1 metre from any lot boundary and at least 5 metres from a residential building on any other lot;
- there is a floor beneath the roofed area of the aviary or cage which is constructed of smooth, impervious material with a gradient of at least 1 in 50 to the front of the aviary or cage;
- the aviary or cage is kept in clean condition and good repair at all times;
- all feed for the birds other than that intended for immediate consumption is stored in vermin proof containers; and
- effective measures are taken to prevent the attraction or harbourage of vermin.
Pigeons
A person who keeps pigeons, or permits pigeons to be kept, shall ensure that:
- all pigeons are kept in a properly constructed pigeon loft, except where registered homing pigeons are freed for exercise; Shire of Roebourne Animals, Environment and Nuisance Local Law 2012 adopted 151012 7
- all structures or enclosures within which pigeons are kept are maintained at all times in a clean condition;
- no opening to a pigeon loft, including openings for ventilation, is within 9 metres of any residential building; and
- no opening to a pigeon loft, including openings for ventilation, is within 15 metres of a public street, public building, commercial premises or food premises.
- An affiliated person who keeps pigeons, or permits pigeons to be kept, shall do so in accordance with the Code of Practice – Pigeon Keeping, subject to the provisions of this local law.
Documents
Animals, environment and nuisance local law
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