Animal Management By-Laws

The full process of By-Law preparation and enactment can take more than 18-24 months, from initial consultation, drafting and publication through to enactment. We are committed to working in partnership with the community to make the new By-Laws as effective as possible.

Community consultation on the new By-Laws was open from 15 January - 12 February 2024, which included public information sessions at the following dates and locations:

*Location was changed from Bakewell Dog Park to Palmerston Recreation Centre due wet weather.
**This was a Palmerston Animal Management Network meeting held in Council Chambers and open for the general public.

Community consultation on the Animal Management Policy was open from 14 May - 4 June 2024.

This policy goes hand in hand with the By-Laws, and was drafted following feedback received from the community, in order to encourage responsible animal ownership, public safety and community wellbeing in the Palmerston municipality. The Palmerston community are encouraged to read the important information below .

We would like to thank the community for their responses during two Animal Management By-Laws consultations which occurred in 2021 and 2024, and to the Animal Management Policy consultation in 2024. To view a summary of the engagement elements from 2021, please download the 2021 Consultation Outcomes Flyer and the community consultation report from 2021.

There are no anticipated costs associated with the proposed changes.

Regulatory Services worked with key service providers and other government agencies to develop a concept idea and a community consultation delivery plan. The idea was to gain an understanding of key areas of interest and changes within animal management, to ensure the effective adoption of desired changes by the community as well as ensuring the By-Laws are modern and contemporary.

The first community consultation ran for 60 days in 2021, with feedback from the community being a significant factor in formulating the new Animal Management By-Laws.

The Palmerston (Animal Management) By-Laws came into force in 1999, 25 years ago. Since then, we’ve seen significant population growth and gaps within the By-Law scope have emerged. Best practice relating to animal ownership, welfare and regulation have evolved and it’s time we amend our By-Laws to reflect community expectations and better govern domestic animal ownership.

City of Palmerston is looking to address dog attacks and menaces, the ability to declare dogs dangerous, better manage nuisance behaviours, licensing differences including limiting the total number of animals per property, cat management including registration.

A licence or registration issued, granted or renewed under the former By-Laws that is in force immediately before the commencement continues as if the licence or registration were issued, granted or renewed under these new By-Laws.

Scheduled for 1 July 2024

There are no anticipated costs associated with the proposed changes.

Regulatory Services worked with key service providers and other government agencies to develop a concept idea and a community consultation delivery plan. The idea was to gain an understanding of key areas of interest and changes within animal management, to ensure the effective adoption of desired changes by the community as well as ensuring the By-Laws are modern and contemporary.

The first community consultation ran for 60 days in 2021, with feedback from the community being a significant factor in formulating the new Animal Management By-Laws.