Can you keep backyard chickens in Victoria, Australia?
Victoria's livestock disease law makes poultry owners apply for a property identification code (PIC), with no minimum in the sections read; the Better Health Channel says over 50 birds. Which applies wasn't established.
Read from 5 official sources42 passages quotedChecked October 26, 2026
At a glance
Registering your flock
State keeping rule
Bird-flu housing orders
Welfare rules
A sourced reading of the law in Victoria, Australia, not legal advice. Local bylaws and zoning, property or tenancy rules, and any local rooster or coop limits aren't covered here yet: check your local rules before you get hens.
Keeping your flock
These findings cover the scope stated below. They do not determine whether chickens are allowed at a particular home. City zoning, property restrictions and other local rules are outside this research.
Registering as a poultry keeper
Conditions apply to this finding
Jurisdiction: Victoria
Applies to: Owners of poultry in Victoria under the Livestock Disease Control Act 1994 (Authorised Version No. 086, incorporating amendments as at 1 July 2026) and the Livestock Disease Control Regulations 2017 (Authorised Version No. 007).
Outside this finding's scope
- The Act and Regulations read state no minimum number of birds, while the Department of Health’s Better Health Channel says the rule is for owners of more than 50 poultry. This difference was not resolved; no exemption for smaller flocks was found in the sections read.
What the checked sources say
- A person who owns any prescribed livestock must apply to the Secretary for a code (a property identification code, PIC) that identifies the property where the livestock are kept. The Regulations prescribe poultry for this purpose, and poultry includes chickens reared in captivity.
- The Department of Health’s Better Health Channel says that in Victoria, by law, owners of more than 50 poultry must obtain a PIC for their property. The Act and Regulations read do not state that number; which reading applies to a smaller flock was not established.
Thresholds
- None stated in section 9B(1) or regulation 41; the Better Health Channel says more than 50 poultry.
Authority: The Secretary (section 9B of the Livestock Disease Control Act 1994).
Fee: Not established from the sources checked.
The official wording
Authorised Version No. 086
cover page · Checked
Authorised Version incorporating amendments as at 1 July 2026
cover page · Checked
(1) A person who owns any cattle or prescribed livestock or any livestock of a prescribed species or class must apply to the Secretary for the allocation of a code that identifies the property at which the cattle or livestock is to be kept.
section 9B(1) · Checked
Authorised Version No. 007
cover page · Checked
For the purposes of section 9B(1) of the Act, the prescribed classes of livestock are camels, pigs, sheep, goats, horses, alpaca, llama, deer and poultry.
regulation 41 · Checked
poultry means any of the following livestock reared in captivity— (a) a chicken;
regulation 5, poultry (a) · Checked
In Victoria, by law, owners of more than 50 poultry are required to obtain a Property Identification Code (PIC) for their property.
Can I keep chickens in my backyard? · Checked
Bird-flu housing orders
Current status needs rechecking
An official current-status link has not been established.
Orders can change between checks. A missed check or an expired order does not establish that no order applies.
Housing-order finding as checked on 2026-10-26
The scope and conditions below are a dated record, not confirmation of today's position.
Conditions apply to this finding
Uses housing orders in this scope: Yes, according to the checked evidence, within the limits listed under “Outside this finding’s scope” below.
Jurisdiction: Victoria
Applies to: Quarantine notices by inspectors and control-area orders by the Minister under the Livestock Disease Control Act 1994 (Authorised Version No. 086, incorporating amendments as at 1 July 2026). Livestock includes any bird, so these powers reach poultry.
Outside this finding's scope
- These powers do not themselves require birds to be housed; a requirement exists only under a notice or order that imposes one.
- Whether any quarantine notice or control-area order applies now was not established, and no official Victorian status page could be read for this page. The 2026 (No. 3) order below is shown only as a dated example of how this power has been used; it is not shown as in force now.
What the checked sources say
- An inspector who believes on reasonable grounds that it is necessary to prevent the spread of disease may, by written notice, order that any premises or place be quarantined and kept secure so as to prohibit or restrict the movement of livestock onto or out of it. The notice stays in force until the Secretary revokes it, and a person must not contravene it.
- If the Minister believes or suspects it is reasonably necessary to prevent, control or eradicate an exotic disease, the Minister may by order declare any land, premises, place or area (including the whole of Victoria) a control area and specify the prohibitions, restrictions and requirements that operate there. The order must be published in full in the Government Gazette.
- For example, the Avian Influenza Control Area Order 2026 (No. 3), made under section 29 and published in the Victoria Government Gazette No. S 518 of 16 September 2026, required all applicable livestock, which included chickens, to be confined in a manner that prevented contact with wild birds (among other conditions) on premises inside its mapped control area where 50 or more applicable livestock were kept. As published, it was to commence on 19 September 2026 and end at 11.59 pm on 16 October 2026 unless revoked earlier; whether it was later amended, extended or replaced was not checked.
- Whether any notice or order requiring poultry to be confined applies now was not established; inspectors issue quarantine notices and the Minister makes control-area orders, which appear in the Victoria Government Gazette.
- Checked
- Recheck due
Historical evidence, as checked
These quotations record what was checked on the dates shown. They do not confirm an order's current status.
Authorised Version No. 086
cover page · Checked
livestock means any non-human animal, and any fish or bird, whether wild or domesticated, egg intended for hatching or bee;
section 3(1), livestock · Checked
(1) An inspector who believes on reasonable grounds that, in order to prevent the spread of disease, it is necessary to do so, may by notice in writing order that any premises, place or vehicle be quarantined and kept secure
section 110(1) · Checked
so as to prohibit or restrict the movement of any livestock, livestock product, fodder or fitting onto or out of the premises, place or vehicle affected by the notice.
section 110(1) · Checked
A quarantine notice remains in force until revoked by the Secretary.
section 111 · Checked
A person must not contravene any provision of a quarantine notice.
section 112 · Checked
(1) If the Minister believes or suspects that it is reasonably necessary for the purpose of preventing, controlling or eradicating an exotic disease, the Minister may by order—
section 29(1) · Checked
(a) declare any land, premises, place or area (including the whole of Victoria) to be a control area; and (b) specify any prohibitions, restrictions and requirements which are to operate in the control area.
section 29(1)(a)–(b) · Checked
(a) the order is published in full in the Government Gazette; and
section 29(4)(a) · Checked
This Order may be referred to as the Avian Influenza Control Area Order 2026 (No. 3).
p1 clause2 · Checked
This Order is made under section 29 of the Livestock Disease Control Act 1994.
p1 clause3 · Checked
This Order commences on 19 September 2026 and ends at 11.59 pm on 16 October 2026 unless revoked earlier.
p1 clause4 · Checked
On premises within the control area on which 50 or more applicable livestock are kept, all applicable livestock must be confined in a manner that
p2 clause9(1) opening · Checked
prevents contact with wild birds, including wild bird congregations; and
p2 clause9(1)(a) · Checked
The following classes of livestock are applicable livestock for the purposes of this Order, other than a wild bird – (a) chicken;
p1 clause6(a) · Checked
No. S 518 Wednesday 16 September 2026
p1 masthead · Checked
Small-flock welfare minimums
Conditions apply to this finding
Jurisdiction: Victoria
Applies to: Owners and people in charge of chickens in Victoria under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (Authorised Version No. 097, incorporating amendments as at 22 October 2025).
Outside this finding's scope
- The Act does not apply to farming practices for farm animals (which include poultry kept for or used in connection with primary production) carried out in accordance with a Code of Practice, to the keeping or care of other animals in accordance with a Code of Practice (except where a code is relied on as a defence), or to treatment by or on the instructions of a veterinary practitioner, among other listed exclusions.
- The Better Health Channel’s care points are advice, not legal minimums. The domestic fowl regulations and codes of practice were not read.
What the checked sources say
- The Act covers live vertebrates, including birds other than those below the normal mid-point of incubation. An owner or person in charge of an animal that is confined or otherwise unable to provide for itself commits an act of cruelty if they fail to provide it with proper and sufficient food, drink or shelter, and so does an owner or person in charge of a sick or injured animal who unreasonably fails to provide veterinary or other appropriate attention or treatment.
- An act of cruelty is an offence. Cruelty that results in the death or serious disablement of the animal is aggravated cruelty, a separate offence. It is a defence for an owner to prove they had an agreement with another person to care for the animal at the time, and a defence for anyone carrying out an activity in accordance with a code of practice prescribed for that purpose.
- The Department of Health’s Better Health Channel advises a ventilated chicken house protected from prevailing winds and rain, appropriate food and clean water refreshed regularly, and regular health checks, consulting a vet if concerned.
The official wording
Authorised Version No. 097
cover page · Checked
Authorised Version incorporating amendments as at 22 October 2025
cover page · Checked
(3) In this Act, other than Part 3, animal means—
section 3(3) · Checked
(a) a live member of a vertebrate species including any—
section 3(3)(a) · Checked
(ii) reptile, bird or mammal, other than any human being or any reptile, bird or other mammal that is below the normal mid-point of gestation or incubation for the particular class of reptile, bird or mammal; or
section 3(3)(a)(ii) · Checked
(f) is the owner or the person in charge of an animal which is confined or otherwise unable to provide for itself and fails to provide the animal with proper and sufficient food, drink or shelter; or
section 9(1)(f) · Checked
(i) is the owner or the person in charge of a sick or injured animal and unreasonably fails to provide veterinary or other appropriate attention or treatment for the animal; or
section 9(1)(i) · Checked
commits an act of cruelty upon that animal and is guilty of an offence
section 9(1), closing words · Checked
(2) It is a defence to a charge under subsection (1) against an owner of an animal to prove that, at the time of the alleged offence, the owner had entered into an agreement with another person by which the other person agreed to care for the animal.
section 9(2) · Checked
(1) A person who commits an act or acts of cruelty on any animal, which result in the death or serious disablement of the animal, commits aggravated cruelty on that animal and is guilty of an offence
section 10(1) · Checked
(2) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence under section 9 or 10 in relation to an activity if the person charged was carrying out the activity in accordance with a code of practice prescribed for the purposes of this subsection (other than a Code of Practice made under section 7) that regulates that activity.
section 11(2) · Checked
(1) This Act does not apply to—
section 6(1) · Checked
(b) except to the extent that it is necessary to rely upon a Code of Practice as a defence to an offence under this Act, the keeping, treatment, handling, transportation, sale, killing, hunting, shooting, catching, trapping, netting, marking, care, use, husbandry or management of any animal or class of animals (other than a farm animal or class of
section 6(1)(b) · Checked
(c) any act or practice with respect to the farming, transport, sale or killing of any farm animal which is carried out in accordance with a Code of Practice; or
section 6(1)(c) · Checked
(a) if kept for or used in connection with primary production—cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry, goats and deer; and
section 3(1), farm animal (a) · Checked
(e) the treatment of any animal for the purpose of promoting its health or welfare by or in accordance with the instructions of a veterinary practitioner; or
section 6(1)(e) · Checked
Ensure the chicken house is adequately ventilated and positioned to protect against prevailing winds and rain.
Chicken housing · Checked
It is important to feed your chickens with appropriate food and clean water, refreshed regularly.
Feeding your chickens · Checked
Check your chickens regularly to ensure they are alert, active, eating well, have clean eyes and nostrils and have noiseless breathing. If you are concerned, consult a vet to assist you with diagnosing and treating any health issues.
Chicken health · Checked
Rules on keeping poultry
Not established from the sources checked
Jurisdiction: Victoria
Applies to: Statewide rules on keeping chickens at a property in Victoria.
Outside this finding's scope
- No statewide permission or ban on keeping chickens was found in the Livestock Disease Control Act 1994, Livestock Disease Control Regulations 2017 and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 provisions read. Local laws and planning rules were not read, and who sets them was not established.
Elsewhere in Australia
- Australian Capital TerritoryRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- New South WalesRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- Northern TerritoryRegistration: requiredRegistration required
- QueenslandRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- South AustraliaRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- TasmaniaRegistration: not establishedNot established
- Western AustraliaRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
Common questions
- Do I have to register backyard chickens in Victoria, Australia?
- Registration: conditions apply. The finding covers: Owners of poultry in Victoria under the Livestock Disease Control Act 1994 (Authorised Version No. 086, incorporating amendments as at 1 July 2026) and the Livestock Disease Control Regulations 2017 (Authorised Version No. 007). None stated in section 9B(1) or regulation 41; the Better Health Channel says more than 50 poultry. Outside this finding's scope: The Act and Regulations read state no minimum number of birds, while the Department of Health’s Better Health Channel says the rule is for owners of more than 50 poultry. This difference was not resolved; no exemption for smaller flocks was found in the sections read. Authority: The Secretary (section 9B of the Livestock Disease Control Act 1994).
- Can I keep chickens in my backyard in Victoria, Australia?
- The sources we read don't settle it, and we haven't identified who decides. Check your local rules before you get hens.
- Do I have to keep my hens indoors for bird flu in Victoria, Australia?
- Housing orders come and go, so we never show one as current. We haven't confirmed an official current-status page for it.
Allowed where you live? Then keep the records.
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