Tasmanian Backyard & Small-Acreage Livestock Rules, by Council
Tasmania has no single state-wide bird-count default — the state-wide TAS article covers what the state actually sets (animal welfare standards, compulsory beekeeper registration under the Biosecurity Act 2019), but the actual number of chickens or livestock you can keep comes down to your own council's by-law. Several TAS councils don't set a hard numeric cap at all, focusing instead on setbacks and neighbour nuisance — a pattern worth knowing before you assume a specific number applies. This page collects what each council's own published policy actually says, sourced directly from each council wherever possible.
City of Hobart
Hobart doesn't publish a fixed numeric cap for domestic poultry — instead, poultry can be kept provided they're at least 6m from any dwelling and 1m from a fence or boundary, don't cause a nuisance through smell, noise, rodents, flies or drainage, and are kept in clean, sanitary conditions. Separately, a Permit to Keep General Livestock is required for horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, deer, llamas and alpacas in a residential zone, which also caps the maximum area of land the livestock can be kept on.
Sources: City of Hobart — Poultry and Livestock; Permit to Keep General Livestock
City of Launceston
Launceston permits keeping chickens in suburban backyards without publishing a specific numeric limit. Council advises against keeping roosters due to noise complaints from neighbours, but doesn't ban them outright the way many mainland councils do — it's framed as advice rather than a hard rule.
Source: City of Launceston — Poultry
Central Coast Council (Tasmania)
Central Coast Council (based in Ulverstone) takes a comprehensive approach: under its Animal Control By-law, horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, donkeys, roosters, bees, and poultry other than ordinary fowls all require a permit to be kept in a residential area, even temporarily. Ordinary fowls (standard chickens) are the one category exempted from this permit list — every other species covered needs council sign-off first.
Source: Central Coast Council — Pets and Animals
Kingborough Council
Kingborough's Health and Environmental Services By-law restricts livestock to properties larger than 2,000m², and only outside residential zones — matching the pattern common across Tasmania of keeping large animals off standard residential land entirely. Poultry numbers are separately restricted within residential zones, with a required minimum distance from neighbouring properties, though council's own published materials don't give the exact figure — confirm the current number directly with council.
Source: Kingborough Council — Health and Environmental Services By-law
Devonport City Council
Devonport is distinctive: council has no by-laws at present prohibiting or regulating the keeping of farm animals at all — there's no numeric cap, no zoning restriction, and no permit system currently in force for farm animals specifically. The only expectation is that animals are well housed and don't become a nuisance to neighbours.
Source: Devonport City Council — Farm Animals
Break O'Day Council
Break O'Day's By-law requires farm animals to be kept only on properties larger than 1,000m² within the General Residential Zone — a smaller threshold than Kingborough's 2,000m². Poultry numbers are restricted within residential zones with a minimum distance required from neighbouring properties (exact figures not published online; confirm directly with council), and roosters are prohibited in residential zones outright.
Source: Break O'Day Council — By-Laws
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every Tasmanian council set a maximum number of chickens?
No. Hobart and Launceston, for example, don't publish a fixed numeric cap for ordinary poultry at all — they focus on setbacks, cleanliness and preventing nuisance to neighbours instead. This is different from most mainland states, where a specific bird count is far more common.
Are roosters ever allowed in Tasmanian residential areas?
It varies, and Tasmania is often described as having a "neighbour-permission model" for roosters. Launceston advises against them due to noise but doesn't ban them outright. Central Coast Council requires a permit for roosters specifically, treating them the same as larger livestock rather than ordinary poultry.
Can I keep goats, sheep, or other larger livestock in a Tasmanian suburb?
Generally only with a specific council permit. Hobart requires a Permit to Keep General Livestock for horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, deer, llamas and alpacas in residential zones; Central Coast Council requires a permit for the same broad list, even temporarily.
Do I need to register as a beekeeper in Tasmania?
Yes. Beekeeper registration is compulsory state-wide under the Biosecurity Act 2019, regardless of council area or how many hives you keep.
Where do I find my own council's exact rules if it isn't listed here?
Search "[your council name] keeping of animals" or "[your council name] by-law" directly on your council's own website, or phone their customer service line — this page covers a first batch of Tasmanian councils and more are being added over time.