The City of Cape Town’s proposed Animal Keeping By-law addresses the handling and impounding of stray animals.
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The City of Cape Town is looking to rewrite the rules around keeping animals in the city, with a new draft covering everything from dogs involved in vicious attacks and strays to livestock, poultry and bees.
The City opened its draft Animal Keeping By-law for public comment on Friday, August 28 2026 , giving residents until September 29 to have their say on the proposed rules.
The City’s draft includes provisions dealing with dogs involved in vicious attacks on people or other animals, strays on roads and in public spaces, nuisance complaints and the impounding of animals.
It also covers permits for keeping animals and poultry on properties not zoned for agriculture.
The City says the draft sets out the responsibilities of pet owners, animal keepers and residents, as well as the processes to be followed when authorities have to deal with animal-related problems.
The proposed rules come five years after Cape Town adopted its current Animal Keeping By-law in 2021.
The existing by-law regulates the keeping and control of animals across the metro, including the number of pets residents may keep and the conditions under which animals can be kept.
The new draft also deals with what happens when animals have to be impounded and the processes followed at City pounds.
The rules can affect residents whether they own an animal or not, particularly when dogs are roaming in public areas, animals become a nuisance or there is an attack on a person or another animal.
Residents have until September 29, 2026 to comment on the draft.
The draft by-law and executive summary are available on the City’s website, at City libraries and at subcouncil offices. Comments can be submitted online or emailed to [email protected], while written submissions can also be delivered by hand at designated City offices.
Submissions received during the public participation process will be considered before the draft by-law moves through the City’s approval process.
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