Cape Town’s new pet rules: What could change for dog and cat owners
· The South African
Cape Town pet owners are being urged to take note after the City published its draft Animal Keeping By-law, 2026, which proposes updates to the rules governing dogs, cats and other animals.
The draft by-law is open for public comment until 29 September 2026 and is intended to strengthen protections for animals and regulate how they are kept in the city.
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However, while some residents have raised concerns about provisions dealing with pet limits and permits, many of the most controversial rules are not actually new.
Several restrictions, including limits on the number of dogs and cats residents may keep and permit requirements, have been in place since the City’s previous animal by-law.
The proposed 2026 changes instead focus largely on issues such as microchipping, leashes, permits, animal seizures and enforcement procedures.
How many dogs and cats can you keep in Cape Town?
One of the biggest points of confusion surrounds the number of pets residents are allowed to keep.
The limits in the draft by-law remain largely unchanged from the existing pet rules.
A person may generally keep:
- Up to two dogs at a dwelling unit
- Three or four dogs at certain larger residential properties
- Up to six dogs at farmhouses
- Up to four cats at residential properties
- Up to six cats on farms
Residents who want to keep more animals than the permitted number may need to apply to the City for approval.
Under the proposed new rules, officials may also require applicants to provide written support from at least two adjacent neighbours when applying for permission to keep more animals than normally allowed.
Dogs could face stricter microchip and leash rules
The biggest changes affecting ordinary pet owners relate to identification and control of dogs.
Under the proposed by-law, all dogs must be microchipped or fitted with a collar and name tag containing the owner’s contact details.
The draft also takes a stricter approach to dogs in public spaces.
Dogs would generally be required to remain on a leash in public streets and public places, unless the area has specifically been designated by the City as a free-running area.
This represents a broader restriction than the previous approach, which identified particular areas where dogs had to be leashed or were prohibited.
Permits remain an important issue
The City’s permit requirements for keeping animals also remain in place.
Anyone who wants to keep more animals than the permitted number must apply to the City in writing. The City may charge a prescribed fee for considering and granting a permit, although no fees have yet been charged for this.
Applications can also be delayed until the City has received the information it requires to make a decision.
Separate and stricter rules apply to dangerous animals, with owners required to obtain a specific permit and take measures to prevent the animal from escaping.
Adequate warning signage must also be displayed.
Wild animals, meanwhile, are subject to even stricter requirements and cannot simply be kept as pets without the necessary authorisation from nature conservation authorities.
Nuisance complaints can still lead to action
The existing rules around animals causing a nuisance would also remain. This includes issues such as excessive noise or other behaviour that negatively affects residents in the surrounding area.
The City can work with relevant authorities and community structures when investigating complaints.
Owners may be issued with compliance notices and given time to resolve the problem. Failure to comply can result in an offence and penalties.
Other changes include a hunting ban
The draft also proposes a number of broader changes, including a ban on using dogs for hunting activities.
It would also formalise permit requirements for animal sellers and breeders and expand definitions to cover different categories of animals and animal keepers.
The classification of livestock would also be refined to distinguish more clearly between large and small livestock.
The draft further proposes changes to rules governing animals intended for religious or cultural slaughter.
While the previous rules allowed animals to be kept at residential premises for no more than 12 hours before slaughter, the new draft would extend this period to 48 hours.
However, adjacent neighbours would need to be formally notified.
Cape Town residents have until 29 SeptemberThe proposed Animal Keeping By-law is still in draft form, meaning the rules are not yet final.
Cape Town residents have until 29 September 2026 to submit comments on the proposed changes.