City of Newcastle - Nuisance Animals

Nuisance Animal or Livestock

Animals are an important part of our community, but owners must ensure they don't cause nuisance or health issues for neighbours.

Choosing suitable pets, keeping reasonable numbers, and meeting their needs helps avoid problems. If City of Newcastle receives a confirmed complaint, we'll work with the owner to identify the issue and take reasonable steps to resolve it, supporting responsible pet ownership and a safe, pleasant environment for everyone.

How we can assist

Dogs

In cases where a dog is causing ongoing nuisance, City of Newcastle has the ability to issue a Nuisance Dog Order. This outlines the specific behaviours that the owner is required to manage, and fines may apply if the order is not followed.

Our preference, however, is to work with dog owners first. We usually begin by providing advice, issuing cautions, and helping owners understand what steps they can take to reduce or prevent nuisance behaviours.

Under the Companion Animals Act 1998, a dog can be considered a 'nuisance dog' if it does any of the following:

consistently roams
makes persistent, excessive noise
repeatedly defecates on private property other than the property where it usually lives
repeatedly causes substantial damage to anything outside the property where it usually lives
repeatedly runs at or chases a person, animal, or a vehicle. This doesn't include running at or chasing vermin or livestock while the dog is droving, tending, working, or protecting them
endangers the health of a person or animal. This doesn't include vermin or livestock while droving, tending, working or protecting them.

Cats

When a cat may be considered a nuisance

City of Newcastle can investigate a cat as a nuisance if it:

makes persistent or excessive noise, or
repeatedly damages property outside the place where it usually lives.

If a cat is causing an ongoing nuisance, we may issue a Nuisance Cat Order. This order explains what the owner must do to manage the cat's behaviour. Fines may apply if the order is not followed.

Where possible, we aim to work with cat owners first, by providing advice and, if appropriate, cautions to help prevent nuisance behaviour.

Cats wandering or straying

Under NSW law, it is not an offence for cats to wander or stray.

Because of this, our ability to take action is limited. Cats cannot be taken simply because they are roaming.

When a cat can be taken or seized

There are very limited situations where a roaming cat can be taken from a public place. This can only occur if the cat is:

in a wildlife protection area, or
in or within 10 metres of a public food preparation area. This does not include private food preparation areas.

Outside of these situations:

Members of the public are not allowed to seize or take cats
City of Newcastle cannot take cats just for roaming

Birds

Aggressive birds

It is important to remember is that some birds are a protected species and must not be harmed.

If a bird is aggressive in a public area, City of Newcastle rangers can investigate and, if needed, place a "Warning Aggressive Birds" sign in the location.

If the bird is on private property, it is the responsibility of the landowner to manage the situation.

There are a few simple steps you can take to avoid swooping magpies:

Avoid and stay calm - Try not to enter bird nesting areas. If swooped, stay calm, walk away (don't run), and protect your head and eyes with your arms, hat, or umbrella.
Be aware and prepared - Birds usually swoop from behind. Keep them in sight, draw eyes on a hat/helmet, or walk your bike/horse through the area instead of riding.
Respect and educate - Never harass or provoke birds. Teach children how to stay calm and protect their face if swooped.

Myna birds

Pigeons

Chickens / Roosters

Chickens

Roosters

Straying horses and cattle

If you come across livestock (such as horses, goats, or cows) wandering in the community, please contact City of Newcastle so we can investigate as soon as possible. These animals can pose risks to both themselves and the public.

If the animal is creating a road hazard, it is very important that you contact both City of Newcastle and Police immediately so the situation can be managed quickly and safely.

Bees

Bees will not normally be treated on council property unless they constitute a danger to the general public ie: (in parks, near schools or around bus stops or other associated public areas).

If you notice a bee swarm on private property, you can contact the NSW Department of Primary Industries for assistance (please note that fees may apply). The NSW Bee Keepers Association also provides helpful information on swarms, including an easy tool where you can enter your postcode to find a local beekeeper who can collect the swarm.

Raise a request

Before you begin

Provide as much detailed information as possible, such as time of day when the issue may be more prevalent or how long the issue has been going on for.
When lodging your request, you will have the option to attach photos or other supporting documents.

Location matters!

Providing specific details about the location of the issue helps us identify and address it quickly, particularly if reporting a bird attack on public land, or a beehive. Please include cross streets, house numbers, or identifying landmarks.

Report an Issue

Next steps

You will receive an acknowledgement with your request number
City of Newcastle will investigate the issue to ensure the animal is being kept in accordance with any guiding legislation.
Depending on the outcome of the investigation, we may ask that mitigating steps be taken to ensure smell, noise and vermin are managed.
Once your request has been completed, you will receive a notification.

Time frames

Investigations typically take 2-3 weeks to complete.

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Nuisance Animals