The use of the word poultry includes – chickens, geese, ducks, pigeons, turkeys, guinea-fowl, peafowl, gamebirds and domestic fowl of all description.
The keeping of poultry is covered fully in Franklin District Council’s Keeping of Animals, Poultry and Bees Bylaw 2007 and the District Plan.

Keeping Poultry in  rural areas

Within rural areas (meaning rural, coastal, rural-residential and village countryside living zones), you may keep up to 40 poultry on your property at  any one time.
If you would like to keep more than 40 poultry you must first obtain Resource Consent from Council.

If you wish to enquire about obtaining a Resource Consent, please give us a call on (09) 237 1300 and ask to speak to the Duty Planner.

No matter how many poultry you have you must make sure that they are enclosed and confined to your property or poultry run.

Keeping Poultry in urban areas

In urban areas (meaning residential, business, rural village and coastal village zones), you may not keep any more than 12 head of poultry except with the written permission of Council.

Poultry must be kept in a poultry house, though a poultry run is optional. These must be enclosed to confine the poultry (except in the case of pigeons). The construction, maintenance and setback requirements for urban poultry houses and runs are covered in the Bylaw.

If you are unsure about keeping poultry in urban areas, please give us a call on (09) 237 1300 and ask to speak to an Enforcement Officer.

Roosters

The Bylaw prohibits the keeping of any roosters or cockerels in any urban areas or rural-residential zones.