You do not need a licence if you want to keep animals in a rural area.
There are no restrictions on the number of chickens, poultry or other animals you may keep in rural areas and any property over 4000 square metres (one acre).
Some legacy district plans have restrictions on the type and number of stock or poultry that you can keep on a rural property.
Contact us to check if your property has any restrictions.
You may need to apply for an animal licence if you want to keep a large number of poultry.
This table shows the number of poultry you can keep without a licence, as long as it does not cause nuisance issues for your neighbours:
| Type of poultry | Properties smaller than 2000 square metres | Properties larger than 2000 square metres |
|---|---|---|
| Chickens (excludes roosters) | 6 | 12 |
| Ducks | 0 | 6 |
| Geese | 0 | 6 |
| Pheasants | 0 | 6 |
| Quail | 6 | 12 |
Check the Auckland Unitary Plan to see if your property is in an urban or rural zone.
