{"id":"wa-local:wanneroo-city-of-city-of-wanneroo-cat-local-law-2023","name":"City of Wanneroo Cat Local Law 2023","slug":"city-of-wanneroo-cat-local-law-2023","collection":"local_law","jurisdiction":"wa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":439038,"registerId":"wa-local:wanneroo-city-of-city-of-wanneroo-cat-local-law-2023-pdf-1775955206075","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"City of Wanneroo Cat Local Law 2023","content":"3849\nISSN 2204-4264 (online)\nPERTH, THURSDAY, 30 NOVEMBER 2023 No. 156 SPECIAL\nPUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY GEOFF O. LAWN, GOVERNMENT PRINTER\n© STATE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA\nCAT ACT 2011\nLOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1995\n_________\nCITY OF WANNEROO\n———————————\nCAT LOCAL LAW 2023\n\n\n\n30 November 2023 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 3851\nCAT ACT 2011\nLOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1995\nCITY OF WANNEROO\nCAT LOCAL LAW 2023\nUnder the powers conferred by the Cat Act 2011, the Local Government Act 1995 and all other powers\nenabling it, the Council of the City of Wanneroo resolved on 21 November 2023 to make the following\nlocal law.\nPART 1 PRELIMINARY\n1. Title\nThis is the City of Wanneroo Cats Local Law 2023.\n2. Commencement\nThis local law comes into operation on the fourteenth day after the day on which it is published in the\nGovernment Gazette.\n3. Repeal\nThe City of Wanneroo Cat Local Law 2016 published in the Government Gazette on 28 July 2016, is\nrepealed.\n4. Terms Used\n(1) In this local law, unless the context otherwise requires—\nAct means the Cat Act 2011;\napplication means an application for an approval;\napproval means approval under regulation 9 of the Cat (Uniform Local Provisions)\nRegulations 2013 and Part 2 of this local law;\napplicant means a person who has made an application for approval;\nauthorised person means a person appointed by the local government to perform the functions\nconferred on an authorised person under this local law;\ncat has the meaning given to it in the Act;\ncat control notice has the meaning given to it in the Act;\ncat management facility has the meaning given to it in the Act;\nCEO means the Chief Executive Officer of the local government;\ndistrict means the district of the local government;\nlocal government means the City of Wanneroo;\nlocal planning scheme means a local planning scheme made by the local government under the\nPlanning and Development Act 2005;\nnuisance means—\n(a) an activity or condition which is harmful or annoying and which gives rise to legal\nliability in the tort of public or private nuisance at law;\n(b) an unreasonable interference with the use and enjoyment of a person of his or her\nownership or occupation of land; or\n(c) interference which causes material damage to land or other property on the land affected\nby the interference.\nOwner has the meaning given to it in the Act;\nperson means person or any word or expression descriptive of a person includes a public body,\ncompany, or association or body of persons, corporate or unincorporate.\nPremises has the meaning given to it in the Act; and\nschedule means a schedule to this local law.\n(2) A term that is used in this local law and is not defined in subclause (1) has the same meaning given\nto it in the Act or, if not defined in the Act, the same meaning given to it in the Cat Regulations 2012,\nthe Cat (Uniform Local Provisions) Regulations 2013 or the Local Government Act 1995.\n5. Application\nThis local law applies throughout the district.\n\n3852 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 30 November 2023\nPART 2 NUMBER OF CATS THAT MAY BE KEPT\n2.1. Interpretation\nFor the purposes of applying this Part, a cat does not include a cat less than 6 months old.\n2.2. Prescribed premises\nFor the purposes of the definition of prescribed premises in regulation 4(1) of the Cat (Uniform Local\nProvisions) Regulations 2013, this local law limits the number of cats that may be kept at any premises\nwithin the district except—\n(a) a cat management facility operated by a body prescribed as a cat management facility operator\nunder the Cat Regulations 2012;\n(b) a cat management facility operated by the local government; or\n(c) a veterinary clinic or veterinary hospital as defined under section 2 of the Veterinary Surgeons\nAct 1960, but only in relation to cats kept on those premises for treatment.\n2.3. ‘Standard number of cats’\nFor the purposes of the definition of standard number of cats in regulation 4(1) of the Cat (Uniform\nLocal Provisions) Regulations 2013, no more than 3 cats may be kept on premises at which a member\nof a cat organisation is not ordinarily resident.\n2.4. Application for approval\n(1) An application for approval to keep an additional number of cats at prescribed premises is dealt\nwith in regulation 8 of the Cat (Uniform Local Provisions) Regulations 2013.\n(2) An application for approval must be accompanied by the application fee determined by the local\ngovernment.\n2.5. Determining an application\n(1) For the purpose of determining whether to grant approval for an application to keep an additional\nnumber of cats at prescribed premises, the local government must have regard to—\n(a) the zoning of the land under the local planning scheme;\n(b) the physical suitability of the premises for the proposed use;\n(c) the environmental sensitivity and general nature of the location surrounding the premises for\nthe proposed use;\n(d) the structural suitability of any enclosure in which any cat is to be kept;\n(e) the likelihood of a cat causing a nuisance, inconvenience or annoyance to an occupier of\nadjoining land;\n(f) the likely effect on the amenity of the surrounding area of the proposed use;\n(g) the likely effect on the local environment including any pollution or other environmental\ndamage, which may be caused by the proposed use; and\n(h) any other factors which the local government considers to be relevant in the circumstances of\nthe application.\n(2) A determination is to be in the form determined by the CEO and is to be issued to the applicant.\n2.6. Renewal of an application\n(1) An application is to be renewed if—\n(a) the applicant has not breached the conditions of the approval;\n(b) the approval would have been granted if a fresh application for approval had been made; and\n(c) the renewal fee, imposed and determined by the local government under sections 6.16 to 6.19\nof the Local Government Act 1995, is paid to the local government before the expiry of the\napproval.\n(2) On the renewal of an approval, the conditions of the approval that applied immediately before the\nrenewal continue to have effect.\n2.7. Transfer of an approval\n(1) An approval relates only to the premises specified in the approval, and only to the applicant specified\nin the approval, and is transferrable only in accordance with this clause.\n(2) An application for the transfer of an approval from the applicant to another person must be—\n(a) made in the form determined by the CEO;\n(b) made by the proposed transferee;\n(c) made with the consent of the applicant; and\n(d) lodged with the local government together with the fee for the application for the transfer of an\napproval that is imposed and determined by the local government under sections 6.16 to 6.19\nof the Local Government Act 1995.\n(3) The local government is not to determine an application for the transfer of an approval until the\nproposed transferee has complied with subclause (2).\n\n30 November 2023 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 3853\n(4) The local government may grant, or refuse to grant an application for the transfer of an approval,\nand this approval will be subject to such conditions as the local government may impose under\nRegulation 9(3) of the Cat (Uniform Local Provisions) Regulations 2013.\n(5) Where the local government grants an application for the transfer of an approval—\n(a) it is to issue to the transferee an approval in the form determined by the CEO; and\n(b) on the date of approval, unless otherwise specified in the approval, the transferee becomes the\napplicant for the purposes of this local law.\n2.8. Variation or cancellation of an approval\n(1) The local government may, at any time, vary the conditions of an approval by giving written notice\nto the permit holder and specifying the date on which the changes will become effective.\n(2) The local government may cancel an approval—\n(a) on the request of the applicant;\n(b) if the applicant breaches the Act, the Cat Regulations 2012, the Cat (Uniform Local Provisions)\nRegulations 2013 or this local law; or\n(c) if the applicant is not a fit and proper person to provide for the health and welfare of the cats.\n(3) If an approval is cancelled, the fee paid for the approval is not refundable for the term of the approval\nthat has not yet expired.\nPART 3—CAT CONTROL\n3.1. Cat prohibited areas\n(1) A cat must not be in a cat-prohibited area specified in Schedule 1 at any time.\n(2) If a cat is in a cat-prohibited area in contravention of subclause 3.1(1), then—\n(a) the owner of the cat commits an offence; and\n(b) an authorised person may seize and impound the cat and deal with the cat pursuant to the Act.\n3.2. Cat not to be a nuisance\n(1) The owner of a cat must prevent the cat from creating a nuisance.\n(2) Where in the opinion of an authorised person, a cat is creating a nuisance, an authorised person\nmay give a cat control notice to the owner of the cat requiring that person to abate the nuisance.\n(3) When a nuisance has occurred and a notice to abate the nuisance is given, the notice remains in\nforce for a period specified on the notice which must not exceed 28 days.\n(4) The owner of a cat given the notice to abate the nuisance must comply with the notice within the\nperiod specified in the notice.\n(5) A cat control notice under subclause 3.2(2) must be Form 3 of the Cat Regulations 2012.\nPART 4—OBJECTIONS AND APPEALS\n4.1 Objections and appeals\n(1) A person who is aggrieved by a decision of the local government made under clauses 2.5, 2.7, 2.8 or\n2.9 is a decision to which Part 9 Division 1, of the Local Government Act 1995 applies.\n(2) The form of an objection is Form 8 in the Cat Regulations 2012, Schedule 1\nPART 5—ENFORCEMENT\n5.1. Infringement Notices\n(1) The issue of infringement notices, their withdrawal and the payment of modified penalties are dealt\nwith in Part 4, Division 4 of the Act.\n(2) An infringement notice in respect of an offence against this local law may be given under Section 62\nof the Act and is to be in the form of Schedule 1, Form 6 of the Cat Regulations 2012.\n(3) A notice sent under Section 65 of the Act withdrawing an infringement notice is to be in the form of\nSchedule 1, Form 7 of the Cat Regulations 2012.\n5.2 Serving of infringement notices\nAn infringement notice served under section 62 of the Act or this local law may be given to a person—\n(a) personally;\n(b) by registered mail addressed to the person; or\n(c) by leaving it for the person at her or his address.\n5.3 General offence and penalty provisions\n(1) Any person who fails to do anything required or directed to be done under this local law, or who does\nanything which under this local law that person is prohibited from doing, commits an offence.\n(2) An offence against any provision of this local law is a prescribed offence for the purposes of Section\n84 of the Act.\n(3) Unless otherwise specified, any person who commits an offence under this local law is liable on\nconviction, to a penalty not exceeding $5,000, and if the offence is of a continuing nature, to a further\n\n3854 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 30 November 2023\npenalty not exceeding a fine of $500 in respect of each day or part of a day during which the offence has\ncontinued.\n(4) The amount appearing in the final column of Schedule 2 directly opposite an offence described in\nthat Schedule, is the modified penalty for that offence.\nSchedule 1\nCat Prohibited Areas\nCommon Name Reserve/Lot\nNumber\nLocation (bound by or accessed from)\nLake Gnangara\nPark—Gnangara\nAs shown in Map 1 Sydney Road, Gnangara Road, Alexander Drive,\nVintage Lane, Heritage Terrace\nBadgerup\nReserve—\nWanneroo\nAs shown in Map 2 Badjerup Road and Benmuni Road\nLake Adams—\nMariginiup\nAs shown in Map 3 Neaves Road, Lee-Steere Drive and Coogee Road\nKoondoola Open\nSpace and Reserve\n(including\nWaddington Park\nand Rendell\nPark)—Koondoola\nAs shown in Map 4 Alexander Drive, Waddington Crescent, Beach Road,\nKoondoola Avenue and Marangaroo Drive\nChancellor Park\nand Marangaroo\nGolf Course—\nMarangaroo\nAs shown in Map 5 Le Grand Gardens, Caroline Green, Decourcey Way,\nChancellor Rise and Hepburn Avenue\nLake Joondalup\nForeshore—\nWanneroo\nAs shown in Map 6 Scenic Drive, Poinciana Place, Ocean Reef Road, Tyne\nCrescent, James Spiers Drive, Banyadah Boulevard,\nDonnelly Ramble,\nPinjar Park—\nNerabup\nAs shown in Map 7 Old Yanchep Road, Pederick Road, Tandos Road\nLandsdale Park—\nDarch\nAs shown in Map 8 Hepburn Avenue, Lansdale Road\nHepburn Park—\nLandsdale\nAs shown in Map 9 Hepburn Avenue, Lansdale Road, Alexander Drive,\nCandlestick Avenue\nDonnelly Park—\nWanneroo\nAs shown in Map\n10\nDonnelly Ramble\nBanyandah Park—\nWanneroo\nAs shown in Map\n11\nBanyandah Boulevard, Scenic Drive, Donnelly\nRamble\nLake Joondalup\nPark—Wanneroo\nAs shown in Map\n12\nScenic Drive\nScenic Park—\nWanneroo\nAs shown in Map\n13\nScenic Drive\nRotary Park—\nWanneroo\nAs shown in Map\n14\nScenic Drive\nStudmaster Park—\nWanneroo\nAs shown in Map\n15\nTyne Crescent, James Spiers Drive\nPanzano Park—\nWoodvale\nAs shown in Map\n16\nWoodvale Drive, Panzano Circuit, Cosimo Drive\nRosso Park—\nWoodvale\nAs shown in Map\n17\nRosso Meander, Solaia Loop\nSolana Park—\nWoodvale\nAs shown in Map\n17\nRosso Meander, Solaia Loop\nQuinns Foreshore\nReserve—Quinns\nRocks\nAs shown in Map\n18\nSeaham Way, Kinsale Drive, Quinss Road\nForeshore\nReserve—Mindarie\nAs Shown in Map\n19\nAlexandria View, Glendsanda Way, Long Beach\nPromenade, Clarecastle Retreat, Kinsale Drive,\nQuinns Road\nForeshore\nReserve—Quinns\nRocks\nAs shown in Map\n20\nQuinns Road, Ocean Drive, Waterland Point, St\nAnthony Avenue\nForeshore\nReserve—Jindalee\nAs shown in Map\n21\nSt Anthony Avenue, Maritime Drive, Jindalee\nBoulevard, Aurora Esplanade, Bathers Promenade\n\n30 November 2023 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 3855\nMap 1—Lake Gnangara Park—Gnangara, cat prohibited area\nCommon Name Reserve/Lot\nNumber\nLocation (bound by or accessed from)\nForeshore\nReserve—Alkimos\n(South)\nAs shown in Map\n22\nGraceful Boulevard, Coolangatta Rise\nForeshore Reserve-\nAlkimos (North)\nAs shown in Map\n23\nPortside Promenade, Almond Street\nForeshore\nReserve—Eglinton\nAs shown in Map\n24\nIdyllic View, Celeste Street\nForeshore\nReserve—Yanchep\nAs shown in Map\n25\nTrumpster Parade, Forteshore Vista, Compass Circle,\nBrazier Road, Capricorn Esplenade, Holiday Way,\nForeshore\nReserve—Two\nRocks\nAs shown in Map\n26\nSpot View, Two Rocks Road, Jordan Street, Marcon\nStreet, Australis Drive, Pope Street, Sovereign Drive\nPoinciana Park—\nWanneroo\nAs shown in Map\n27\nPoinciana Place, Scenic Drive\nKinsale Park—\nMindarie\nAs shown in Map\n28\nCaldale Close, Kinsale Drive, Duncanno Rise,\nSeaham Way, Chalmers Court\n\n3856 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 30 November 2023\nMap 2—Badgerup Reserve—Wanneroo, cat-prohibited area\nMap 3—Lake Adams—Mariginiup, cat-prohibited area\n\n30 November 2023 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 3857\nMap 4—Koondoola Regional Open Space and Reserve Waddington Park and Rendell Park—Koondoola,\ncat prohibited area\nMap 5—Chancellor Park and Marangaroo Golf Course—Marangaroo, cat prohibited area\n\n3858 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 30 November 2023\nMap 6—Lake Joondalup Foreshore—Wanneroo, cat prohibited area\nMap 7—Pinjar Park—Neerabup, cat prohibited area\n\n30 November 2023 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 3859\nMap 8—Landsdale Park—Darch, cat prohibited area\nMap 9—Hepburn Park—Landsdale, cat prohibited area\n\n3860 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 30 November 2023\nMap 10—Donnelly Park—Wanneroo, cat prohibited area\nMap 11—Banyandah Park—Wanneroo, cat prohibited area\n\n30 November 2023 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 3861\nMap 12—Lake Joondalup Park—Wanneroo, cat prohibited area\nMap 13—Scenic Park—Wanneroo, cat prohibited area\n\n3862 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 30 November 2023\nMap 14—Rotary Park—Wanneroo, cat prohibited area\nMap 15—Studmaster Park—Wanneroo, cat prohibited area\n\n30 November 2023 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 3863\nMap 16—Panzano Park—Woodvale, cat prohibited area\nMap 17—Rosso and Solana Park—Woodvale, cat prohibited area\n\n3864 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 30 November 2023\nMap 18—Quinns Foreshore Reserve Quinns Rocks, cat prohibited area\nMap 19—Foreshore Reserve—Mindarie, cat prohibited area\n\n30 November 2023 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 3865\nMap 20—Foreshore Reserve—Quinns Rocks, cat prohibited area\nMap 21—Foreshore Reserve—Jindalee, cat prohibited area\n\n3866 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 30 November 2023\nMap 22—Foreshore Reserve—Alkimos (South), cat prohibited area\nMap 23—Foreshore Reserve—Alkimos (North), cat prohibited area\n\n30 November 2023 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 3867\nMap 24—Foreshore Reserve—Eglinton- cat-prohibited area\nMap 25—Foreshore Reserve—Yanchep, cat prohibited area\n\n3868 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 30 November 2023\nMap 26—Foreshore Reserve—Two Rocks, cat prohibited area\nMap 27—Poinciana Park—Wanneroo, cat prohibited area\n\n30 November 2023 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 3869\nMap 28—Kinsale Park—Mindarie, cat prohibited area\nSCHEDULE 2\nPrescribed Offences and Modified Penalties\nOffence Description Modified\nPenalty Units\n1 2.3(1) Keeping more than the standard number of cats\nwithout an approval\n20\n2 2.6 Failure to comply with a condition of an approval 20\n3 3.1(1) Cat in a prohibited area 20\n4 3.2(1) Cat causing nuisance 20\n5 3.2(4) Failure to comply with a cat control notice 20\nNote: Penalty Units are prescribed in the City of Wanneroo Penalty Units Local Law 2015.\nDated: 28th November 2023.\nThe Common Seal of the City of Wanneroo was affixed by authority of a resolution of the Council in the\npresence of—\nLINDA AITKEN JP, Mayor.\nNOELENE JENNINGS PSM, Acting Chief Executive Officer.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The local law operates within the powers expressly conferred by the Cat Act 2011 and the Local Government Act 1995 (see heading and cl.1). It repeals the City of Wanneroo Cat Local Law 2016 (cl.3) and replaces local limits and enforcement mechanics, but does not assert powers beyond the enabling statutes: it sets local numerical limits (cl.2.3), prescribes prohibited areas (Schedule 1) and implements statutory enforcement frameworks (Parts 3–5) rather than expanding the statutory scope."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-references to multiple statutes and regulations (Cat Act 2011, Cat Regulations 2012, Cat (Uniform Local Provisions) Regulations 2013, Local Government Act 1995) (see cl.4(2), heading and cl.1).","Multi-stage approval process with fees, renewal, transfer, variation and cancellation mechanics (see Part 2: cl.2.4–2.8).","Discretionary decision-making by local government/CEO with broad factors to consider when granting approvals (cl.2.5(1) and cl.2.5(2)).","Operational enforcement layers: cat control notices, seizure/impoundment powers, infringement notices and court penalties (Parts 3 and 5: cl.3.2, cl.5.1–5.3).","Local determination of fees and modified penalties tied to separate local law on penalty units (cl.2.4(2), cl.2.6(1)(c), Schedule 2 note).","Detailed geographic scope expressed through a lengthy Schedule of mapped cat‑prohibited areas (Schedule 1 with Maps 1–28).","Definitions and exemptions that affect scope and compliance (e.g. cats under 6 months excluded from Part 2, cl.2.1; exemptions for cat management facilities and veterinary clinics, cl.2.2).","Appeals and objection route invoked by cross-reference to the Local Government Act processes, adding procedural complexity for review (cl.4.1)."],"plain_english_summary":"This local law limits how many cats may be kept in the City of Wanneroo, requires owners to apply and pay for approvals to keep more than the standard number, and designates numerous parks and foreshore reserves as cat‑prohibited areas. Authorised officers and the CEO administer approvals, issue cat control notices, seize cats, and impose fines; cat owners face application fees, renewal/transfer rules and infringement penalties."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This local law appears consistent with its original intent under the Cat Act 2011 framework. It performs the standard function of a local government cat law: setting numerical limits on cat ownership, establishing prohibited areas for environmental protection, and providing enforcement mechanisms. The 2023 version updates the 2016 predecessor but does not appear to have expanded beyond the statutory purpose of local cat management."},"complexity_factors":["13 defined terms in the interpretation section, with additional undefined terms imported by reference from three separate pieces of legislation (Cat Act 2011, Cat Regulations 2012, Cat (Uniform Local Provisions) Regulations 2013)","Cross-references to external regulations for procedural matters (application forms, approval processes, objection forms, infringement notice forms)","Nested conditional logic in approval renewal criteria (clause 2.6 requires satisfaction of three cumulative conditions)","Multiple exception categories for the cat limit (veterinary clinics, council facilities, and prescribed cat management facilities)","Geographic complexity: 28 separate prohibited areas mapped across the district, requiring reference to separate map documents for precise boundaries","Dual penalty structure: general penalty provisions in clause 5.3 plus specific modified penalties in Schedule 2"],"plain_english_summary":"This local law updates Wanneroo’s cat rules: it caps most households at three cats (kittens exempt), requires council approval to keep more, bans cats from listed parks, reserves and foreshores, and empowers officers to issue control notices for nuisance behaviour. It affects everyone who keeps cats in the City of Wanneroo and matters because breaches can lead to fines, seizure and ongoing penalties."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/city-of-wanneroo-cat-local-law-2023","history":"/api/acts/city-of-wanneroo-cat-local-law-2023/history","analysis":"/api/acts/city-of-wanneroo-cat-local-law-2023/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/city-of-wanneroo-cat-local-law-2023/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/city-of-wanneroo-cat-local-law-2023/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/city-of-wanneroo-cat-local-law-2023/documents"}}