Night-time cat rules for the City of Glen Eira.

Yes. Glen Eira adopted a night-time cat curfew in November 2025 that requires cats to stay on their owner's property between 7pm and 6am, with full enforcement rolling out from late 2026 after an education and transition period. The council suggests keeping your cat indoors overnight, cat-proofing the yard or building an enclosure or cat run. A fully enclosed cat run is a simple way to keep your cat safely on the property through the curfew hours.

Yes. Under Victorian law you must register your cat with the council once it is over three months old, and registration is renewed every year. Glen Eira sends renewal notices out in March, due by 10 April. Your cat also needs to be microchipped before you can register it.

Microchipping is required before you register your cat with Glen Eira. Desexing isn't compulsory, but desexed cats qualify for a lower registration fee, and pensioner concession holders pay less again. Desexing also helps cut down on roaming and is encouraged through the council's cat programs. Fees are set each year, so check with the council for the current amounts.

You can keep up to two cats at a property without needing a permit. If you'd like to keep three or more, you'll need to apply to the council for a permit to keep more than the standard number of animals. It's worth checking the current application details with the council before you take on extra cats.

The cat run itself doesn't need an animal permit, and the council actually lists building an enclosure or cat run as one way to meet the curfew. A building permit can come into play depending on the size and height of the structure. As a general Victorian guide a small, low enclosure often sits under the threshold, but it's best to check with the council's building team before you start.

Yes, the usual building and planning rules around height, setbacks from boundaries and site coverage can apply, especially for larger or taller enclosures or if your property sits under an overlay. Most modest cat runs tucked against the house or fence are well within these limits. If you're unsure, a quick call to the council will confirm what applies to your block.

If your cat is found off your property, especially during curfew hours, it can be impounded by council officers. Where the cat can't be returned to you straight away it may go to an animal shelter, and you'll need to pay a fee to collect it, with extra fees if it isn't registered. Keeping your cat registered, microchipped and safely contained is the easiest way to avoid all that.

You can, though it pays to plan ahead. If you rent, you'll need your landlord's permission, and a freestanding or easily removable enclosure is usually the way to go. In an apartment a balcony or window cat run can work well, but check your owners corporation rules first. We build enclosures to suit tight spaces and can work around what your lease or building allows.

A fully enclosed catio keeps your cat safely on your property, which is exactly what containment rules ask for, while still giving them fresh air and the sounds and smells of outside. We build a range of escape-proof enclosures, from a discreet patio catio to a side run or netting over the whole backyard, so there's an option to suit your home. Build a quote to get started.

Yes, we build custom catios right across greater Melbourne, including the City of Glen Eira. If you're not sure you're in range, get in touch and we'll let you know.

Always confirm the current rules with the council directly via the City of Glen Eira website (opens in a new tab). The guide above is research we've collated to help you get started, not legal advice, see the note at the foot of this page.