WA Local Councils Can Ban Cats From Public Places

Cat Amendment (Local Laws) Bill 2026

16 Sep 2026: This bill has passed its first house and is now before the second house for its own debate.

Legislative Assembly

Legislative Council

Assent

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Topics

animal welfare cat control local government pet ownership public spaces

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

Local councils can make laws to ban cats from specific places.
Councils can ban cats from all public places; they can also ban cats from any area other than the cat's home.
Local laws can exempt cats if they are contained; they can also exempt cats under the effective control of a person.
Councils can limit these bans to specific times of the day or year.
Local laws define what it means for a cat to be contained or under a person's control.

The Debate

What different members said when this bill was debated:

Samantha Rowe ALP

“I move: That the bill be now read a second time. Cat management issues and responses vary across Western Australia, and the most effective and balanced responses are those informed by a deep understanding of local conditions.”

Official source →

Hannah Beazley ALP

“I move: That the bill be now read a second time. Cat management issues and responses vary across Western Australia and the most effective and balanced responses are those informed by a deep understanding of local conditions.”

Official source →

News articles and press releases

WA councils could make laws to stop cats roaming under proposed state legislation

Hannah Beazley, WA Local Government Minister — 2026-02-20

They could decide that cats are actually allowed out in public areas, but as long as they’re under the effective control of the owner, whether that’s in a cat carrier or on a lead or what have you.