It is strictly regulated.
Urban goat-keeping in Brazil requires compliance with municipal zoning laws, sanitary regulations, and environmental statutes. While no federal ban exists, most cities classify goats as “agricultural animals,” restricting them to rural zones. São Paulo’s 2023 Municipal Law 17.823 and Rio de Janeiro’s Decree 49.222 (2024) explicitly prohibit livestock in residential areas unless permitted under special permits. Violations may trigger fines under the Environmental Crimes Law (9.605/1998) or municipal health codes. Producers must also adhere to MAPA’s 2026 sanitary guidelines for small ruminants, which mandate veterinary inspections and waste management plans.
Key Regulations for Keeping Goats in the City in Brazil
- Municipal Zoning Laws: Most cities (e.g., Belo Horizonte’s 2022 Urban Planning Code) classify goats as “non-urban livestock,” banning them in residential, commercial, or mixed-use zones. Exceptions require rezoning petitions to the Secretaria Municipal de Planejamento Urbano.
- Sanitary and Veterinary Requirements: The Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA) mandates microchipping, brucellosis/tuberculosis testing, and vaccination records under Normative Instruction 44/2021. Urban keepers must register herds in the Sistema de Defesa Agropecuária (SDA) and submit quarterly health reports.
- Environmental and Nuisance Controls: Municipal ordinances (e.g., Porto Alegre’s 2023 Law 12.543) limit herd size to 5 animals per 500m², prohibit slaughter on-site, and require manure composting systems to prevent odor violations. Noise ordinances (e.g., Lei de Silêncio) may apply if goats are deemed disruptive.