No, keeping goats in Singapore’s urban areas is illegal under the Animals and Birds Act (Cap. 7), enforced by AVA (now part of SFA). Exotic livestock, including goats, are prohibited in residential zones due to biosecurity risks and public health concerns. Violations may incur fines up to S$10,000 or imprisonment.
Key Regulations for Keeping Goats in the City in Singapore
- Zoning Restrictions: Goats are classified as “exotic livestock” under the AVA’s Livestock Farming Guidelines, banning their presence in HDB estates, private residential areas, and most urban precincts. Only designated agricultural zones (e.g., Lim Chu Kang) permit goat farming.
- Licensing Requirements: Even in permitted areas, goat farming requires an Animal Farm Licence from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), subject to stringent biosecurity protocols, waste management plans, and veterinary inspections.
- 2026 Compliance Shifts: The SFA’s Agri-Food Policy Review (2023) tightens controls on small-scale livestock, mandating GPS-tagged enclosures and real-time health monitoring to curb disease transmission risks in high-density urban settings.
Urban goat-keeping remains incompatible with Singapore’s Zero-Space urban planning model and the Agri-Food Transformation Index, which prioritizes vertical farming over traditional livestock. Exemptions are rare, typically limited to educational or research institutions with SFA approval.