Written answer by Ministry of National Development on disamenities caused by pets in HDB flats

Question No.: 1184, 1185

Question by: Ms He Ting Ru

To ask the Minister for National Development (a) what are the current regulations and limits on the number of animals allowed in HDB flats; (b) what are the avenues of recourse for neighbours affected by noise, odour or hygiene issues; and (c) whether more updated enforcement measures and public education are needed to better address this concern.

To ask the Minister for National Development in each of the last five years (a) how many reports has HDB received about nuisance caused by pets kept in neighbouring flats; (b) whether the Ministry can provide a breakdown by complaints about (i) type of pet and (ii) excessive number of pets; and (c) how many cases ended up with enforcement action being taken.

Answer:

HDB allows residents to keep up to two cats, and one dog of an approved breed in an HDB flat. Residents may also keep small pets, such as birds, if these pets do not cause nuisance and disturbance to the neighbours and living environment.

Between 2021 and 2025, HDB received on average about 4,000 pet-related feedback per year, with 22% related to birds, 31% related to cats and 47% related to dogs. In 2025, about 20% of pet-related feedback was related to an excessive number of pets. This category was not specifically tracked prior to 2025.

If a resident's pet is causing disamenities to neighbours, HDB will advise the pet owner to take the necessary measures to reduce the inconvenience. This includes seeking help from Animal and Veterinary Services (AVS) accredited dog trainers if a resident's dog has disruptive behaviours that cause disamenities. If neighbour disputes arise, HDB will also advise the parties concerned to discuss the issue amicably, and if necessary, go through community mediation. For recalcitrant cases, the flat owners may be asked to re-home their pets, with assistance from animal welfare groups if needed.

To enhance public education and awareness, NParks works closely with stakeholders, such as schools, community interest groups, and animal welfare groups, to organise events promoting responsible pet ownership and best practices for pet care. NParks also requires all first-time cat or dog licence applicants to complete a free online course on responsible pet ownership before licence issuance.