Mumbai's New BMC Guidelines: Humane Harmony Between Pets, Strays & Communities

Mumbai's urban jungle is getting a compassionate upgrade. On June 19, 2025, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) released comprehensive guidelines regulating pet ownership, street-animal care, housing societies, and institutions—crystallizing directives from the Supreme Court, the Animal Welfare Board of India, and the ABC Rules, 2023

Pet Owners: Rights, Responsibilities, License

• Mandatory registration of all pet dogs under Section 191B of the Municipal Corporation Act, 1888—keeping an unlicensed dog is now illegal.
• Maintain pets’ health: vaccination, de‑worming, sterilization recommended, and ensure cleanliness.
• In public spaces, dogs must be leashed, and owners must clean up after them.
• Minors not permitted to walk pets alone; only adults (18+) may do so.
• Lift & common area access: Societies cannot bar pets, though they may suggest alternate arrangements.

Housing Societies (RWAs/AOAs): Facilitators, Not Enforcers

• Prohibition on pet bans or size limits, as such restrictions violate citizens� fundamental rights.
• Feeding street animals cannot be banned—but societies can designate times and zones in consultation with residents.
• Harassment of feeders or animals, or concrete cruelty, is a punishable offence.
• Encouraged to establish Animal Welfare Committees in line with ABC Rules, 2023.

Animal Feeders & Street‑Animal Care: Humane Practice

• Feeding strays is legal, protected by law, and considered an act of compassion.
• Must occur during low-traffic hours—early morning or late evening—to avoid public disruption.
• Food must be hygienic—no raw meat or stale leftovers—and feeding must be confined to clean, designated spots, away from children’s play zones.
• Feeders are urged to actively support sterilization and vaccination drives.

Schools, Tech‑Parks & Institutions: Responsible Coexistence

• No relocation of street animals permitted—community animals staying on premises must be sterilized, vaccinated, and returned.
• Institutions must ensure availability of food, water, and shelter for animals on campus.
• Staff training is mandatory for humane handling, and institutions should display signage promoting coexistence.

 Legal Compliance & Enforcement

• Guidelines are rooted in Supreme Court rulings, Animal Welfare Board mandates, and ABC Rules 2023.
• Complaints, license issues, or animal-care information can be directed to the BMC Dog Control Unit via helpline 9635839888 or through the portal at vhd.mcgm.gov.in

💡 Why These Rules? Enhancing Urban Cohesion

Mumbai's pet population—and stray dog feeding culture—has been steadily growing. While affection for animals has positive aspects, it has also become a source of disputes: among pet owners, feeders, housing societies, and neighbours . The BMC's structured framework aims to:

• Respect pet and feeder rights
• Maintain public health and hygiene
• Encourage compassionate stray-animal care
• Limit conflicts within residential communities

Implications for Stakeholders

Legal compliance is no longer optional—breach of any section may invite penalties, escalating to fines or legal consequences.

Towards a Humane Mumbai

Mumbai’s revised guidelines present an opportunity for all stakeholders—pet owners, caregivers, societies, and institutions—to embrace coexistence with compassion. By balancing legal mandates with animal welfare, the city aims to set a precedent for other metros in managing urban animal-human dynamics.

Call to action: All stakeholders should promptly review and align with these guidelines—register pets, follow hygiene protocols, and expand community awareness. The updated BMC norms offer both protection and accountability, ensuring Mumbai is a kinder city for all its inhabitants—four-footed or otherwise.

Crafted with legal precision and a community‑focused tone for cslawship.in, this article blends statutory clarity with practical guidance. Let me know if you'd like to add links to the Act, BMC portal, or case briefs.

Mumbai's New BMC Guidelines: Humane Harmony Between Pets, Strays & Communities