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                    Local Laws

                    The Council has three local laws pursuant to the Local Government Act 1989.

                    ​​​​​Activities Local Law 2019

                    The objective of the Activities Local Law is to the Council's long-term and responsible approach to the ongoing health, vitality, prosperity, security and welfare of the city's residents, businesses and environment.

                    Incorporated documents

                    The Activities Local Law refers to the Code of Good Practice for Construction Sites ('Code'), clause 7.1.

                    View the document at Code of Practice for Building, Construction and Works.

                    The Activities Local Law refers to the Design and Construction Standards for Public Infrastructure Works in the Docklands Area ('Standards'), clause 7.2.

                    Homelessness protocol

                    Council and Victoria Police have a formal operating protocol to address rough sleeping in the city. 

                    Council continues to work with the Victorian Government and housing and homelessness agencies on medium and long-term solutions to homelessness.

                    The protocol and our ongoing work to address homelessness means we can act quickly to protect  public safety and amenity, while also ensuring that the most vulnerable people in the city have access to the services they need.

                    Read the Homelessness protocol (PDF 228 KB) 

                    Environment Local Law 2019

                    The objective of the Environment Local Law is to promote a safe, cleaner and more pleasant environment for all people living in, working in or visiting the City of Melbourne.

                    Prescriptions

                    List of prescriptions to Local Laws 2019


                    Prescription number and file download ​Description
                    Date of effect

                    Prescription 1-2019 (PDF 147 KB)

                    Exempting licensed premises from the prohibition against causing excessive noise.

                    1 July 2019

                    Prescription 2-2019 (PDF 160 KB)

                    Exempting premises from the requirements of clause 12.8 of the Local Law, 'Prohibition against causing excessive noise', during the period that notified Building Works are taking place.

                    1 July 2019

                    Prescription 3-2019 (PDF 184 KB)

                    Exempting defined private roads from the requirement for a permit to install, alter or remove a gate in certain cases.

                    1 July 2019

                    Prescription 4-2019 (PDF 437 KB)

                    Exempting requirements for permits, in certain circumstances, and where approved by Fed Square Pty Ltd.

                    1 July 2019

                    Prescription 5-2019 (PDF 155 KB)

                    Exempting the requirement for a permit under the activities Local Law, where the activity is carried out by a person in accordance with a permit.

                    1 July 2019

                    Prescription 6-2019 (PDF 156 KB)

                    The prescribed designated sound levels excepting spruiking and busking.

                    1 July 2019

                    Prescription 7-2019 (PDF 414 KB)

                    The prescribed designated sound levels for busking in the Bourke Street Mall.

                    1 July 2019

                    Prescription 8-2019 (PDF 1.8 MB)

                    Relating to permits being required for filming and special events. Refer attached maps.

                    1 July 2019
                    Prescription 9-2019 (PDF 194 KB)

                    The form of notice to comply under the Environment Local Law.

                    1 July 2019
                    Prescription 10-2019 (PDF 159 KB)

                    The prescribed designated sound level for spruiking in the Capital City Zone.

                    1 July 2019
                    Prescription 11-2019 (PDF 197 KB)

                    Exempting requirements under parts of the Activities Local Law.

                    1 July 2019
                    Prescription 12-2019 (PDF 1.1 MB)

                    Riding of toy vehicles.

                    1 July 2019
                    Prescription 13-2019 (PDF 332 KB)

                    Exempting persons from the requirement to obtain a permit for mooring a vessel within certain areas in the Docklands as per the attached map.

                    1 July 2019
                    Prescription 14-2019 (PDF 336 KB)

                    Exempting persons from the requirement to obtain a permit for mooring a vessel within certain areas in the Docklands as per the attached map.

                    1 July 2019
                    Prescription 15-2019 (PDF 2.1 MB)

                    The area known as The Causeway as shown on map is a smoke free area.

                    Howey Place, Equitable Place, Corp. Lane 493 and Block Place as shown on maps are smoke free areas.

                    The areas known as the QV site and Goldsbrough Lane as shown on maps are smoke free areas.

                    The areas identified as Smoke-free zone areas on the attached maps of Fulham Place and Collins Way, are smoke free areas.

                    The areas identified as Smoke-free zone areas as shown on maps of The Tan Track and the Princes Park Track, are smoke free areas. 
                    1 July 2019
                    Prescription 16-2019 (PDF 517 KB)Prohibiting persons from collecting or allowing waste to be collected from 'Hotspots' (shown on the attached map), unless in accordance with a permit.1 July 2019
                    Prescription 17-2019 (PDF 467 KB)

                    Prohibiting consumption and possession of liquor in certain circumstances throughout the whole of each year to those parts of the municipality shown shaded on the attached map.

                    1 July 2019
                    Prescription 18-2019 (PDF 380 KB)

                    Prohibiting consumption and possession of liquor in certain circumstances throughout the whole of each year to those parts of the municipality shown shaded on the attached map.

                    1 July 2019
                    Prescription 19-2019 (PDF 491 KB)

                    Prohibiting consumption and possession of liquor in certain circumstances throughout to those parts of the municipality shown shaded on the attached map. 

                    31 December and 1 January each year; 

                    • on each day during 'race period' within the meaning of Australian Grand Prix Act 1994 and to 8am on the day immediately following the last day of the 'race period'; and 
                    • any day as specified during the Melbourne Moomba Waterfest, or any other festival until 8am of the day immediately following the last day.
                    1 July 2019
                    Prescription 20-2019 (PDF 459 KB)

                    Prohibiting consumption and possession of liquor in certain circumstances throughout to those parts of the municipality shown shaded on the attached map.

                    • 31 December and 1 January each year;

                    • on each day during 'race period' within the meaning of Australian Grand Prix Act 1994 and to 8am on the day immediately following the last day of the 'race period'; and

                    • any day as specified during the Carnivale on Lygon, Lygon Street Fiesta or Soccer World Cup until 8am of the day immediately following the last day.

                    1 July 2019
                    Prescription 21-2019 (PDF 455 KB)

                    Prohibiting the consumption and possession of liquor in certain circumstances on both 31 December and 1 January in any year in those parts of the municipality shown hatched and within the bold lines on the attached map.

                    1 July 2019
                    Prescription 22-2019 (PDF 458 KB)

                    Exempting requirements for permits, in certain circumstances in the QV Village where approved by Commonwealth Managed Investments Limited or Victoria Square QV Investments Pty Ltd.

                    1 July 2019
                    Prescription 23-2019 (PDF 331 KB)

                    Prohibiting the consumption of alcohol in the Kings Domain at all times.

                    1 July 2019
                    Prescription 24-2019 (PDF 187 KB)

                    Notification of building works.

                    1 July 2019
                    Prescription 25-2019 (PDF 462 KB)

                    Notice to comply form.

                    1 July 2019
                    Prescription 26-2019 (PDF 304 KB)

                    Confiscation notice.

                    1 July 2019
                    ​Prescription 27-2019 (PDF 164 KB)

                    All persons are exempted throughout the whole of each year from the requirement to have a permit under clause 5.5(b) of the Local Law for filming in a public place prescribed by the Council, where the filming is classes as 'low impact' by the Council as it falls within the Council’s low-impact filming criteria.

                    1 July 2019
                    Prescription 29-2019 (PDF 346 KB)
                    ​The area identified as Smoke-free area on the attached map of Bourke Street, is a smoke free area.
                    ​20 September 2019
                    Prescription 30-2019 (PDF 382 KB)​Areas where the consumption and possession of liquor is prohibited on both 31 December and 1 January in any year.​23 September 2019
                    Prescription 1-2020 (PDF 243 KB)
                    ​Subject to conditions, persons exempted throughout the whole year from a requirement to have a permit under clauses 4.2, 4.9, 5.1, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.7 and 5.10 of the Local Law in a prescribed area at 80 Collins Street, Melbourne.
                    ​17 March 2020
                    ​Prescription 2-2020 (PDF 312 KB)
                    ​The area identified as Smoke-free zone area on the attached map of Market Street Park, is a smoke-free area.
                    ​22 September 2020
                    Prescription 1-2021 (PDF 446 KB)
                    ​The area identified as Smoke-free zone on the attached map of McKillop Street, is a smoke-free area. 
                    ​22 October 2021

                    Prescription 1-2022 (PDF 310 KB)

                    Council leased areas exempted throughout the whole year from the requirement to have a permit under clauses 4.1, 4.2, 4.9, 5.1, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.7 and 5.10 of the Local Law, where the location of the activity is the subject of a written lease or licence entered into with the Council.

                    ​4 January 2022
                    Prescription 1-2023 (PDF 5.5 MB)

                    ​Between the hours of 7am and 7pm, once waste has been collected from a waste container, a person must not keep or allow that waste container to remain in or on a public place in the central city for more than 3 hours other than each area identified as a Waste Bin Prescribed Area on the attached 66 maps provided that:

                    A waste container in a Waste Bin Prescribed Area must not interfere with the egress from or obstruct services to or from any adjoining building.

                    The person keeping or allowing a waste container/s to remain in a Waste Bin Prescribed Area, must comply with such conditions on when and where the waste container/s can be kept, as set by the Council from time to time.​

                    ​21 December 2023

                    Confiscated items

                    Confiscated items can be collected from Melbourne Town Hall, 120 Swanston Street, Melbourne Monday to Friday from 8am to 4:30pm. 

                    A fee may be payable to retrieve the confiscated items that were prescribed by Council as part of the annual budget process. The fee for the release of confiscated items;

                    • Release of impounded items (includes first day only) attracts a minimum charge of $50.00 per m2/per day. 
                    • Release of impounded items (additional days after first day) attracts a charge of $2.00 per m2/per day.​

                    Activities (Greening Melbourne, Vaping and Miscellaneous Amendments) Local Law 2020

                    At its meeting on 28 July 2020, the Council made the Activities (Greening Melbourne, Vaping and Miscellaneous Amendments) Local Law 2020 (Amending Local Law).

                    A copy of the Amending Local Law can be found within Activities and Environment (Greening Melbourne, Vaping and Miscellaneous Amendments) Local Law 2020 (PDF 218 KB) 

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