Graffiti removal
Unauthorised graffiti is illegal everywhere in Australia, including in the City of Melbourne. City of Melbourne removes graffiti from all non-council public property, except for Yarra Park and the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
If the graffiti is obscene or offensive, please call us on 03 9658 9658. Removal of offensive graffiti will be fast-tracked.
Report unwanted graffiti
Information for property owners/managers/occupiers
Under section 18 of the Graffiti Prevention Act 2007 the City of Melbourne will write annually to property owners / managers / occupiers detailing the consent to remove illegal graffiti from private properties options. The terms and conditions below provide property owners with information required to decide whether to opt out from allowing City of Melbourne to remove graffiti from the outside of their properties.
Definitions: in these terms and conditions a reference to:
‘Opt out’ means notifying the Council that property owners object to the Council removing graffiti from the outside of their property that is accessible from a public place.
‘Public place’ has the same meaning at the Melbourne Activities Local Law 2019.
‘We’, ‘us’, ‘our’, ‘Council’ or ‘City of Melbourne’ means the Melbourne City Council trading as the City of Melbourne including its employees, contractors and agents.
‘Property owner’ or ‘property owners’ is a reference to a person who has received the notice from the Council under section 18 of the Graffiti Prevention Act 2007.- What action will we take if property owners do not opt out? City of Melbourne will remove any graffiti from outside properties that is reported to us, or that we become aware of from time to time. However, we will only remove graffiti that can be reached without entering the property. For example: graffiti that is on a wall or fence that can be accessed from the street or public place.
- How can property owners arrange for removal of graffiti that cannot be reached from a public place? If there is graffiti on your private property that cannot be removed from the street or a public place, then you will need to contact a graffiti removal service provider independently of council.
- When will we remove graffiti from properties? If a property owner does not opt out, then the City of Melbourne will remove graffiti that is located on the outside of the property that is reported to us, or that we become aware from time to time/
- How is graffiti removed? Graffiti removal methods can include high pressure washing, painting over using colour-matched paint and chemical removal. Risk assessments are conducted in the graffiti removal process to minimise the risk of damage to the property or surrounding areas.
- Important information: If a property owner does not opt out, then we will remove any graffiti that is reported to us, or that we become aware of, from the outside of properties in the manner described above, but only where we can do so from the street or a public place. We will seek to ensure that we remove any graffiti using reasonable care and to a reasonable standard. However, under the Graffiti Prevention Act 2007, no compensation is payable in respect of any loss, damage or injury to property, resulting from or arising out of any act or omission done in good faith for, or on behalf of the City of Melbourne.
- How can property owners opt out? To opt out, please contact City of Melbourne’s Customer Service Centre within 10 business days of receipt of the notice. This can be done by email: enquiries@melbourne.vic.gov.au or by phone: 03 9658 9658. Property owners can also opt out at any time in the future, however, after the 10 days have elapsed, the City of Melbourne may remove any graffiti on the outside of properties, until we are contacted.
- What happens if property owners chose to opt out? Council will not remove graffiti from the outside of these properties. It will be the responsibility of the property owner to do so in a timely manner, unless the Council has issued a permit to display street art under clause 4.2 of the Melbourne Activities Local Law 2019. If any graffiti is not removed from the property within a reasonable period of time, then the City of Melbourne may issue a notice requiring the property owner to do so in accordance with clauses 4.3 to 4.5 of the Melbourne Activities Local Law 2019.
Graffiti vs street art
Graffiti is the marking of another person’s property without permission. Graffiti can include tags, stencils, pieces and even colourful murals which have been done without the permission of the person who owns the space.
Street art is artistic work created with the permission of the person who owns the wall. With proper permission, street art is legal in the City of Melbourne. Written permission is required from the building owner and a planning permit may also be required for properties in a heritage control area.
Subject to budget, we may occasionally commission street art to brighten up dull spaces.
