Bayside has adopted the Community Local Law 2026 to make everyday rules clearer, fairer and easier to follow and enforce for residents and businesses.
The Community Local Law 2026 guides our compliance and enforcement activities for a wide range of areas that shape everyday life including nature strips and trees, property maintenance, waste and recycling, business operations, construction, animals, and parking.
The updated Local Law is clearer and easier to read, with improved layout, definitions and penalties, and stronger links to related laws and policies. Changes to the Local Law were shaped by strong input from the community, with a multi-staged engagement process resulting in over 1300 submissions.
Bayside Mayor Cr Debbie Taylor-Haynes said the new Local Law reflects community feedback and sets clearer, more practical rules to protect our amenity and help the municipality continue to thrive.
“The new Local Law plays a critical role in everyday life in Bayside; from construction management and property maintenance to waste disposal and the way we share public spaces,” said Cr Taylor-Haynes.
“Our community has been instrumental in helping shape the updated Local Law and we thank every single resident who had their say in creating a safer and fairer Bayside.”
What’s changed?
Key updates informed by community feedback include:
- Stronger provisions for managing unsightly and dangerous properties
- Clearer rules for caravans, boats and trailers storage
- A more balanced approach to animal ownership and enhanced fire safely requirements
- Improved waste and recycling standards
- Tree provisions adjusted to rely more heavily on Planning Scheme requirements
- Stronger protections for council land and public spaces
- New measures to address long-term parking and commercial vehicle congestion
- Clearer regulations for smoking, vaping and alcohol consumption in public places
- Strengthened requirements for construction management and asset protection.
In addition to these changes, the draft streamlines permit processes, strengthens enforcement powers and improves the overall clarity and usability of the Community Local Law, making it easier for the community to understand their rights and responsibilities.
Local Laws are established by Councils under the Local Government Act 2020 and work alongside State and Federal legislation.
They’re designed to help ensure local authorities can respond to local issues and community needs, to help make the municipality cleaner, safer, and more enjoyable for everyone.
The updated Local Law will come into effect on 1 November 2026.
