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Local Laws & Compliance

Western Downs Regional Council has a regional suite of 8 local laws and 22 subordinate local laws that apply across the Western Downs local government area.

The Local Laws currently in effect in the Western Downs Region are available below.

View the Western Downs Regional Council Local Laws Register here(PDF, 186KB)

Council’s suite of laws cover a wide range of administrative and regulatory roles and functions, including areas such as signage, food hygiene, footpath dining, building, parking, keeping pets, gates and grids, temporary entertainment events, and permits and licences.

Local Law No. 1 (Administration) 2011

Local Law No. 1 (Administration) 2011(PDF, 168KB) provides a legal and procedural framework for the administration, implementation and enforcement of the Local Laws, review of decisions made under the Local Laws and authorised persons with specified regulatory powers under legislation.

An authorised person is appointed by the Chief Executive Officer, as a qualified person to perform the duties that are required under the Local Laws.

This Local Law sets out Council’s discretion in granting approvals for prescribed activities in regards to applications and fees, conditions and compliance, renewing, transferring, amending, suspending or cancelling approvals.

A prescribed activity is an activity for which the Local Government Act authorises Council to grant or refuse an approval.

The prescribed activities covered by the Subordinate Local Laws are those that have the most impact on our community and its liveability:

Local Law No. 2 (Animal Management) 2011

Local Law No. 2 (Animal Management) 2011(PDF, 140KB) allows Council to regulate and manage the keeping and control of animals within the Region in a way that:

balances community expectations with the rights of individuals
protects the community against risks to health and safety
prevents pollution and other environmental damage
protects the amenity of the local community and environment.

This Local Law and associated Subordinate Local Law sets out the regulations for the keeping of animals in terms of how many, what type, how and where animals can be kept and the prescribed minimum standards for keeping animals, and the effective control of animals in public places.

Subordinate Local Law No. 2 (Animal Management) 2011(PDF, 8MB)

Local Law No. 3 (Community and Environmental Management) 2011

Local Law No. 3 (Community and Environmental Management) 2011(PDF, 85KB) allows Council to regulate and protect the environment and public health, safety and amenity within the Region.

This Local Law sets out the regulations for eliminating or reducing risks and threats to the environment and public health, safety and amenity resulting from:

inadequate protection against animal and plant pests
vegetation overgrowth
visual pollution resulting from accumulation of objects and materials
fires and fire hazards not regulated by State law
community safety hazards
noise that exceeds noise standards

Full details are available in Local Law No 3 (Community and Environmental Management) 2011(PDF, 85KB) and the associated Subordinate Local Law:-

Subordinate Local Law No. 3 (Community and Environmental Management) 2011(PDF, 70KB)

Local Law No. 4 (Local Government Controlled Areas Facilities and Roads) 2011

Local Law No. 4 (Local Government Controlled Areas Facilities and Roads) 2011(PDF, 75KB) allows Council to protect the health and safety of persons using local government controlled land, facilities, infrastructure and roads and preserve features of the natural and built environment and other aspects of amenity.

This Local Law sets out the regulations of access to local government controlled areas, and the prohibition or restriction of particular activities on local government controlled areas or roads, and miscellaneous matters affecting roads.

Full details are available in Local Law No. 4 (Local Government controlled Areas, Facilities and Roads) 2011(PDF, 75KB) and the associated Subordinate Local Law:-

Subordinate Local Law No. 4 (Local Government controlled Areas, Facilities and Roads) 2011(PDF, 163KB)

Local Law No. 5 (Parking) 2011

Local Law No. 5 (Parking) 2011(PDF, 49KB) allows Council to complement the regulated parking provisions in the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 by providing for the exercise of local government powers authorised under that Act.

This Local Law sets out the traffic areas, off street regulated parking areas, parking permits, commercial vehicle identification labels and infringements for minor traffic offences.

Full details are available in Local Law No 5 (Parking) 2011(PDF, 49KB) and the associated Subordinate Local Laws:-

Subordinate Local Law No. 5 (Parking) 2011(PDF, 294KB)

Subordinate Local Law No. 1.17 (Parking Contrary to an Indication on an Official Traffic Sign) 2011(PDF, 68KB)

Local Law No. 6 (Operation of Saleyards) 2011

Local Law No. 6 (Operation of Saleyards) 2011(PDF, 106KB) provides for the orderly and proper conduct of business activities at saleyards operated by Council.

This Local Law sets out that Council may fix days and times during which regular stock sales may be conducted, prescribe conditions to be complied with by an auctioneer who proposes to sell stock, prescribed controls on sale procedures and fees applicable to the use of the saleyard and associated facilities.

Full details are Local Law No.6 (Operation of Saleyards) 2011(PDF, 106KB) and Subordinate Local Law 1.18 (Sale or Consignment of Stock at a Saleyard) 2011(PDF, 62KB) , which is authorised under Local Law No.1 (Administration) 2011(PDF, 168KB) .

Subordinate Local Law 1.18 (Sale or Consignment of Stock at a Saleyard) 2011(PDF, 62KB)

Local Law No. 7 (Aerodromes) 2011

Local Law No. 7 (Aerodromes) 2011(PDF, 101KB) allows Council to regulate the use and operation of Council aerodromes to:

protect the public against risk of injury and the community against damage
ensure that all activities are undertaken in an orderly and safe manner and do not create a hazard to public health or a threat to property
control the public use of the aerodromes to the extent that the use is consistent with the rights, expectations and safety of the local community
protect the obstacle limitation surfaces (OLS) and minimise hazards to aircraft
provide for fees and charges, the powers and authority of authorised persons, penalties for breaches of the Local Law, and liability arising out of use of the aerodromes.

Full details are available in Local Law No. 7 (Aerodromes) 2011(PDF, 101KB)

Local Law No. 8 (Waste Management) 2018

Local Law No. 8 (Waste Management) 2018(PDF, 482KB) sets out the management of waste for the region.

This Local Law seeks to protect the region’s public health, safety, and amenity by:

regulating the storage, servicing and removal of waste
regulating the disposal of waste at waste facilities
ensuring that an act or omission does not result in harm to human health or safety or personal injury, property damage or loss of amenity, environmental harm or environmental nuisance.

The Local Law provides Council with the ability to take action for matters relating to: