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Local laws

Local laws play an important role in Council's day-to-day operations by helping set rules and regulations for a broad range of activities in Redland City.

Council's local laws have been drafted to regulate a broad range of issues within the Redlands Coast community. These laws are made in accordance with the Local Government Act 2009. 

Council's local laws came into effect on 1 July 2015 following an extensive review and community consultation process. Since then a number of amendments have been made and are consolidated into the local laws. This consolidation process makes it easier to understand the full scope and application of the law.

Council's Local Laws can be accessed below, or you can obtain copies of Council's local laws by downloading these from the Queensland Government's local laws database.

 

Certified copies of local laws are available for viewing or purchase from our Customer Services Centres in Cleveland, Capalaba or Victoria Point.

Council reviews our local laws regularly to respond to the changing needs and issues in the community. The process to review a local law is governed by the Local Government Act 2009 that defines a required process to be followed in the making of a local law.

Local laws currently under review

Proposed amendments are being considered for the following local laws, the amendments are intended to be flexible and responsive to local requirements as well as the changing needs and circumstances of the community. 

  • Subordinate Local Law No. 1.3 (Establishment or Occupation of a Temporary Home) 2015
  • Subordinate Local Law No. 1.4 (Installation of Advertising Devices) 2017
  • Subordinate Local Law No. 1.9 (Operation of Cemeteries) 2015
  • Subordinate Local Law No. 1.13 (Undertaking Regulated Activities Regarding Human Remains) 2015
  • Local Law 2 (Animal Management) 2015
  • Subordinate Local Law No. 1.5 (Keeping of Animals) 2015
  • Subordinate Local Law No. 2 (Animal Management) 2015

Local Law 1 – Administration

The purpose of this local law is to provide a legal and procedural framework for Council to administer, implement and enforce local laws and specified regulatory powers under legislation, and to provide for miscellaneous administrative matters.

The subordinate local laws are supplementary and provide for the granting of approvals for prescribed and other activities, and related definitions.

Council at the General Meeting on 19 April 2023, adopted changes to Subordinate Local Law No. 1.8 (Operation of Accommodation Parks) 2015 [PDF, 0.2MB].

Website notification Subordinate Local Law Subordinate Local Law No. 1.8 (Operation of Accommodation Parks) 2015

Download the local law:

Download the subordinate local laws:

These local laws are also available for download from the State Government Local Laws database.

What the local law provides for

The local law provides consistent and comprehensive processes for:

  • Council to grant and regulate approvals to undertake prescribed and regulated activities
  • authorised persons (for enforcing local laws)
  • review of certain decisions made under local laws
  • statutory instruments to assist in meeting compliance and enforcement objectives of the local laws
  • mechanisms to undertake legal proceedings
  • administrative provisions relating to fees, abandoned goods and seized and impounded items.

Local Law 2 – Animal Management

The purpose of the local law and subordinate local law is to regulate and manage the keeping of animals by minimising the risk to community health, safety and amenity, reducing environmental harm or environmental nuisance and supporting animal owners to keep their animals in a manner that is consistent with the expectations of the community.

Council at the General Meeting on 22 May 2019, adopted changes to Local Law No. 2 (Animal Management) 2015 Notification [PDF, 0.3MB]  and the Register of Animals In Public Places.

Council at the General Meeting on 15 December 2021, adopted changes to Subordinate Local Law No.2 (Animal Management) 2015 

Website Public Notice Subordinate Local Law No.2 (Animal Management) 2015) 2021

Download the local law:

Download the subordinate local law:

View the designated koala area maps [PDF, 6.7MB].

These local laws are also available for download from the State Government Local Laws database.

What the local law provides for

The local law:

  • regulates the keeping of animals in terms of numbers, type and location
  • prescribes minimum standards for the keeping of animals
  • ensures animals are under appropriate control in public places
  • regulates the registration and identification of cats
  • manages dangerous or aggressive animals (other than dogs, as these functions are managed separately by State legislation)
  • allows for the seizure, impounding and destruction of animals in certain circumstances
  • controls the establishment and administration of animal pounds.

Prescribed activities regulated

Requirements for holding an approval to keep animals

The subordinate local law nominates circumstances where the keeping of certain animals will require an approval from Council. These circumstances are generally consistent with the existing local laws. The approval process will be managed by Local Law 1 – Administration for prescribed activities.

Minimum animal keeping and enclosure standards

The law also provides for minimum standards for the keeping of certain animals. These standards include imposing obligations to minimise domestic animals causing impacts on amenity, neighbourhood nuisance from noise and odour, environmental harm, and public safety. The requirements also assist in ensuring that animals are kept in a manner that is conducive to their wellbeing.

Dog off-leash areas

The local law allows dog off-leash areas to be prescribed in a register. The register attached to the local law outlines all the current dog off-leash areas available in Redland City. Dogs are prohibited within bathing reserves and within ten metres of children’s playgrounds.

Local Law 3 – Community and Environmental Management 

The purpose of the local law and subordinate local law is to protect the environment and public health, safety and amenity of the city. The local law complements existing State legislation dealing with pest management, public health and environmental protection.

Council at the General Meeting on 19 April 2023, adopted changes to Local Law No. 3 (Community and Environmental Management) 2015.

Website notification Subordinate Local Law No. 3 (Community and Environmental Management) 2015

Download the local law:

Download the subordinate local law:

These local laws are also available for download from the State Government Local Laws database.

What the local law regulates

The local law provides for the elimination or reduction of risks and threats resulting from:

  • inadequate protection against animal or plant pests
  • vegetation overgrowth
  • visual pollution resulting from accumulation of objects and materials
  • lighting of fires and fire hazards
  • community safety hazards
  • noise that exceeds noise standards.

Prescribed activities regulated

Overgrown allotments and unsightly accumulation of objects and materials

Where vegetation overgrowth or accumulated objects/materials seriously affect visual amenity or are likely to attract or harbour reptiles, Council officers can direct people responsible for the property to take steps to remedy the situation under the law.

Fires and fire hazards

The laws place an obligation on people to ensure that fires not regulated under State law are managed in a way that prevents the escape of the fire or release of burning materials. Council officers will be able to direct people responsible for a property to take action to remove or reduce fire hazards.

Community safety hazards

Owners and occupiers must ensure that community safety hazards are adequately managed. Council officers will be able to direct people responsible for a property to take action to address community safety hazards, which include:

  • certain fences, for example the erection of barbed wire or electric fencing
  • objects that are likely to become airborne during high wind events, for example loose iron sheeting
  • a plant that is dangerous or attracts vermin
  • a dead animal likely to attract vermin or cause impacts on amenity.

Noise standards

The Environmental Protection Act 1994 provides default noise standards and gives Council the flexibility to vary noise standards to accommodate local needs. Council may prescribe a noise standard in the subordinate local law for the whole, or designated, parts of Redland City.

Local Law 4 – Local Government Controlled Areas, Facilities and Roads

The purpose of the local law and subordinate local law is to protect the health and safety of persons using local government controlled land, facilities, infrastructure and roads and to preserve features of the natural and built environment in these areas.

Council at the General Meeting held 19 June 2019, resolved to amend Subordinate Local Law No. 4 (Local Government Controlled Areas, Facilities and Roads) 2015.  Subordinate Local Law No. 4 (Local Government Controlled Areas, Facilities and Roads) 2015 notification of change provides details of the amendments and their effective dates.

Council at the General Meeting held 3 April 2019, resolved to amend Local Law No. 4 (Local Government Controlled Areas, Facilities and Roads) 2015 and Subordinate Local Law No. 4 (Local Government Controlled Areas, Facilities and Roads) 2015. Local Law No. 4 (Local Government Controlled Areas, Facilities and Roads) 2015 [PDF 0.3MB] and Subordinate Local Law No. 4 (Local Government Controlled Areas, Facilities and Roads) 2015 [PDF 0.3MB]  notification of change provides details of the amendments and their effective dates. 

Download the local law:

Download the subordinate local law:

These local laws are also available for download from the State Government Local Laws database.

What the local law regulates

The law imposes requirements to manage or provide for:

  • access to local government areas and facilities
  • the prohibition or restriction of particular activities and conduct on local government controlled areas or roads
  • the imposition of fencing standards for properties adjoining a road
  • miscellaneous matters affecting roads.

Prescribed activities regulated

The local law and subordinate local law prescribe activities and conduct which are prohibited or restricted on local government controlled areas. General prohibitions apply to all areas and specific prohibitions apply to regulate conduct in local government controlled areas such as:

  • roads
  • cemeteries
  • parks and reserves
  • boat ramps and landings
  • swimming pools
  • accommodation parks
  • Council offices and depots.

Local Law 5 – Parking

The purpose of this local law and subordinate local law is to regulate parking in Redland City streets and designated parking areas in order to keep parking accessible, utilise parking spaces more efficiently and improve safety.

Council at the General Meeting held 16 August 2023, resolved to amend Subordinate Local Law No. 5 (Parking) 2015. Website Public Notice Subordinate Local Law No.5 (Parking) 2015) [PDF 0.2MB] notification of change provides details of the amendments and their effective dates.

Download the local law:

Download the subordinate local laws: 

These local laws are also available for download from the State Government Local Laws database.

What the local law regulates

The local law provides for:

  • establishment of traffic areas and off-street regulated parking areas
  • lawful parking contrary to an indication on an official traffic sign with a parking permit or in a loading zone with a commercial vehicle identification label
  • infringement notice penalties for minor traffic offences.

Prescribed activities regulated

Off-street regulated parking areas

The subordinate local law contains the location of the off-street regulated parking areas across the City. These areas include shopping centres under an agreement with the respective centre management.

Parking permits

Council can issue a number of parking permits to relax parking regulations for permit holders, under specific circumstances. Permits  include:

  • community service organisation parking 
  • temporary parking 
  • works zone parking
  • local government works parking
  • visitor parking.

Minor traffic offence infringement notice penalties

Council has certain penalties for minor traffic offences relating to stopping and parking of vehicles. The offence provisions are contained within the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 and can be enforced by Council through powers authorised under that Act. The penalties for offences under the local law are in line with State legislation.

Local Law 6 – Protection of Vegetation

Local Law 6 protects vegetation that has significant amenity, cultural or heritage values in Redland City.

Download the Local Law No. 6 (Protection of Vegetation) [PDF, 0.1MB].

Download the Subordinate Local Law No. 6 (Protection of Vegetation) [PDF, 0.1MB].

These local laws are also available for download from the state government Local Laws database.

What does Local Law 6 do?

Local Law 6:

  • Provides for the protection of vegetation with significant amenity, cultural or heritage values
  • Requires the registration of vegetation protection orders
  • Prohibits and/or limits damage to protected vegetation
  • Provides for Council to issue compliance and/or reinstatement orders when protected vegetation is unlawfully damaged
  • Sets out how a land owner may appeal against a compliance or reinstatement order.

What Local Law 6 does not regulate

Local Law 6 does not regulate the clearing of significant native vegetation in the Redlands. Native vegetation with significant environmental values is protected under the Redland City Plan and is mapped under the environmental significance overlay. Planning approval (a development application) may be required to clear vegetation protected under City Plan.

Native vegetation may also be protected by the state government. Before clearing you should contact the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy and the Department of Environment and Science.

Further information

Council can assist if you have any questions about whether the vegetation on your property is protected under Local Law 6 or Redland City Plan. The following information might also help:

Forms

Local Law 7 – Bathing Reserves

The purpose of the local law and subordinate local law is to enhance the public safety and convenience of bathing reserves through orderly management and regulation of activities within these reserves. 

At the General Meeting of9 October 2019, Council resolved to amend Local Law No. 7 (Bathing Reserves) 2015 and to adopt Amending Local Law No. 5 ( Local Law No. 7 (Bathing Reserves) 2015) 2019.  Notification of change provides details of the amendments and their effective date.  

Council at the General Meeting held 19 June 2019, resolved to amend Local Law No. 7 (Bathing Reserves) 2015.   Notification of change provides details of the amendments and their effective date.  In addition, Council resolved to amend Subordinate Local Law No. 7 (Bathing Reserves) 2015.  The notification of change provides details of the amendments.

Download the local law:

Download the subordinate local law:

These local laws are also available for download from the State Government Local Laws database.

What the local law regulates

The local law provides for:

  • designation and management of safe, supervised bathing areas within bathing reserves
  • regulation of conduct and use of aquatic equipment within bathing reserves
  • assignment of responsibility to life-saving clubs for managing, patrolling and supervising bathing reserves
  • appointment and powers of authorised persons to manage conduct in bathing reserves.

Prescribed activities regulated

Bathing reserves and bathing areas

A bathing reserve is part of the seashore, adjacent land under the sea and the sea which has been placed under council’s control by the State government. Signs are required to be installed by Council to mark the boundary of bathing reserves it intends to regulate.

A bathing area is an area marked out by two patrol flags within a bathing reserve. The area must be the safest and most suitable for bathing in view of the prevailing conditions. The proposed local law provides for an outer boundary which is 400 metres seaward of the patrol flags.

Closure of a bathing reserve

An authorised person may close a bathing reserve by placing a red flag in a prominent position on the foreshore. It is an offence to use a closed bathing reserve.

Use of aquatic equipment in bathing reserves

Aquatic equipment is prohibited within bathing areas except in certain circumstances, such as the use of a rubber float or board that does not pose a risk of injury.

Behaviour in bathing reserves

The local law includes provisions relating to inappropriate behaviour in bathing reserves and associated penalties, including:

  • dangerous objects
  • dangerous and anti-social conduct
  • prohibited equipment
  • sounding of false alarms
  • obstruction of authorised officers and life-savers
  • interference with life-saving equipment.

Copyright and disclaimer

The local laws reproduced on this site are protected by copyright and are for information purposes only.

  • You may download, store in a cache, display, print and copy the material in unaltered form only.
  • You may not transmit, distribute or commercialise the material without the permission of Redland City Council.