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(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:
- Subordinate Local Laws Subordinate Local Law No 1.1 (Alteration or Improvement to LG Controlled Areas and Roads) 2011(PDF, 65KB)
- Subordinate Local Law No 1.2 (Commercial Use of Local Government Controlled Areas and Roads) 2011(PDF, 89KB)
- Subordinate Local Law No 1.3 (Establishment or Occupation of Temporary Home) 2011(PDF, 61KB)
- Subordinate Local Law No 1.4 (Installation of Advertising Devices) 2011(PDF, 869KB)
- Subordinate Local Law No 1.5 (Keeping of Animals) 2011(PDF, 77KB)
- Subordinate Local Law No 1.6 (Operation of Camping Grounds) 2011(PDF, 102KB)
- Subordinate Local Law No 1.7 (Operation of Cane Railways) 2011(PDF, 35KB)
- Subordinate Local Law No 1.8 (Operation of Caravan Parks) 2011(PDF, 111KB)
- Subordinate Local Law No 1.9 (Operation of Cemeteries) 2011(PDF, 63KB)
- Subordinate Local Law No 1.10 (Operation of Public Swimming Pools) 2011(PDF, 35KB)
- Subordinate Local Law No 1.11 (Operation of Shared Facility Accommodation) 2011(PDF, 66KB)
- Subordinate Local Law No 1.12 (Operation of Temporary Entertainment Events) 2011(PDF, 67KB)
- Subordinate Local Law No 1.13 (Undertaking Regulated Activities Regarding Human Remains) 2011(PDF, 70KB)
- Subordinate Local Law No 1.14 (Undertaking Regulated Activities on Local Government Controlled Areas and Roads) 2011(PDF, 84KB)
- Subordinate Local Law No 1.15 (Carrying Out Works on a Road or Interfering with a Road or its Operation) 2011(PDF, 55KB)
- Subordinate Local Law No 1.16 (Gates and Grids) 2011(PDF, 62KB)
- Subordinate Local Law No 1.17 (Parking Contrary to an Indication on an Official Traffic Sign) 2011(PDF, 68KB)
- Subordinate Local Law No 1.18 (Sale or Consignment of Stock at a Saleyard) 2011(PDF, 62KB)
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. 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(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:
- supply of waste containers
- storage of general waste
- storage/keeping of waste containers
- removal of general waste
- storage and treatment of industrial waste.
The Local Law also address the following matters at waste facilities:
- unlawful disposal
- burning waste
- restrictions at the waste facility
- ability to give direction to a waste transporter.
The Local Law also enables Council to to designate waste collection areas.
Full details are available in Local Law No. 8 (Waste Management) 2018(PDF, 482KB)
You can also access the Local Laws database on the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning website.
Local law reviews
There are currently no reviews underway.