Local Laws - Frequently Asked Questions

Burning anything (except cooking) in open air is not permitted in the City of Darebin. To report such incidents contact (03) 8470 8888.

Report any abandoned vehicle left in the street or parked on Council land to Council on (03) 8470 8888.

To report an abandoned shopping trolley please ring Trolley Tracker on 1800 641 497 (for trolleys from Woolworths/Safeway, Target, Big W or Dan Murphy’s) or 1800 Trolley on 1800 876 553 (for trolleys from Coles, Kmart, Bunnings or Officeworks)

Parking cars, trailers, boats or other vehicles on nature strips or reserves is not permitted. Park within your property or on the road against the curb.

Parking or leaving your car standing while dropping off children near a school crossing is an offence.

If nature strip trees are tampered with, vandalised or removed it is an offence, please report the incident to Council on (03) 8470 8888.

Graffiti on community property and facilities is an offence, report such incidents to your nearest police station.

It is an offence for a person to produce ‘unreasonable noise’ from residential premises. Any noise can be considered unreasonable at any time due to its intensity, duration or because of the time, place and circumstances in which the noise is being made.

In addition, electrical or mechanical equipment, amplified music and air-conditioning units must not be used at certain times if the noise can be heard in someone else’s residence. Report noise complaints to Council on (03) 8470 8888.

Environmental Health Services investigates complaints regarding air emissions from various sources such as a smoking chimney. This may include smoke, dust emissions and offensive odours and fumes from residential, commercial and industrial sites.

For further information please contact Environmental Health Services on (03) 8470 8658.

Council has a statutory responsibility to consider any risks to life or property which exist within the municipality. Where residents have particular concerns regarding fire hazards in the municipality these should be lodged with Customer Service on 8470 8888. Once investigated our Local Laws Officers can contact you to discuss any measures necessary to reduce the risk.

Fire in open space has been an identified risk in a few areas of the municipality for some time and discussion and works are underway year round to minimise the risk of fire occurring, this work includes:

• Inspecting private land to ensure that it is maintained appropriately and undertaking enforcement action where necessary to ensure this work occurs.


• Maintaining a register of identified fire risks and mitigation measures, and ensuring the measures are undertaken.


• Maintaining fire breaks and access tracks in open space areas.


• Undertaking controlled burns and slashing programs in areas to reduce fuel loads.


• Meeting with the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) regularly to discuss any fire risks raised by the community in order to resolve them to the satisfaction of Fire Services.


• Meeting with large land managers such as the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and LaTrobe to ensure fire risks are appropriately considered.


• Providing representation and advice to residents who have concerns around fire in the municipality.

Council undertakes this work to satisfy the concerns of the residents, land managers and the MFB, and also to fulfil the requirements set out in the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Act.

You are not permitted to commence any building works on the land without a valid Asset Protection Permit.

You will also need to pay for your Asset Protection Permit and bond in full when submitting your application to Council.

A failure to obtain an Asset Protection Permit prior to works commencing will result in an infringement being issued and/or a cease works noticed being issued on the site.

See Asset Protection for further details.

Phone: (03) 8470 8888
Email: locallaw@darebin.vic.gov.au