Graffiti

Graffiti on factory wall

On this page:

Darebin Council is committed to maintaining clean, safe and welcoming public spaces. Graffiti can impact the appearance, safety and amenity of neighbourhoods, public facilities and the broader community. 

Council removes graffiti from Council-owned assets and buildings, supports residents with advice, provides graffiti removal kits, and works with the community and other agencies to address offensive graffiti.

Report graffiti 

The quickest way to report graffiti is through: 

When reporting graffiti, please provide the following:

  • Street address or nearest landmark
  • Description of the graffiti, including if it's offensive
  • Photograph, where possible

Photographs and accurate location information help crews locate and remove graffiti more efficiently.

What happens after a report is made?

Once a report is received, Council reviews and assesses it, confirms asset ownership and responsibility, arranges removal or referral as appropriate, monitors the request through to completion, and records the outcome. 

Graffiti on public assets

Council is responsible for removing graffiti from Council-owned buildings and assets. However, some assets located on Council land are owned and managed by other organisations.

If you're unsure who owns an asset, you can report it to Council. We'll review the report and, where necessary, refer it to the relevant authority or asset owner for action.

The following organisations are generally responsible for their own infrastructure.

Asset type Responsible organisation
Railway stations and rail infrastructure VicTrack
Tram infrastructure Yarra Trams
Traffic signals and signal control boxes Department of Transport and Planning
Electricity poles and substations Electricity distributor
Telecommunications assets Telecommunications provider
Australia Post boxes Australia Post

Graffiti on private property

Property owners are generally responsible for removing graffiti from their own property, including homes, apartment complexes, commercial and industrial premises, retail shopfronts, fences and walls. Prompt removal helps discourage repeat vandalism, improves neighbourhood appearance, and reduces opportunities for further tagging.

Please note: Council may not be able to remove graffiti from privately owned assets without owner consent, assets belonging to another authority, locations that are unsafe, restricted or outside Council's jurisdiction, or where specialist removal methods are required. In these cases, Council may provide advice and refer the matter to the responsible authority. 

Offensive graffiti on private property 

Where graffiti on private property contains offensive, hateful, discriminatory or threatening content, Council may assess the report and consider assisting with removal where there is a broader community impact. 

Requests will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account factors such as community harm, public visibility, safety considerations and the property owner's consent. Where removal assistance is not appropriate or consent is not provided, responsibility for removal remains with the property owner, and Council may provide advice or support options. 

Support for property owners

Council can assist by providing graffiti removal kits (subject to availability), assessing offensive or hate-based graffiti reports, discussing removal options with property owners and coordinating approved offensive graffiti removal.

Offensive and hate-based graffiti

Council recognises that some graffiti extends beyond vandalism and can cause distress, fear, intimidation and broader community harm. 
Offensive graffiti may include:

  • racist language
  • religious vilification
  • hate speech
  • homophobic or transphobic content
  • discriminatory language
  • extremist symbols
  • threats or intimidation
  • graffiti targeting specific individuals or groups.

Report offensive graffiti immediately 

If graffiti contains hate speech, discriminatory, threatening or other offensive content, please report it as soon as possible. 

Council prioritises these reports and will assess the appropriate response based on factors such as community impact, public visibility, location, asset ownership and safety considerations. Prompt reporting helps minimise harm and enables a timely, coordinated response. 

If you feel threatened, targeted, or believe a crime has occurred, please contact Victoria Police directly.

Graffiti removal kits 

A graffiti removal kit is available for residents and Darebin business owners to use to remove graffiti.

The kit:

  • contains 500ml of remover
  • includes protective gear for the user
  • includes the cleaning equipment needed to remove the graffiti
  • is environmentally friendly and 100% biodegradable
  • is designed for removing graffiti from most surfaces including brick, concrete, timber, glass, marble and granite.

The graffiti removal kit can be collected from any customer service centre. Residents will need to present a valid form of ID to collect a graffiti kit. Business owners will need to present proof of business within Darebin (e.g. bill or business card). There is a limit of one kit per household and two kits per business per calendar year.

Frequently asked questions

How do I report graffiti?

You can report graffiti online, through Snap Send Solve, by email or by calling 03 8470 8888.

Who removes graffiti on private property?

Property owners are generally responsible for removing graffiti from private property.

Can Council remove graffiti from my fence?

Private property owners are generally responsible for graffiti removal; however, Council may assist with the removal if the graffiti is deemed offensive or can provide a graffiti removal kit.

Does Council investigate offensive graffiti?

Council will assess reports of offensive graffiti and determine the most appropriate response, which may include removal, referral to the responsible asset owner, or referral to another agency where required.

Illegal graffiti is an offence and therefore any requests for investigation, or any evidence relating to the offence, should be reported directly to Victoria Police.

Can I get a graffiti removal kit?

Yes. Graffiti removal kits are available for Darebin residents, and business owners subject to availability.

How do I remove graffiti without a graffiti removal kit?

There are two common methods for removing graffiti:

Pressure washing or blasting: This method uses specialised cleaning products or water pressure to remove graffiti from hard surfaces. While often effective, some staining or shadowing may remain on porous or unsealed surfaces, and complete removal cannot always be guaranteed.

Painting over graffiti: Painting over the affected area is often a simple and effective solution. For the best result, paint a neat square or rectangular section rather than only covering the graffiti itself.

Why hasn't Council removed graffiti I reported?

If you have reported graffiti and it hasn't been removed, please contact us on 03 8470 8888.

 

Street art sites

There are a number of locations within Darebin where street art has been commissioned. You can find out about the Reservoir Public Mural Program where you can read and watch videos about how artists create street art.

Locations with street art in Darebin include:

Back to top