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Council has prepared a new draft Amenity Local Law 2026, shaped by feedback received from community members during February and March.

The Local Law sets out everyday rules across Knox to help Council keep people safe and ensure neighbourhoods are clean and tidy.

Council undertook a month-long community consultation from 9 February to 9 March, including an online survey, pop-ups and drop-in sessions, with a total of 139 people providing feedback. This feedback has been carefully considered and used to prepare the new document.

Community feedback showed high support for actions that improve neighbourhood amenity, safety, and environmental protection — especially around property maintenance and noise.

You told us you want a fair and balanced approach. A common message was the need for clarity and more consistent enforcement of existing rules.

Council has released the draft Amenity Local Law 2026 for public exhibition, with community feedback invited from Monday 18 May to Sunday 14 June.

It proposes areas for improvement, including:

Private land, neighbourhood amenity and the environment

  • Stronger rules on dilapidated buildings and unsightly land, including graffiti, and a clearer definition of unsightly land.
  • New rules to ensure outdoor lighting doesn’t become a nuisance for neighbours.
  • Allow residents in a Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO) to burn-off to reduce vegetation fuel loads without a permit, subject to extensive conditions. Residents outside a BMO will need a permit.

Animal management

  • Apply animal number limits to all properties for consistency, not just those under 4,000sqm. Applying the same permit requirements to all properties creates equitable and transparent regulation, and gives Council visibility of higher animal numbers to allow conditions to be set before issues escalate into complaints.
  • New rules to ensure secure fencing of dogs to ensure responsible pet ownership in accordance with the Domestic Animals Act 1994. This will help to reduce the risk of dog attacks or animals roaming, and supports responsible pet ownership by ensuring dogs are kept secured.

Council-managed land and roads

  • Clearer rules to reduce unsafe behaviour and activities in Council buildings and on Council land to enhance the safety of residents, visitors and Council staff.
  • Election signs to be treated like all other signs, requiring a permit to help maintain safety and reduce visual clutter on Council land and roads.

Council assets, trees and regulating building sites

  • Stronger rules to protect Council assets, to keep roads and drains clean and clear from construction materials, soil, rock and debris.
  • Align building and construction times with Environment Protection Authority rules on noise. 

You can view the new draft Amenity Local Law 2026 online or in-person at the Knox Civic Centre. You can also view the Phase 1 Engagement Summary Report to see how Council considered initial community feedback in the new draft Local Law.

Feedback is being invited online at our Have your say page.

Community members are also invited to learn more about the draft Local Law by calling Council to discuss it or arranging a face-to-face discussion with the team.

Find out more: haveyoursay.knox.vic.gov.au/LocalLawReview
 

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