Knox City Council has adopted its new Local Law, which sets out everyday rules to help keep people and neighbourhoods safe, protect the environment and support a clean and welcoming city.
The Amenity Local Law 2026 mainly relates to Council-managed land, buildings and roads but also sets expectations regarding the appearance of private property, animal management, open air burning, building sites and trees.
It has been shaped by community feedback, with Council receiving 259 submissions and survey responses during two phases of community consultation between 9 February and 14 June this year.
Council undertook this review to ensure the local law better aligns with current legislation, meets community needs and balances public interests with individual freedoms. We heard from residents, businesses, advisory and representative groups, government and emergency services, animal shelters and rescues, volunteer and environmental groups, sports groups and visitors to Knox.
Feedback from consultation was carefully considered by Council and used to shape the new Local Law, which was adopted at the 24 August Council meeting.
Some of the main issues raised during community consultation included open air burning and smoke, private land appearance and lighting, animal limits and fencing, behaviour on Council land, model aircraft and drones, road safety and traffic.
The Local Law has stronger rules to keep our streets cleaner during building works, make it easier to address unsightly properties and better limit nuisance from noise and lighting.
New open air burning provisions allow residents within the Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO) to undertake fuel reduction burns without the need for a Council permit, provided all safety and amenity conditions outlined in the Local Law are met.
Residents outside the BMO must still apply for a permit, subject to approval. These changes support responsible fuel management in higher bushfire risk areas, helping protect life and property.
The new Local Law takes effect on 1 January 2027.
See the new Local Law .
