After a comprehensive community consultation process, City of Darwin is pleased to release new By-laws which come into effect on Monday, 2 October 2023, and focus on reflecting the views and expectations of City of Darwin residents.
The updated By-laws have been created after the biggest review of By-laws in the past 30 years and have been specifically created to consider the needs of the Darwin community and regulate a range of issues.
Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis said the modernised By-laws covered a range of topics that are of significance to Darwin citizens.
“The updated By-laws have been created after extensive community consultation and cover a range of topics that are important to our residents, including animal management and events, parking and public places, waste management and recycling.
“Some of the most notable changes include the addition of acknowledgement of Larrakia; stronger penalties for dog attacks; and protection and regulation of public facilities, land and places.
“A new By-Law allowing City of Darwin to declare an area ‘a special cat control area’ for biodiversity and protection will also be introduced, ensuring the safety of feline pets across the municipality,” Mr Vatskalis said.
New livestock rules, including limiting the number of roosters and chickens, will also be introduced, however a 12-month transitional arrangement will apply to provide enough time for alternative arrangements for roosters and chickens to be made, with City of Darwin committing to working with affected residents.
“The new By-laws provide Council with the ability to respond to community needs and address matters within the municipality quickly and effectively, and we’re looking forward to being able to do that from 2 October,” Mr Vatskalis said.
Additional changes to the By-laws include updates to regulations for health and safety, including waste and recycling, fires and unsafe behaviour; and updates and amendments around advertising in line with City of Darwin’s Outdoor Advertising Signs Code.
“The new By-laws are important in supporting City of Darwin’s strategic direction to create a Safe, Healthy and Liveable City, and I would like to personally thank the community for their involvement and collaboration through the consultation process,” Mr Vatskalis said.
“The By-laws are a key piece of legislation that help to create a city that we can all be proud of, and the feedback and input from the community has been instrumental to the project’s success,” Mr Vatskalis concluded.
To view the new By-laws visit
