Local law

The objectives of the Mornington Peninsula Shire's Community Amenity Local Law 2022 are to prohibit, regulate and control uses and activities to:

• provide for the peace, order and good government of the municipal district of the Mornington Peninsula Shire
• promote a physical and social environment in which residents and visitors to the municipal district can enjoy a quality of life that meets the general expectations of the community
• prevent and suppress nuisances which may adversely affect the enjoyment of life within the municipal district or the health, safety and welfare of persons within the Municipal District
• prohibit, regulate and control activities which may be dangerous or unsafe or detrimental to a person's health, amenity or the environment
• provide for fair access and use of Council and community assets and prescribe measures to protect these assets
• prescribe requirements for the administration and enforcement of the Local Law

For information regarding Local Law Permits, please see our Local Law Permits page. 

Download: Community Amenity Local Law 2022(PDF, 1MB)

The Building and Works Code of Practice, by reference, forms part of the Community Amenity Local Law 2022.

Download: Building and Works Code of Practice(PDF, 77KB).

Other attachments referred to in the Community Amenity Local Law 2022 include:

• Commercial Activities on Footpath Policy
• Signage Policy

Whilst the Shire may be able to action issues regarding noise, any action taken will be in line with the EPA Noise Control Guidelines. You can find more information on these guidelines on the EPA Website. You can also obtain advice regarding residential noise on the EPA Website. 

The objectives of the Mornington Peninsula Shire's Consumption of Liquor Local Law 2022 are to:

• regulate and control the consumption, possession or control of liquor in designated areas, and prohibit the possession of liquor in other areas of the municipal district
• protect against behaviour which causes detriment to the amenity and environment of the municipal district
• protect the community interest
• provide for the enforcement of this Local Law, including the issuing of infringement notices
• provide for the administration of Council powers and functions in relation to the consumption, possession or control of liquor on roads and Council land
• lead and educate the public as to what is, and what is not, appropriate behaviour
• provide generally for the peace, order and good government of the municipal district.

Download: Consumption of Liquor Local Law 2022(PDF, 3MB)

The objectives of the Mornington Peninsula Shire's Short Stay Rental Accommodation Local Law 2018 are to:

• regulate and control the use of short stay rental accommodation within the municipal district of Mornington Peninsula Shire
• ensure an appropriate standard of management and presentation of such accommodation
• minimise the risk of such accommodation affecting the peace of neighbours
• implement a registration requirement
• provide for a Code of Conduct under the Local Law

Download: Short Stay Rental Accommodation Local Law 2018 (Amended)(PDF, 169KB)

Find out more about the Short Stay Rental Accommodation Local Law on our Short Stay Accommodation page.

Under the Local Government Act 1989 councils were required to have a local law that governed the conduct of its meetings. 

Under the Local Government Act 2020, a council is now required to have Governance Rules to govern:

• The conduct of Council meetings and meetings of any delegated committee Council may establish.
• The election process of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
• The election period; and
• The disclosure of conflicts of interest.

The Governance Rules must provide for Council to: 

• Consider and make decisions on any matter being considered by the Council fairly and on the merits; and
• Institute decision making processes to ensure that any person whose rights will be directly affected by a decision of the Council is entitled to communicate their views and have their interests considered.

The Mornington Peninsula Shire Council's Governance Rules were adopted on 24 August 2021.

Council's Meeting Procedures and Common Seal Local Law 2012 created under the Local Government Act 1989 ceases to operate on 5 October 2022. 

Download: Governance Rules(PDF, 695KB)
Download: Council Meeting Procedures and Common Seal Local Law(PDF, 667KB)