Unmanaged vehicles on roads
Under Council’s Health, Safety and Amenity Local Law 2021 (the Local Law), vehicle owners must not park or abandon a vehicle on a public road or road related area if it is in a hazardous location or is unregistered. This includes, but is not limited:
- Cars
- Trucks
- Trailers
- Caravans; and
- Motorbikes
Under the Local Law, it is also an offence to leave unsightly/ dilapidated vehicles (i.e. vehicles with neglected body, missing car parts or incapable of operation without significant mechanical or other intervention) on a road or road related area. Complaints about unsightly/ dilapidated vehicles are considered by an authorised person on reasonable grounds, and does not include vehicles that have sustained minor damage, have flaking paint, are old, dirty or covered in vegetation.
Unregistered or unsightly vehicles should be relocated onto private property to avoid an infringement and the possible removal of the vehicle by Brisbane City Council. If moving an unsightly vehicle on to private property please make sure you position the vehicle in a way that it does not create an unsightly objects issue on the property.
The Local Law outlines the process that Council undertakes when responding to complaints about unregistered, abandoned, or unsightly vehicles on Council roads and road related areas. For abandoned or unsightly vehicles, checks to ascertain the owner of a vehicle (without entering the vehicle) are performed prior to removal of the vehicle where possible and the owner is given a chance to remove it voluntarily.
Vehicles that are unregistered or parked in a hazardous location may be removed immediately by Council.
Unwanted Vehicles
Private tow truck operators, second-hand vehicle dealerships or scrap metal recycling businesses may be able to assist with the removal of an unwanted vehicle, some offering a free or low-cost service.
Make a complaint
Complaints about vehicles parked in a hazardous location must be reported via Council’s 24-hour Customer Contact Centre on 07 3403 8888.
To assist the community with resolving health and safety issues without Council intervention, we have developed the following letter template which you may wish to use. Simply print out the template, fill in the required details and place it in the letterbox of the neighbour who is in charge of the vehicle or on the vehicle.
You can also report an abandoned, unsightly or unregistered vehicle online. To assist in expediating your complaint, ensure you:
- undertake a free vehicle registration search to identify if the vehicle is registered – Council will not investigate registered vehicles that are lawfully parked
- take photos of the vehicle to upload with your complaint (especially if you are reporting an unsightly/ dilapidated vehicle)
If you believe your vehicle has been removed by Council you can check the list or phone 07 3403 8888.