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
- motorbikes.
Under the Local Law, it is also an offence to leave unsightly/dilapidated vehicles on a road or road related area.
Council investigates hazardous, abandoned, unregistered or unsightly/ dilapidated in the following circumstances:
- Hazardous – vehicles are considered hazardous if they are causing, or likely to cause, a danger, hinderance or obstruction to traffic or preventing the use of a road or footway.
Note: A Legally parked vehicle cannot be considered a hazard.
- Abandoned - an abandoned vehicle is a vehicle that:
- has been left for more than 24 hours in a parking bay (e.g. metered spaces) where the time for a vehicle to remain parked is limited
- is parked for more than seven days in a parking bay where the time a vehicle may remain parked is not limited (e.g. a line marked bay with no limit)
- is unregistered.
If the vehicle does not meet these specific requirements, then Council is unable to investigate the vehicle as abandoned.
- Unregistered - Council will ask you to provide either a registration plate or a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to be able to identify whether the vehicle is registered.
To assist in expediating your complaint, you can undertake a free vehicle registration search to identify the registration status. If the vehicle is registered and lawfully parked, Council is unable to investigate.
- Unsightly/dilapidated - Complaints about unsightly/dilapidated vehicles are assessed by an authorised person as to whether or not the vehicle is unsightly/dilapidated. For clarity “Unsightly/dilapidated” does not generally include vehicles that have sustained minor damage, reasonable wear and tear, slightly dirty etc.
The Local Law process
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 the owner is given a chance to remove the vehicle.
Vehicles that are unregistered or parked in a hazardous manner may be removed immediately by Council. Find out more information about:
Council has a separate process for managing locations where there are repeat unmanaged unregistered vehicle matters occurring.
If you believe that there is a repeat offender near you please lodge a report to 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.