The City's response to Yahoo News Australia about the City's new Local Laws, 9.9.26
Question: What are the most significant new rules or powers affecting residents and homeowners that did not apply under the previous local laws?
Answer: Detailed information on any new rules or powers can be found in the local law reports that went to the December 2025 and May 2026 Ordinary Council Meetings. See links below.
Question: Under the new Health and Nuisances Local Law, what can residents now be fined or ordered to change on their property, including in relation to broken-down vehicles, overgrown vegetation and nuisance lighting?
Answer: Modified penalties (infringements) for not complying with the Health and Nuisances Local Law 2026 can be found in schedule 1 of the local law. If prosecuted, a person could be fined up to $10,000 by a Court. Provisions regarding ‘broken-down vehicles, overgrown vegetation and nuisance lighting’ are similar to those in the previous local laws.
Question: Are there any other new or unusual rules residents may not realise have come into effect?
Answer: Detailed information on any new rules can be found in the local law reports that went to the December 2025 and May 2026 Ordinary Council Meetings. See links below.
Question: Under the new cat rules, can neighbours make submissions when someone applies to keep more than three cats, and is this a new provision? Answer: Yes, neighbours may be notified of an application regarding a proposal to keep more than three cats. Neighbours will be able to make a submission to the City of Cockburn regarding these applications. This is a new provision.
Question: Why were these changes introduced, and what penalties can residents face?
Answer: Local laws must be reviewed in accordance with the Local Government Act 1995. The formal review provided Council an opportunity to consider if the local laws were "fit for purpose". The previous suite of local laws was outdated, with some introduced in 2000. The new local laws have been written in plain English, to provide residents with greater clarity and ease of understanding.
Modified penalties (infringements) for not complying with a local law can be found in the schedule of that relevant local law. General penalties (the maximum that can be fined by a Court if prosecuted) can be found in the enforcement section of the relevant local law.
Please refer to the Local Laws page on the City’s website for information about the new local laws and PDFs/Word docs of each new local law:
Local Laws - City of Cockburn
To help you find further information related to your questions, feel free to refer to the following links to the Minutes of Cockburn Council’s December 2025 and May 2026 Ordinary Meetings –
December 2025:
15.1.6 P449: Review of Health and Fencing Local Laws – Report on submissions
15.1.7 P500: Proposed New City of Cockburn Health and Nuisances Law 2026
15.1.8 P525: Proposed New City of Cockburn Fencing Local Law 2026
15.1.9 P551: Proposed New City of Cockburn Parking Local Law 2026
15.1.10 P595: Proposed New City of Cockburn Waste Amendment Local Law 2026
15.1.11 P633: Proposed New City of Cockburn Keeping of Animals Local Law 2026
15.1.12: Proposed New City of Cockburn Public Places Local Law 2026
Minutes of Ordinary Council Meeting - Tuesday, 9 December 2025
AND
May 2026:
15.1.5 P294: Proposed New City of Cockburn Health and Nuisances Law 2026
15.1.6 P375: Proposed New City of Cockburn Fencing Local Law 2026
15.1.7 P443: Proposed New City of Cockburn Parking Local Law 2026
15.1.8 P568: Proposed New City of Cockburn Waste Amendment Local Law 2026
15.1.9 P617: Proposed New City of Cockburn Keeping of Animals Local Law 2026
15.1.10 P935: Proposed New City of Cockburn Public Places Local Law 2026
Minutes of Ordinary Council Meeting - Tuesday, 12 May 2026