General information, not legal advice

The information on this website is general information about the law. It is not legal advice, and it is not written for your situation. If you have a legal problem, see a lawyer.

Each page carries a short verdict, like "legal" or "legal, with conditions". That verdict is our plain-English summary of what the legislation we quote says, in the ordinary case, as at the date shown on the page. It is not a guarantee about your situation. Council rules, permits, exemptions and your own facts can all change the answer, and often do. Read the provisions we quote and the "in practice" section, not just the verdict.

Where a page describes what usually happens — a fine, a notice, an inspection — that is the process set out in the legislation we cite. It is not a prediction of what will happen to you, and penalty amounts change.

We work hard to keep pages accurate and current. Every page shows when it was last updated and last checked, and cites the legislation it is based on. But laws change, and we cannot guarantee that any page reflects the law at the moment you read it. Always check the official legislation register for the current law.

Extracts of legislation on this site are not official versions. The official versions are published on each jurisdiction's legislation register, which every extract links to.

Using this website does not create a lawyer–client relationship. We are not taking responsibility for decisions you make after reading a page here. We don't know your circumstances, and nothing here is written for them.

Nothing here excludes any right or guarantee under the Australian Consumer Law that cannot lawfully be excluded. Subject to that, we accept no liability for any loss or damage arising from your use of, or reliance on, this website.

This site is not a law firm and does not provide legal services. We do not answer questions about individual situations. Our editor does not hold an Australian practising certificate and does not practise in Australia. If you need advice about your own situation, see a lawyer who holds a current practising certificate in your state or territory.

This disclaimer forms part of our terms of use. We can change it at any time, and a new version applies from the moment it is posted here. The version that applies to you is the version on this page when you use the site.

Effective from 31 Aug 2026.