Local Laws

Most buildings and structures require a building approval under the National Construction Code (Building Code of Australia).

Shipping containers fall into this category. The change to this local law, reduces the burden of applying for a building approval if the shipping container is a temporary storage solution on a property.

The amendment allows a period of grace where a shipping container can be temporarily placed on a property under a local law approval without requiring building approval. Once this period has ended, the shipping container is considered permanent and a building approval is required for it to remain on the property.

A local law approval is not required if the shipping container is placed temporarily:

• On an urban property for less than 90 days.
• On a rural property for less than 180 days.
• Being used on a construction site during building works.

To find out more about this amendment, read the factsheet.  

Amendment-to-subordinate-local-law-shipping-containers-on-residential-properties-for-temporary-use.pdf(PDF, 451KB)

This amendment aims to align Council's local laws with existing Queensland Government legislation for dog registration and the microchipping of cats and dogs.

The changes give Council clearer powers to address issues relating to:

• The registering of dogs.
• The microchipping of dogs and cats.
• To take action when owners do not meet these requirements.

The majority of pet owners will not notice any change if they are already meeting their responsibilities.

To find out more about this amendment, read the factsheet. 

Amendment-to-subordinate-local-law-animal-management.pdf(PDF, 442KB)

While the State Government already prohibits the feeding of native wildlife in many national parks and protected areas, this amendment also prohibits the feeding of wildlife (native or pest) on private property.

It might seem kind to feed native animals, but giving food to wildlife can do more harm than good.

Wild animals are adapted to find their own food in nature. When people feed them, it can change their natural behaviour and affect their health.

It can also create health and safety issues for people and pets and may impact on the local environment including the health of other wildlife species.

To find out more about this amendment, read the factsheet. 

Amendment-to-subordinate-local-law-Feeding-wildlife-is-now-prohibited-on-private-property.pdf(PDF, 445KB)

This amendment introduces a Council approval process for these properties where they are used for paid short-stay accommodation for more than 30 nights in total during a financial year.

Short-stay accommodation refers to residential properties offered to paying guests for short stays, such as holiday homes and properties listed through platforms such as Airbnb.

Local Law approval will not be required for:

• Properties where the owner or a resident manager lives on site.
• Shared facility accommodation.
• Backpacker accommodation.
• Short-stay accommodation that is offered for less than 30 nights in total during one financial year.
• Hotels and motels providing accommodation.

To find out more about this amendment, read the factsheet.  

Amendment-to-subordinate-local-law-properties-used-to-provide-short-stay-accommodation-non-resident-manager.pdf(PDF, 450KB)

This amendment requires waste and recycling bins to be removed from the collection point within 24 hours after collection and not moved to the collection point more than 24 hours before collection.

For properties with a Monday collection, bins may be placed at the collection point from Friday if required.

Properties must also have enough space on private land, within the property boundary, to store all waste or recycling bins required for the premises. The bins cannot be stored on public land such as footpaths, nature strips or roadsides.

Most residents and businesses will not notice any change if they already put their waste or recycling bins out and bring them back in within the required timeframes, and if they store them appropriately on their property between collections.

To find out more about this amendment, read the factsheet. 

Amendment-to-subordinate-local-law-waste-bin-placement-and-collection-rules.pdf(PDF, 446KB)

This amendment now requires all commercial operators of caravan parks, camping grounds, public swimming pools and shared accommodation facilities to obtain annual Council approval.

A commercial operator is a person or business that charges people to stay at or use a caravan park, camping ground, public swimming pool or shared accommodation facility.

The changes do not apply where these facilities:

• Are used on private property for personal use and no fee is charged to use the facility.
• Small camping grounds defined as a 'Tourist Park' under the Planning Scheme. These have no more than eight caravans, cabins, tents or similar accommodation structures in total and meet all other applicable requirements.

To find out more about this amendment, read the factsheet. 

Amendment-to-subordinate-local-law-caravan-parks-camping-grounds-public-swimming-pools-and-shared-accommodation.pdf(PDF, 448KB)

This amendment changes the maximum number of people that can attend an event on a private property without the requirement of a Council permit.

Event organisers now need Council approval for temporary events held on private land that are expected to attract more than 500 attendees. The previous threshold was more than 1,000 attendees.

The local law applies to temporary events on private land only.

To find out more about this amendment, read the factsheet. 

Amendment-to-subordinate-local-law-temporary-entertainment-events-on-private-land.pdf(PDF, 447KB)

This amendment introduces specific local requirements for the use of scare guns, enabling Council officers to respond to complaints about their use and potential impacts on neighbours, sensitive wildlife and the environment.

The changes will include:

• Minimum distances between scare guns and nearby homes or sensitive locations.
• Limits on the number of blasts allowed each day.
• Restrictions on the hours when scare guns can be used.

To find out more about this amendment, read the factsheet. 

Amendment-to-subordinate-local-law-using-scare-guns.pdf(PDF, 445KB)

Electric fences are regularly used across the Gympie region to help rural landholders contain and manage livestock or to provide security around homes, businesses and properties.

An Australian Standard already sets out requirements for the safe installation, operation and maintenance of electric fences.

This amendment complements this standard by introducing additional local safety requirements for matters that were not covered, helping Council to better respond to concerns raised by the community.

These additional requirements support the continued use of electric fences in the region while helping to protect residents, neighbouring property owners and anyone using nearby public areas.

To find out more about this amendment, read the factsheet.  

Amendment-to-subordinate-local-law-new-safety-requirements-for-property-owners-using-electric-fences.pdf(PDF, 449KB)

This amendment will require businesses that use shopping trolleys as part of their operations to take reasonable measures to prevent trolleys from being removed from the shopping precinct and to retrieve any trolleys that are removed.

Reasonable measures include:

• Introducing a deposit or token system to encourage customers to return shopping trolleys after use.
• Undertaking daily collections of shopping trolleys from areas surrounding the premises.

To find out more about this amendment, read the factsheet. 

Amendment-to-subordinate-local-law-keeping-shopping-trolleys-within-shopping-precincts.pdf(PDF, 446KB)

This amendment introduces new minimum standards for keeping honey bees, pigeons, and birds (excluding poultry) on properties across the Gympie region.

These standards are designed to support responsible practices while protecting the safety and amenity of the wider community.

The law helps ensure the keeping of honey bees, pigeons and birds are managed appropriately, reducing impacts on neighbours and public spaces while allowing residents to enjoy the environmental, recreational and agricultural benefits.

To find out more about this amendment, read the factsheet. 

Amendment-to-subordinate-local-law-new-minimum-standards-for-keeping-honey-bees-pigeons-and-birds-excluding-poultry.pdf(PDF, 455KB)

Gympie Aerodrome has been owned and operated by Gympie Regional Council since it opened on 7 May 1966. During that time, Council has not had a specific local legal framework to manage its use and respond to issues involving aircraft, vehicles, equipment and facilities, aircraft parking, safety and security, or potential hazards in and around the aerodrome.

Council has introduced a new local law and subordinate local law to set clear rules and requirements for the use and management of the aerodrome and provide a framework for Council to respond when issues arise.

Most users of Council’s aerodrome will not notice any change if they already use the facility safely and responsibly.

To find out more about this amendment, read the factsheet. 

New-local-law-and-subordinate-local-law-No-7-Aerodromes-2026.pdf(PDF, 454KB)

Local laws are rules made by Council to address local issues and community needs that are not already covered by state or federal laws. They provide Council with a framework to manage a range of matters that affect everyday life across the region, such as keeping animals, using public spaces, holding events and certain activities on private land. The rules help protect public health and safety, the environment and the enjoyment of the region, while balancing individual needs with those of the wider community.

A local law sets out the main rules, including what Council can regulate and the requirements that apply.

A subordinate local law supports the local law by providing more detail about how those rules apply in practice.

For example, the new aerodrome local law sets out the main rules for managing the use and operation of Gympie Aerodrome, while the subordinate local law provides more detailed requirements for matters such as using aerodrome facilities, safety and security, protecting aerodrome infrastructure and public liability insurance.

Residents regularly contact Council about local issues affecting them, their property or their neighbourhood. During the 2025–26 financial year, Council received more than 4,600 enquiries and complaints about matters covered by its local laws. This can include concerns about noise, animals, waste, activities on neighbouring properties and other matters that can sometimes lead to disputes between neighbours.

Local laws provide Council officers with a practical framework to respond to these concerns consistently, work with those involved to resolve issues and, where necessary, take appropriate action.

No application fees will apply to any of the new approvals or permits introduced through the local law changes from 26 August 2026 to 30 June 2027.

During this period, Council will focus on education and awareness to help residents and businesses understand the changes, whether they need an approval or permit and how to apply.

As part of its 2027–28 budget process, Council will consider if fees and charges will apply to any of the new approvals or permits from 1 July 2027. If introduced, the fees will help cover the cost of assessing applications, carrying out any required inspections, and administering the approval process.

Council invited the community to have its say on the proposed changes during a public consultation period from 2 February to 13 March 2026.

Feedback was received through an online survey, hard copy submission forms and at two community drop-in sessions held at Gympie Town Hall and the Gympie Aerodrome.

Council received 191 submissions from residents, businesses, community organisations and other stakeholders during the consultation period.

Among the most common issues raised within the submissions were concerns that some of the proposed changes included:

• costs associated with obtaining approvals or meeting some of the proposed requirements,
• increased or changed compliance obligations, and
• potential impacts on tourism, rural living and small businesses.

Council also received suggestions for alternative approaches, including:

• registration schemes,
• different requirements for small-scale operators, and
• greater recognition of the different needs of urban and rural communities.

Council also invited relevant Queensland Government departments to review the proposed local law changes as part of the State interest review process. This helped ensure the proposed changes align with State legislation, government policies and the responsibilities of relevant government agencies.

The departments invited to provide feedback were:

• Department of Transport and Main Roads
• Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation
• Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning
• Department of Primary Industries
• Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers

All feedback received through the community consultation and State interest review helped inform the final proposed changes which were endorsed by Council at its Ordinary Meeting on Wednesday 23 September 2026.

Council’s local laws were last comprehensively reviewed in 2011, when a new set of six local laws and six subordinate local laws was introduced for the Gympie region.

That review replaced 96 local laws and subordinate local laws that were in place across the former Cooloola, Kilkivan and part of Tiaro shire council areas following local government amalgamation.

While individual local laws have been amended since then, the current review is the first comprehensive review of Council’s local laws in more than 15 years.

Council’s local laws and Planning Scheme have different purposes, but can be applied to similar activities or uses of a property.

The Planning Scheme sets rules for how land and properties can be used and developed across the Gympie region. Some activities require planning approval before they can start. This may involve completing a material change of use application so Council can assess the proposed use, whether it is suitable for the property and location, and any conditions that may need to apply.

Local laws provide a different approval process for certain activities. They allow Council to set operating standards without requiring the more formal Planning Scheme approval process.

Short-stay accommodation is one example. Some types of accommodation, such as hotels and motels, require Planning Scheme approval to operate. Under the amended subordinate local law, residential properties offered as paid short-stay accommodation for more than 30 nights in a financial year will instead have a separate local law approval process.

The amendment reduces the burden on property owners by providing a simpler local law approval process, rather than requiring them to complete a formal material change of use application solely because they offer short-stay accommodation. It also allows Council to set minimum operating standards and manage impacts on neighbouring residents without discouraging short-stay accommodation, while recognising its importance to visitors, property owners, local businesses and the regional economy.

If you are unsure which requirements apply to your property or activity, contact Council for assistance.

If your property is located in a rural, rural residential or environmental management and conservation zone, as described under the Gympie Region Planning Scheme. it is generally not considered to be in an urban area.

If you are unsure if your property is located in an urban area, contact Council for assistance.

• Call Council on 1300 307 800 to speak with one of our friendly Customer Service staff, Monday to Friday, 8.30am-4.45pm.
• Email council@gympie.qld.gov.au and your enquiry will be tasked to Council’s Compliance team for actioning.