Compliance and Safety

Dealing with Offences

Council is responsibile for administration and enforcement of requirements given to it under State Acts and Regulations and of its own making through its Local Law and policies.  In many cases Council and State standards are imposed through a permit system - ie in order to do something a permit must be first obtained.

Many breaches under this system, such as failure to obtain a required permit, may be the subject of fines or may be prosecuted as summary criminal offences by authorised persons and agencies or the police.

Building Control Services has an active program of monitoring the municipal district and responding to complaints with a view to enforcement of requirements by methods appropriate to the circumstances.

In the case of building permits, a supplementary level of administrative control exists through the responsibilities of private building surveyors and the Building Commission. For further explanation of how this works please see our overview of the system page.

Review

A special review process has been introduced at Stonnington for persons wishing to challenge Local Law Infringement Notices. Some offences are taken straight to the Magistrates Court for prosecution hearing. Building notices and orders may be appealed before the  Building Appeals Board.