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Leaving a vehicle parked on a public road or other Council - managed land for an extended period may result in enforcement action and associated costs.
Vehicles and trailers -whether registered or unregistered - are regulated under the Public Spaces (Unattended Property) Act 2021 and the Public Spaces (Unattended Property) Regulation 2022. These laws outline the required timeframes for observation, notification and impoundment, which guide Council.
If a vehicle remains in substantially the same place after the notification period, Council may commence the impoundment process.
A vehicle is considered to remain in substantially the same place if it has not been removed for a period of more than 24 hours from the same block, length of road, parking area, or parking zone where it has been parked. The burden of proof rests with the last registered owner, to establish, to the satisfaction of Council, that the vehicle was removed for the required period.
If a reported vehicle has been removed for more than 24 hours, it is not considered to be unattended.
For more information, please refer to the NSW Government's Public Space (Unattended Property) Act 2021 website
new-rules-for-vehicles-left-in-public-fact-sheet.pdf
Frequently asked questions – Public Spaces (Unattended Property) laws | Office of Local Government
Report an Unattended Vehicle
Before submitting a report, please ensure that the vehicle is located on a public road or other Council - managed land and is not already displaying a Council notice. A notice is brightly coloured and may be affixed to the driver’s side window of a motor vehicle or to the main body of a trailer or to the wheel of a motorcycle/scooter.
When reporting an unattended vehicle, please provide:
- The exact location of the vehicle
- A clear description (including make, model, colour and registration number, if available)
If Your Vehicle Has Been Impounded
Impounded vehicles are taken to a holding yard where they accrue daily charges. For these vehicles to be released, the last registered owner must provide Council with proof of identity and ownership, to the satisfaction of Council and pay the administration fee.
They will then be provided details on the location of the holding yard where further charges apply.