Legislation
Local Government in Victoria is administered under the Local Government Act 1989. In addition to this Act, there are several pieces of legislation which are relevant to the work done by Local Government Victoria and by local governments across the State.
Local Government Act 1989
The Local Government Act 1989 provides a framework for the establishment and operation of councils and is the main legislative instrument for Victoria’s 79 councils. Find out more about the Local Government Act 1989.
City of Melbourne Act 2001
Certain differences between the City of Melbourne and other local governments across the State are recognised, and therefore additional provisions relating specifically to the Melbourne City Council are specified in the City of Melbourne Act 2001. Find out more about the City of Melbourne Act.
Constitution Act 1975
Local government is recognised in the Constitution Act 1975 and the status of local government in the constitution is protected. Find out more about the Constitution Act .
Libraries Act 1988
The operation of Mechanics’ Institutes in Victoria, particularly in relation to the sale or transfer of land, comes under Section 4 of the Libraries Act 1988, which is the responsibility of the Minister for Local Government. Find out more about the Libraries Act.
Victoria Grants Commission Act 1976
The Victoria Grants Commission Act 1976 is the governing legislation for the Victoria Grants Commission (VGC). The VGC is an independent statutory body which falls within the portfolio responsibilities for the Minister for Local Government. Its primary function is to allocate revenue provided by the Commonwealth Government to municipal councils in Victoria. Find out more about the Victoria Grants Commission Act.
Local Government (Financial Assistance) Act 1995
The Local Government (Financial Assistance) Act 1995 sets out many of the provisions through which the Federal Government provides grants to local government. The term “Financial Assistance grants” describes both general purpose grants and identified local road grants. Find out more about the Local Government (Financial Assistance) Act (PDF 50 kb).
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Web Site Updates
DPCD's websites are progressively being updated to reflect the changes following the establishment of the
department. This means you will continue to see some references to the Department for Victorian Communities
(DVC) as changes are being made.
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