COVID restrictions - Local Government Guidance
Safely reopening Victoria
Refer to the coronavirus website for the latest restrictions. To view the latest Directions, visit the DHHS website.
Health information
Department of Health coronavirus (COVID-19) information can be found on the DH website or by calling the dedicated coronavirus hotline on: 1800 675 398.
Council Services
Each council is responsible for making decisions about its services in accordance with the restrictions and directions published on the DH website.
Sector guidance is published on the coronavirus website.
Council services have been listed in the table below. Each entry includes an indicative list of service components to help councils interpret the roadmap. Information within this guide is sourced from the coronavirus website.
Links within the table will take you to the relevant page on the coronavirus website.
Staff safety
All staff not working from home must adhere to the current restrictions for hygiene, physical distancing and face coverings.
Information and resources to help councils and their employees stay physically and mentally well in the workplace during coronavirus (COVID‑19) is also available on the coronavirus website.
Council Service | Guidance Link |
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AGED AND DISABILITY SERVICESIn-home domestic assistance including personal care (e.g. showering and dressing), cleaning, waste removal, assisted food and grocery shopping, assisted meal preparation or delivery (e.g. meals-on-wheels), home maintenance, respite care (e.g. assistance to carers), assisted financial management. Out-of-home domestic assistance including community transport (e.g. shopping and appointments) or planned activity groups. |
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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT SERVICESAnimal pound/ shelter services, dangerous dog seizures, nuisance animal complaints, collection of stray companion animals, wandering stock investigation, animal business registration and pet registration and permits. |
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COMMUNITY INCLUSION AND DEVELOPMENTCommunity and multicultural events, festivals, concerts. | |
COMMUNITY FACILITIESNeighbourhood houses, art galleries, museums, senior citizens clubs, youth centres and community halls. |
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CORPORATE SERVICESCommunications, finance, information technology, human resources and administrative functions for council services. |
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COUNCIL DEPOTSStorage and maintenance of machinery and vehicles, equipment ordering and dispatch. |
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COUNCIL INFRASTRUCTURE WORKSCapital works, emergency asset works and construction or maintenance (regular or emergency) of roads, footpaths, drainage and flood systems and signage. | |
CUSTOMER SERVICEPublic communication interface including, physical customer services centres, call centre services, website services and email services. |
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISMLocal business support and development, tourism information centres, caravan parks, camping grounds. |
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ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICESRegistration, inspection and investigation of food businesses and farmers markets, health and beauty businesses, tobacco retailers, prescribed accommodation, nuisances, domestic wastewater, infectious diseases and notifiable diseases. |
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ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITYBiodiversity, conservation and climate change programs, habitat retention, waterway health and public education programs |
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GALLERIES, MUSEUMS |
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IMMUNISATION SERVICESImmunisations for infants and children, secondary school students and general public. |
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KINDERGARTEN AND EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICESSessional Kindergarten, Long Day Care, Outside School Hours Care, Family Day Care and In-Home Care. |
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LIBRARY SERVICESBook/ magazine/ DVD/ toy lending, community meeting spaces, computer and internet access and story time sessions. |
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MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICESKey age and stage consultations, home visits, centre appointments, group programs (e.g. parents’ group and breastfeeding classes), support groups (e.g. postnatal depression) and playgroups. |
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MAYOR AND COUNCILLOR BUSINESSCouncil Meetings, Committees and Briefings, election campaigning. |
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MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND RELIEF SERVICESMunicipal and Regional Emergency Management Planning Committee meetings, emergency relief coordination, recovery centres, emergency relief centres, emergency risk assessments and fire prevention program. |
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PARKING ENFORCEMENT AND ON-STREET COMPLIANCEEnforcement of red, green and blue parking signs and on-street presence. |
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PUBLIC SPACESParks, gardens, dog parks, nature strips, roadsides, beaches, golf courses, ovals and walking tracks, skateparks, playgrounds, outdoor gym equipment, drinking fountains, public toilet, graffiti removal, dangerous tree removal. |
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SPORT AND LEISURE FACILITIESSporting pavilions, gyms, stadiums, aquatic centres, fitness classes, personal training, change rooms. |
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STATUTORY BUILDING SERVICESUndertake responsibilities of the Municipal Building Surveyor (including enforcement of the Building Act and Regulations within the municipality and responding to emergencies and threats to safety and property), assessing and issuing building and asset protection permits, and assessing applications |
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STATUTORY PLANNING SERVICESPreparing and amending the Victoria Planning Provisions and planning schemes, assessing planning applications and granting permits under schemes, enforcing compliance with planning schemes and permits. |
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WASTE MANAGEMENT SERVICESCollection of residential and business kerbside bins including landfill, recycling, food and garden organic waste, illegal dumping investigations and prosecutions, litter programs, hard rubbish/ garden waste collections and community education. |
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WASTE CENTRESTransfer stations, landfills, tip shops, recycling centres, garden or food organic centres and disposal of e-waste, chemical and dangerous waste. |
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Local Government Victoria bulletins to councils
Please note that all references to the Local Government Bill 2019 now refer to the Local Government Act 2020 that received Royal Assent on 24 March 2020.
19 February - Bulletin 12/2021 Conduct of Council Meetings
17 February - Bulletin 11/2021 Latest COVID-19 Advice
13 February - Bulletin 10/2021 Circuit Breaker Action
5 February - Bulletin 07/2021 Latest Advice for Councils
14 January - Bulletin 06/2021 Update on Offices and Face Masks
11 January - Bulletin 03/2021 A New Permit System for all Domestic Travel into Victoria
6 December - Bulletin 77/2020 Changes to Restrictions
21 November - Bulletin 75/2020 Changes to Restrictions – Local Government Information
8 November - Bulletin 74/2020 Changes to Restrictions
26 October - Bulletin 73/2020 Changes to Restrictions for Metropolitan Melbourne
25 October - Bulletin 72/2020 Changes to Restrictions for Regional Victoria
2 October - Bulletin 70/2020 Virtual Meetings Extension In Omnibus Bill Passes Parliament
20 October - Bulletin 69/2020 Supporting Residents Prepare Properties for the Summer Season
19 October - Bulletin 68/2020 Summary of Changes to Restrictions for Metropolitan Melbourne and Regional Victoria
13 October - Bulletin 67/2020 Transfer Stations and Landfill Levy Rate Changes - Further Deferral
2 October - Bulletin 65/2020 - Business Resilience Grants Open for Local Businesses
28 September - Bulletin 64/2020 - Reopening Roadmaps and Eased Restrictions
16 September - Bulletin 61/2020 - Regional Victoria to move to Third Step of the Roadmap for Reopening
6 September - Bulletin 58/2020 - Reopening Roadmaps Released
21 August - Bulletin 55/2020 - Stage 4 Restrictions - Council Business Guidance
31 July - Bulletin 52/2020 - Safe Campaigning Guidelines Published
- Attachment 1 (Safe Campaigning Guidelines)
22 July - Bulletin 51/2020 - State of Emergency Extended and Face Coverings Made Mandatory
- Attachment 1 (Reusable Fabric Facemasks Manufacturers Directory)
- Attachment 2 (Hand-Sanitiser Directory)
9 July - Bulletin 48/2020 - Updated Directions for COVID-19 Restrictions from 8 July 2020
29 June - Bulletin 46/2020 - Helping Get Local Businesses Safely Back on Their Feet
23 June - Bulletin 45/2020 - Further Changes to Restrictions
4 June - Bulletin 41/2020 - Information from The Chief Health Officer for Local Governments
- Attachment 1 (Coronavirus Disease COVID-19 CHO Letter to Local Government CEO 3 June 2020)
25 May - Bulletin 39/2020 - Further Easing of Restrictions
15 May - Bulletin 38/2020 - 2020 Local Government General Elections to Proceed as Planned
11 May - Bulletin 36/2020 - Coronavirus (COVID-19) Easing of Restrictions
4 May - Bulletin 35/2020 - Landfill Levy Rate Rises Deferred
29 Apr - Bulletin 34/2020 - Ministerial Good Practice Guideline MGPG-1: Virtual Meetings
27 Apr - Bulletin 33/2020 - Planning Matters and Conduct of Council Meetings
17 Apr - Bulletin 29/2020 - Coronavirus COVID-19 – Emergency Food Relief
- Attachment 1 (Arrangements for The Provision of Relief)
16 Apr - Bulletin 27/2020 - Bill to Enable Virtual Council Meetings Introduced into Parliament Next Week
9 Apr - Bulletin 26/2020 - Extension for Adoption of Budgets, Strategic Resource Plans and Annual Reports
6 Apr - Bulletin 24/2020 - Fortnightly Meetings with Sector Representatives
1 Apr - Bulletin 23/2020 - COVID-19 Directions and Workplaces
- Attachment 1 (Letter to Local Government Chief Executive - COVID-19 Update)
30 Mar - Bulletin 22/2020 - Economic Survival Package to Support Businesses and Jobs
- Attachment 1 (Fact Sheet - Vic Gov Business Support)
30 Mar - Bulletin 21/2020 - Stage 3 Restrictions
- Attachment 1 and 2 - Please Visit This Site.
27 Mar - Bulletin 18/2020 - Assisting Healthcare Workers and Patients to Travel
27 Mar - Bulletin 17/2020 - Appropriate Use of PPE for Non-Health Services
- Attachment 1 (Guidance on The Rational Use of PPE for COVID-19 For Non-Health Services)
27 Mar - Bulletin 16/2020 - Support of Vulnerable People in Emergencies
26 Mar - Bulletin 15/2020 - Mass Gathering Direction 3 and Non-Essential Business Closure 2 from the Deputy Chief Health Officer
- Attachment 1 (Mass Gatherings Directions No. 3)
- Attachment 2 (Non-Essential Activity Directions - 25 March 2020)
23 Mar - Bulletin 12/2020 - Mass Gathering Direction 2 and Non-Essential Business Closure from the Deputy Chief Health Officer
- Attachment 1 (Mass Gatherings Directions No. 2)
- Attachment 2 (Non-Essential Business Closure)
18 Mar - Bulletin 11/2020 - Mass Gathering Directions from the Deputy Chief Health Officer
- Attachment 1 (Chief Health Officer Direction)
18 Mar - Bulletin 10/2020 - Coronavirus (COVID-19) Transmission Reduction Measures
17 Mar - Bulletin 8/2020 - Direction from the Chief Health Officer
- Attachment 1 (Chief Health Officer Direction)
12 Mar - Bulletin 6/2020 - COVID-19
Page last updated: 02/03/21