Bylaws

This bylaw's purpose is to reduce alcohol-related crime and disorder by prohibiting the possession and consumption of alcohol in certain public places. 

Alcohol bans are in place in central Whangārei and in other neighbourhood centres, as well as at most popular beaches in the District.

The alcohol bans are mapped in the Register of Alcohol Ban Areas below. They can also be viewed in our online map here:

Bylaws GIS Map

The bylaw is made under section 147 of the Local Government Act 2002. 

This bylaw sets out the fees that Council charges for alcohol licensing activities.

This bylaw regulates the ownership of animals (excluding dogs) to protect the public from nuisance and maintain public health and safety.

In July 2022, Council included new rules about cats in the Bylaw. Click on the link below to find out more.

This bylaw regulates and manages camping on land controlled and managed by Whangarei District Council.

The bylaw was amended after consultation and the amended version came into force on 1 October 2021.

This bylaw regulates the use of vehicles on beaches in the Whangārei District to promote and maintain public health and safety, and protect the public from nuisance.

Maps within the bylaw shows the prohibited areas and the conditions under which vehicles are allowed access.

This bylaw sets the standards of control that must be observed by dog owners. This includes dogs in public places, wandering dogs and nuisances caused by dogs.

The purpose of this bylaw is to incentivise high food safety standards and support public health and understanding by requiring operators of certain food businesses to publicly display a food grading information certificate.

Council amended the Food Businesses Grading Bylaw 2016 on 25 June 2026 and renamed it the Food Grading Information Bylaw 2016. The amendments to the Bylaw came into force on 1 July 2026.

This bylaw sets the requirements for parking and control of vehicle or other traffic on roads, parking places and transport stations owned or controlled by Whangarei District Council. 

This bylaw is no longer in force.

From Friday 25 September 2026, it was replaced by two new bylaws:

• Public Trading, Events and Commercial Filming Bylaw
• Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw.

Follow the links below to find out more about each bylaw.

The Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw regulates behaviours and activities in public places under Council’s control for the purposes of:

• protecting the public from nuisance;
• protecting public health and safety; and
• minimising the potential for offensive behaviour.

The Horses on Beaches Control supports the purpose of the Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw by specifying beaches and parts of beach where horses are either prohibited or permitted year-around. It should be read together with the Bylaw.