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Consultation has concluded
Council’s Public Places Bylaw is due for its statutory review and we want your feedback on the proposed updates to it.
The Public Places Bylaw helps Council to regulate activities in public spaces to prevent nuisance and promote safe behaviour. It helps to manage things like obstructions in public places, damage to public property, littering and noise control.
What we’re proposing
Council is proposing to consolidate its Public Places Bylaw and Trading in Public Places Bylaw into one bylaw to manage public places. Although the Trading in Public Places Bylaw is not due for review until 2028, consolidation provides an opportunity to improve clarity, reduce duplication, and simplify future bylaw reviews.
Other proposed changes focus on clarifying standards, updating definitions and amending outdated rules. All proposed amendments are set out in the draft version of the proposed Bylaw contained in the Statement of Proposal.
How to Have Your Say
We want your feedback on the proposed changes. The submission period runs from 25 March – 25 April 2026. If required, hearings will be held in May 2026.
You can provide feedback in multiple ways:
Make an online submission using the survey; or
Email your submission to policy@huttcity.govt.nz with 'Public Places Bylaw' in the email subject line; or
Drop off a submission at the front counter at our offices at 30 Laings Road, Lower Hutt; and
If you would like to provide feedback to council in-person, please indicate your interest through the survey.
Council’s Public Places Bylaw is due for its statutory review and we want your feedback on the proposed updates to it.
The Public Places Bylaw helps Council to regulate activities in public spaces to prevent nuisance and promote safe behaviour. It helps to manage things like obstructions in public places, damage to public property, littering and noise control.
What we’re proposing
Council is proposing to consolidate its Public Places Bylaw and Trading in Public Places Bylaw into one bylaw to manage public places. Although the Trading in Public Places Bylaw is not due for review until 2028, consolidation provides an opportunity to improve clarity, reduce duplication, and simplify future bylaw reviews.
Other proposed changes focus on clarifying standards, updating definitions and amending outdated rules. All proposed amendments are set out in the draft version of the proposed Bylaw contained in the Statement of Proposal.
How to Have Your Say
We want your feedback on the proposed changes. The submission period runs from 25 March – 25 April 2026. If required, hearings will be held in May 2026.
You can provide feedback in multiple ways:
Make an online submission using the survey; or
Email your submission to policy@huttcity.govt.nz with 'Public Places Bylaw' in the email subject line; or
Drop off a submission at the front counter at our offices at 30 Laings Road, Lower Hutt; and
If you would like to provide feedback to council in-person, please indicate your interest through the survey.
Share Summary Table of Proposed Changes on FacebookShare Summary Table of Proposed Changes on TwitterShare Summary Table of Proposed Changes on LinkedinEmail Summary Table of Proposed Changes link
Issue Identified
Proposed Change
Relevant Section
Source
Definition clarity
Transfer interpretation section from Trading in Public Places Bylaw and add as required
Provide definition of projection
Interpretation
New / Transferred from Trading in Public Places Bylaw
Dictionary
Opening surface – content clarity
Amend wording to section 1.1 to make the restriction clear
Opening surfaces
Planning team
Broaden definition of advertisement
Adding the word sign for clarity
Display advertising in public places
Regulatory team
Provision that is incongruent with Freedom Camping Act 2011
Removal of provision to prevent temporary living in public places
No building to be erected on a public place
Regulatory and legal teams
Stormwater runoff from verandas – content clarity
Clarify requirement to keep projections into public places in good order
Add wording to 18.1 (c) clarify Building Code requirements
Additional clause
Verandas
Building Code /Building team
Remove double up
Remove the street stall sections that was in the Public Places Bylaw and import the Trading in Public Places Bylaw content
Street stalls
Public Places Bylaw / Trading in Public Places Bylaw
Opportunity to consolidate Public Places and Trading in Public Places Bylaws
Transfer, and update, Trading in Public Places Bylaw content into the Public Places Bylaw
New section: Trading in Public Places
Trading in Public Places Bylaw
Consolidating Trading in Public Places content
Reducing wordcount while retaining value by removing duplicated content
Trading in Public Places
Connected Communities / Legal
No mention of penalty cost
Add wording from the Local Government Act 2002 to make penalties clearer
Offences and penalties
Local Government Act 2002 /Legal
Clarity
Amend wording to include “buskers”
Street musicians
Legal / Policy
District Plan regulatory compliance
Add clarifying comments to District Plan compliance requirements
Commentary
Planning / Legal
Building Code regulatory compliance
Add clarifying comments to the Building Code commentary
Commentary
Building control / Legal
No mention of Bylaw making power
Add comment to highlight the foundation of bylaw-making powers
Commentary
Local Government Act 2002 / Legal
Regulatory overlap
Importing Trading in Public Places Bylaw content into Public Places Bylaw
New section: Trading in Public Places
Trading in Public Places Bylaw 2018
Repeated wording
Consolidating numerous sections of the Trading in Public Places Bylaw into one concise section
Trading in Public Places Bylaw
Trading in Public Places Bylaw 2018
Issue Identified
Proposed Change
Relevant Section
Source
Definition clarity
Transfer interpretation section from Trading in Public Places Bylaw and add as required
Provide definition of projection
Interpretation
New / Transferred from Trading in Public Places Bylaw
Dictionary
Opening surface – content clarity
Amend wording to section 1.1 to make the restriction clear
Opening surfaces
Planning team
Broaden definition of advertisement
Adding the word sign for clarity
Display advertising in public places
Regulatory team
Provision that is incongruent with Freedom Camping Act 2011
Removal of provision to prevent temporary living in public places
No building to be erected on a public place
Regulatory and legal teams
Stormwater runoff from verandas – content clarity
Clarify requirement to keep projections into public places in good order
Add wording to 18.1 (c) clarify Building Code requirements
Additional clause
Verandas
Building Code /Building team
Remove double up
Remove the street stall sections that was in the Public Places Bylaw and import the Trading in Public Places Bylaw content
Street stalls
Public Places Bylaw / Trading in Public Places Bylaw
Opportunity to consolidate Public Places and Trading in Public Places Bylaws
Transfer, and update, Trading in Public Places Bylaw content into the Public Places Bylaw
New section: Trading in Public Places
Trading in Public Places Bylaw
Consolidating Trading in Public Places content
Reducing wordcount while retaining value by removing duplicated content
Trading in Public Places
Connected Communities / Legal
No mention of penalty cost
Add wording from the Local Government Act 2002 to make penalties clearer
Offences and penalties
Local Government Act 2002 /Legal
Clarity
Amend wording to include “buskers”
Street musicians
Legal / Policy
District Plan regulatory compliance
Add clarifying comments to District Plan compliance requirements
Commentary
Planning / Legal
Building Code regulatory compliance
Add clarifying comments to the Building Code commentary
Commentary
Building control / Legal
No mention of Bylaw making power
Add comment to highlight the foundation of bylaw-making powers
Commentary
Local Government Act 2002 / Legal
Regulatory overlap
Importing Trading in Public Places Bylaw content into Public Places Bylaw
New section: Trading in Public Places
Trading in Public Places Bylaw 2018
Repeated wording
Consolidating numerous sections of the Trading in Public Places Bylaw into one concise section
Trading in Public Places Bylaw
Trading in Public Places Bylaw 2018
Consultation has concluded
Statement of Proposal (including the proposed Bylaw)
