Helpful links
Inner West Council policies
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Procurement Strategy
Inner West Council is committed to supporting Indigenous communities and fostering economic development within the community.
Affordable Housing Policy
The Affordable Housing Policy will protect and increase the supply of housing stock that can be affordably rented or purchased within the Inner West.
Agency Information Guide
This document provides information and guidance for Council officials on their responsibilities in relation to the structure and functions of Council, specifying how Council makes decisions that affect the public and how we will make government information publicly available.
Asbestos Policy
Inner West Council acknowledges the serious health hazard of exposure to asbestos. The policy provides information for Council workers, the local community and wider public.
Assessments of Proposals for Outdoor Advertising and Signage in Transport Corridors
This policy position explains Council’s position regarding Public Benefits which may be sought in relation to outdoor advertising and structures along transport corridors.
Asset Management Policy
The Policy outlines Inner West Council’s purpose for planning and delivery of infrastructure services.
Busking Policy
This policy supports the Inner West Council’s Community Strategic Plan and provides information for buskers wanting to undertake busking performances.
Car Share Policy
This Policy provides a framework for the application,
installation and management of designated car share spaces
in public streets and car parks owned and/or managed by
council.
Code of Conduct
The Policy outlines the expected behavioural standards for Council Officials.
Code of Meeting Practice
The code outlines the procedures for the conduct of Council and committee meetings.
Commercial Fitness Trainers Policy
The purpose of this policy is to assist Commercial Fitness Trainers by guiding them through the approval process for commercial training that take place in parks and sporting grounds in the Inner West Council.
Community Gardens Policy
The purpose of this policy is to provide a framework for Council to support community gardens.
Community Venue Hire Grants and Fee Scale Policy
The Policy outlines integrated, transparent and equitable processes to govern the allocation of grants and fee scales for indoor venues, parks, and residents’ neighbourhood street parties.
Community Engagement Strategy
This document contains Council's Community Engagement Strategy and Community Participation Plan.
Complaints Handling Policy
Outlines Inner West Council’s clear, fair, and accessible approach to managing complaints, promoting service improvement, accountability, and community trust.
Compliance and Enforcement Policy
This Policy applies to the management and investigation of unlawful activity, as defined in this Policy, and any enforcement action required in relation to unlawful activity within the Inner West local government area for which Council is the appropriate regulatory authority.
Conflict of Interest Policy
The policy establishes the requirements for how Council Officers and Councillors deal with a conflict of interest, both generally (referring to the Code of Conduct) and in respect to Council-related development applications.
Councillor and Staff Interaction Policy
The Councillor and Staff Interaction Policy (the Policy) provides a framework for councillors when exercising their civic functions by specifically addressing their ability to interact with, and receive advice from, authorised staff.
Councillor Expenses and Facilities Policy
This policy outlines the reasonable and appropriate reimbursement of expenses and provision of facilities to councillors to help them undertake their civic duties.
Data Breach Policy
The Policy outlines Council’s strategy for managing data breaches in line with Council’s commitment to protect Personal Information in accordance with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998.
Development Advisory and Assessment Policy
The purpose of this policy is to deliver an improved Development Application (DA) process for Council’s customers.
Disposals Policy
The Policy outlines the principles that govern the appropriate disposal by Council of surplus Assets.
Dog Off-Leash Areas in Parks Policy
The purpose of the Policy is to identify appropriate dog off-leash areas in parks so that public spaces can be enjoyed by all members of the community and natural areas are protected.
Event Invitation Speaking and Public Meeting Policy
The Policy outlines the required process for managing notifications, invitations, communications, and speakers in the coordination of Council events, programs, activities and public meetings.
Events in Parks Policy
The purpose of this policy is to assist community Event Organisers by guiding them through the approval process for events that take place in parks in the Inner West Council.
Events in Parks Guidelines
The Guidelines provide advice on the management of major events in parks in the Inner West.
Fraud and Corruption Control Policy
Outlines Council’s zero-tolerance approach to fraud and corruption, detailing prevention, detection, response, and reporting responsibilities to uphold integrity and public trust.
General Revenue, Debt Recovery and Hardship Policy
This Policy provides a framework for Council to levy rates and charges and the collection of rates and charges and other sundry debts in accordance with Council’s legislative obligations.
Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality Guideline
This guideline provides information and guidance for Council officials on their responsibilities in relation to the offering and acceptance of gifts, benefits and hospitality under the Model Code of Conduct.
Gender Equal Representation Policy
This Policy ensures that Council has gender representation on committees, boards and panels to engage fairly and equitably with all its members, in a positive, respectful and constructive manner.
Good Neighbour Policy.pdf
The purpose of this policy is to support the community’s live music venues, licensed premises, creative spaces, sporting clubs, and commercial businesses by providing them with assurance that the Council takes a balanced approach to the coexistence of residents and businesses and will seek to keep premises operating wherever possible.
Homelessness Policy
The policy outlines appropriate roles and strategies for Council in addressing the complex issues associated with people sleeping rough in public places.
Internal Audit Charter
This Charter confirms the framework for the conduct of the Internal Audit functions administered by Governance and Risk department, consistent with the requirements of the Guidelines for Risk Management and Internal Audit for Local Government in NSW.
Inner West Council Innovate RAP 2023-2025
Investment Policy
This policy sets out a framework for the investing of Council's funds at the most favourable return available to it, while having having due consideration of risk and security for that investment type and ensuring that its liquidity requirements are being met.
Land and Property Policy
This policy sets out the way community facilities, commercial buildings and residential properties may be leased and licenced by individuals, organisations and businesses.
Living Streets Verge Garden and Adopt-a-Spot Policy
A framework for resident participation in planting and caring for verge gardens and Adopt-a-Spot areas of the Inner West, to enable improved biodiversity and liveability outcomes.
Lobbying Policy
The Lobbying Policy outlines requirements for Council to publish details of meetings between Councillors and registered lobbyists and/or property developers.
Media Policy
This policy informs Council staff and contractors of processes, guidelines and issues relating to media relations to ensure a coordinated and consistent approach is taken to media liaison throughout the organisation.
Media and Social Media Policy for Councillors
This Policy outlines processes, guidelines and issues relating to media relations and the use of social media by Councillors.
Memorial Planting and Plaques in Parks and Open Space Policy
The policy provides a transparent, equitable and consistent methodology for memorials within parks and open space areas.
Multicultural Policy
To provide policy guidance on supporting people from multicultural backgrounds and celebrating cultural diversity in the Inner West of Sydney.
Naming Policy
The Naming Policy provides guidance and direction for the unambiguous, unique, and official naming of parks, reserves, public open spaces, roads, buildings, facilities and rooms that are either owned or under the care and control of Inner West Council
Pedestrian Crossing Warrant Policy
This policy outlines the criteria to be used for assessing the suitability of a site for the installation of a pedestrian (zebra) crossing on local and regional roads.
Pesticide Use Notification Plan
This plan provides a summary of Council's legislative obligations for pesticide use and the notification procedures for Council staff to implement.
Parking Policy
This Policy provides a governing framework for the investigation, development, implementation and ongoing management of parking schemes and controls in the public domain including on-street and in council managed carparks.
Privacy Policy
The Policy outlines the management protocols for the protection of privacy of all people and organisations from whom Council collects personal information.
Procedures for Administration of the Code of Conduct
Outlines the procedures for investigating and reporting on Code of Conduct complaints and appointing Code of Conduct reviewers.
Procurement Policy
This policy provides the principles that underpin the framework for the procurement of goods and services to ensure Council obtains best value for money whilst achieving legislative compliance, transparency, and probity objectives.
Procurement Strategy
The procurement strategy for Inner West Council aims to establish a robust and transparent procurement framework that aligns with the council’s values of integrity, respect, innovation, compassion, and collaboration.
Public Interest Disclosure Policy
This policy outlines what public interest disclosures are, how public officials, including Council Officials, can make a public interest disclosure, the protections that they will be afforded and how Council will respond to a public interest disclosure.
Public Access to Information Policy
This policy outlines Council’s commitment to promoting openness and transparency through the release of information held by Council to the public, in accordance with relevant legislative requirements.
Recreation Strategy and Action Plan 2023-32
The recreation strategy is an overarching and measurable set of strategic priorities which are focused on enabling and encouraging active recreation, and addressing key deficiencies and gaps in recreation and open space provision.
Risk Management Policy
This policy establishes the foundation for a consistent, proactive and measurable approach to effective risk management across all Inner West Council assets, operations and strategies.
Social Media Policy
This policy informs Council staff and contractors of processes, guidelines and issues relating to the use of social media.
Special Entertainment Precinct Management Plan
The purpose of this plan is to balance the approach to the management of sound from entertainment activity within Special Entertainment Precincts. It identifies the roles of all stakeholders including residents, businesses, Council, Liquor and Gaming NSW and the Police in managing entertainment sound, as well as outline the approach to the resolution of entertainment sound related complaints.
Sponsorship Policy.pdf
This policy informs Council officials – including Councillors, staff, contractors, and volunteers – of principles, guidelines, processes, and issues relating to sponsorship.
Sporting Grounds Allocations Policy
This policy explains how Council allocates sporting grounds each season, including eligibility, assessment criteria, responsibilities, and the process for managing fair and equitable access to fields.
Statement of Business Ethics
The Statement outlines the ethical standards of behaviours expected from Council and service providers/service partners when engaging in business activities.
Traffic Management Investigation Policy
This policy outlines the criteria to be used for assessing requests for traffic management devices on Council-controlled streets.
Urban Forest Policy
This Policy provides the framework for delivering a sustainable and intergenerational Urban Forest.
Verge Garden Guidelines 2023
The purpose of the Guidelines is to provide a framework for residents wanting to plant and care for gardens on verges of the Inner West or Adopt-a-Spot in a park or in a space which Council manages which is not a residential street verge or community garden.
Voluntary Planning Agreements Policy
This policy establishes a framework to guide the use of Planning Agreements by Inner West Council, in keeping with the provisions of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and the Environmental
and Assessment Regulation 2021.
Weed Management Policy
The purpose of this Policy is to contribute to public spaces that are high-quality, welcoming and enjoyable places and to outline the methodologies to manage weeds within the Inner West.
Work Health and Safety and Wellbeing Policy
The Policy establishes a framework that promotes and manages the health, safety and wellbeing of Council Officials, service providers/service partners, volunteers and visitors to Inner West Council workplaces.
Page last updated: 17 Jun 2026