Hay: sleeping in your car

Vehicle camping: unknown

We have not read Hay's local laws, and New South Wales publishes no register of them, so this page claims nothing about what this council permits or prohibits. Unknown does not mean permitted.

Signs override this page. Whatever is signed at the site is the rule that applies, no matter what is written here.

What applies here regardless

In New South Wales, failing to comply with the terms of a notice erected by a council in a public place is an offence under section 632 of the Local Government Act 1993, carrying a maximum penalty of 10 penalty units.

The terms of such a notice may cover the driving, parking or use of a vehicle in the place, and the doing of any thing in the place — which is how a council “no camping” sign in a park or reserve becomes enforceable.

That power has a limit written into the section itself: a council notice must not prohibit or regulate taking a vehicle into, or driving, parking or using a vehicle in, a public place that is a road or road related area within the meaning of section 4(1) of the Road Transport Act 2013. The Act allows one narrow exception, for parking a vehicle in order to offer it for sale in prescribed areas.

State rest areas in this council area (17)

• 16 Mile Gums Rest Area, Booroorban — Light and heavy vehicles

• 20 Mile Gums Rest Area, Hay — Light and heavy vehicles

• Bairds Stopping Bay, Booligal — Light and heavy vehicles

• East Hay South Service Centre — Light and heavy vehicles · toilet

• Hay Golf Club Stopping Bay Eastbound, Hay South — Light and heavy vehicles

• Hay Golf Club Stopping Bay Westbound, Hay South — Light and heavy vehicles

• Hay South Truck Parking Bay — Heavy vehicles only

• Illilawa Reserve Truck Parking Area, Hay — Heavy vehicles only

• Mungadal Truck Parking Bay Eastbound, Hay South — Heavy vehicles only

• Mungadal Truck Parking Bay Westbound, Hay South — Heavy vehicles only

• Pevensey Rest Area, Hay South — Light and heavy vehicles

• Ravensworth Rest Area Eastbound, Maude — Light and heavy vehicles · toilet

• Ravensworth Rest Area Westbound, Maude — Light and heavy vehicles

• Robins Nest Stopping Bay, Booligal — Light and heavy vehicles

• St Pauls Rest Area, Maude — Light and heavy vehicles

• Sturts Marked Tree Truck Parking Area, Hay — Heavy vehicles only

• West Hay South Service Centre — Light and heavy vehicles · toilet

Where this comes from

• “A person who, in a public place within the area of a council, fails to comply with the terms of a notice erected by the council is guilty of an offence. Maximum penalty—10 penalty units.” — Local Government Act 1993 (NSW), section 632 — Acting contrary to notices erected by councils, NSW Parliamentary Counsel's Office. Retrieved 30 Aug 2026 (read via the Internet Archive snapshot of 6 December 2025; legislation.nsw.gov.au blocks automated retrieval).
• “The terms of any such notice may relate to any one or more of the following—” “(b1) the driving, parking or use of a vehicle in the place,” “(e) the doing of any thing in the place,” — Local Government Act 1993 (NSW), section 632 — Acting contrary to notices erected by councils, NSW Parliamentary Counsel's Office. Retrieved 30 Aug 2026 (read via the Internet Archive snapshot of 6 December 2025; legislation.nsw.gov.au blocks automated retrieval).
• “However, a notice—” “(b) must not, except as provided by subsection (2B), prohibit or regulate the taking of a vehicle into, or the driving, parking or use of any vehicle in, any public place that is a road or road related area within the meaning of section 4(1) of the Road Transport Act 2013 .” “A notice may prohibit the parking of a vehicle, for the purpose of offering the vehicle for sale, in a public place that is—” — Local Government Act 1993 (NSW), section 632 — Acting contrary to notices erected by councils, NSW Parliamentary Counsel's Office. Retrieved 30 Aug 2026 (read via the Internet Archive snapshot of 6 December 2025; legislation.nsw.gov.au blocks automated retrieval).