FreeCamps

Joondalup: sleeping in your car

Council rules: unknown

This site has not read Joondalup's own rules, so it 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

Western Australia answers most of this at state level, before any council does, and the state answer is restrictive.

In Western Australia a person may camp only at a site in a licensed caravan park or camping ground, or in accordance with regulation 11. If a council officer gives you an infringement notice, the amount is $200 and paying it ends the matter; the officer may instead prosecute, and a court can fine up to $2 000.

An infringement notice is given by an authorised person appointed by a local government, who may give one within 21 days of the alleged offence. Paying the modified penalty within 28 days, or any longer time allowed, prevents proceedings for the offence; the notice offers payment only as the alternative for someone who does not wish to be prosecuted in court, and proceedings for an offence under the Act may be taken by an authorised person.

In Western Australia a fine set as the penalty for an offence is the maximum a court may impose, and unless it is mandatory or includes a minimum, a lesser fine may be imposed.

In these regulations camping includes camping in a vehicle, so sleeping in a car, van or motorhome is covered by the same rule as pitching a tent.

Nearest places with a published rule

The state road network has no mapped rest area inside Joondalup. The closest 8 places this site holds start 168 km away, in a straight line rather than by road.

Search from a different place

Where this comes from

  • “A person may camp only — (a) at a site in a caravan park or camping ground, as appropriate, licensed under the Act; or (b) in accordance with regulation 11. Penalty: a fine of $2 000.” “PART 2 — REGULATIONS” “2. Regulation 10 ......................................................................... 200” — Caravan Parks and Camping Grounds Regulations 1997 (WA), compilation 02-i0-00, as at 1 September 2024 (official version), Western Australian Parliamentary Counsel's Office. Retrieved 12 Oct 2026.
  • “Every proceeding for an offence under this Act may be taken by an authorised person.” “A reference in subsection (2), (3), (5) or (7) to an authorised person is a reference to a person appointed to be an authorised person under the Local Government Act 1995 section 9.10(2) for the purposes of the subsection in which the term is used.” “An authorised person who has reason to believe that a person has committed a prescribed offence against this Act may, within 21 days after the alleged offence is believed to have been committed, give an infringement notice to the alleged offender.” “to advise that if the alleged offender does not wish to be prosecuted for the alleged offence in a court, the amount of money as specified in the notice as being the modified penalty for the offence may be paid to an authorised person within a period of 28 days after the giving of the notice;” “If the modified penalty specified in an infringement notice has been paid within 28 days or such further time as is allowed and the notice has not been withdrawn, the bringing of proceedings and the imposition of penalties are prevented to the same extent as they would be if the alleged offender had been convicted by a court of, and punished for, the alleged offence.” — Caravan Parks and Camping Grounds Act 1995 (WA), compilation 03-e0-00, as at 7 November 2020 (official version), Western Australian Parliamentary Counsel's Office. Retrieved 12 Oct 2026.
  • “statutory penalty, in relation to an offence, means the penalty specified by a written law for the offence;” “If the statutory penalty for an offence is a fine of a particular amount or a particular term of imprisonment, then that penalty is the maximum penalty that may be imposed for that offence and, unless the statutory penalty — (a) is a mandatory penalty; or (b) includes a minimum penalty, a lesser penalty of the same kind may be imposed.” — Sentencing Act 1995 (WA), compilation 10-ag0-00, as at 31 December 2025 (official version), Western Australian Parliamentary Counsel's Office. Retrieved 12 Oct 2026.
  • “camp when used as a verb, includes to camp in a vehicle.” — Caravan Parks and Camping Grounds Regulations 1997 (WA), compilation 02-i0-00, as at 1 September 2024 (official version), Western Australian Parliamentary Counsel's Office. Retrieved 12 Oct 2026.