Residents in the Australian state of Victoria could be hit with a staggering fine of nearly $18,700 for performing one of the most common household chores at the wrong time of day. An obscure but enforceable regulation makes it illegal to use a vacuum cleaner during anti-social hours, with authorities possessing the power to issue severe financial penalties.
The $18,655.20 Vacuum Cleaner Offence
Under Victoria's Environment Protection Regulations, specifically the Environment Protection (Residential Noise) Regulations 2008, operating a vacuum cleaner outside permitted hours is prohibited. On weekdays, the banned hours are after 10pm and before 7am. The weekend curfew extends slightly, prohibiting use before 9am.
The law states a noise is unreasonable if it can be heard in a habitable room of another residence, regardless of whether doors or windows are open. Authorities can first issue a 72-hour noise abatement direction. Ignoring this direction leads to an on-the-spot fine of $18,655.20, with additional daily penalties of $4,663.80 for ongoing breaches.
Public Reaction and Legal Context
The niche law recently resurfaced in a local Melbourne Facebook group, where it was met with ridicule and bemusement. Many residents argued that other nocturnal nuisances—like loud music, shouting, barking dogs, and screeching tyres—were far more disruptive than a late-night clean.
"If the guy across the road can play his doof doof every night loud enough for me to hear it, I am vacuuming and mowing my lawn," wrote one popular commenter. Others made light-hearted jokes, with one person quipping, "I can't be vacuuming after 10pm anyway - that's when I fire up the leaf blower."
While Victoria has this specific rule, in New South Wales and most other states, vacuuming at night isn't explicitly illegal but can be classified as an 'offensive noise' under local jurisdiction rules.
Australia's Catalogue of Quirky Laws
Victoria's vacuum ban is just one of many unusual statutes scattered across Australian states and territories. Here are some of the most surprising:
Victoria's Other Oddities: It is an offence to fly a kite 'to the annoyance of any person' in a public place, carrying a maximum fine of $777.30. More severely, corresponding or doing business with pirates is illegal, with a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment.
New South Wales: Drivers can be fined up to $2,200 for failing to take reasonable care to avoid splashing mud on people waiting for a bus.
South Australia: Disturbing a wedding, funeral, or religious service can lead to a $10,000 fine or two years in prison. The classic prank of 'knock and run' also carries a maximum $250 penalty.
Queensland: It is illegal to post fake job ads or false notices about engagements, births, or deaths, with penalties of up to $1,219 or six months' jail. Remarkably, it is also largely illegal to own a pet rabbit, with fines reaching $71,875, unless for specific purposes like magic shows or research.
Western Australia: Possessing more than 50kg of potatoes without authorisation from the Potato Corporation is an offence, with police empowered to stop and search vehicles. Fines go up to $5,000. Offering a 'no questions asked' reward for lost property is also illegal.
Northern Territory: Pedestrians can be fined $3,080 for walking on the road when a footpath is available.
Tasmania: Using profane, obscene, or blasphemous language in public is an offence under the Police Offences Act.
Australian Capital Territory: In a rule dating back to 1921, suburban houses are not permitted to have front fences, though hedges are allowed, to foster open-plan neighbourhoods.
These laws serve as a quirky reminder that even the most mundane activities can sometimes fall foul of long-forgotten regulations, potentially landing the unsuspecting in significant financial hot water.
