Graffiti offences
Part of the Crime topic
Understand what graffiti is, and what you must do and cannot do to follow the law in Queensland.
In short
Graffiti is a form of vandalism and is illegal in Queensland. It includes:
- spraying, writing, drawing, marking, or applying paint to a person’s property without their consent
- scratching or etching a person’s property without their consent.
If you deface property with graffiti, you can be charged with wilful damage which is punishable with 5 years in prison.
It is also an offence to be in possession of an aerosol spray, marker or other instrument which:
- is being used for graffiti
- is suspected of having been used for graffiti
- may be about to be used for graffiti.
This carries a maximum penalty of 20 penalty units ($3338) or 1 year in prison.
This page provides a summary of Queensland's graffiti laws. It's not exhaustive and should not be considered legal advice. Consult with a qualified legal professional for comprehensive information or matter-specific advice.
You must
To comply with the law in Queensland you must:
- Remove unlawful graffiti from your property as soon as possible if it’s been defaced.
- Comply with request from your local council to remove graffiti within an agreed timeframe.
- Report graffiti offences to police or your local council.
You cannot
To comply with the law in Queensland you cannot:
- Deface property with graffiti including, spraying, drawing, marking, scratching or etching without the owner’s consent.
- Possess an aerosol spray, marker or other instruments used for graffiti. Even if it’s suspected to have been used for graffiti.