Byelaws and local legislation
Byelaws are local laws which the Council can ask the secretary of state to enact. They can cover a variety of issues.
These documents date from 1896 onwards. They are scanned copies, and we apologise for any areas of poor legibility.
Pre-1965 byelaws – Good Rule and Government
These byelaws pre-date the formation of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Council in 1965.
- 1896, for the Borough of Richmond
(pdf, 1026KB) - 1929, for the Borough of Twickenham(pdf, 814KB)
- 1937, for the Borough of Barnes(pdf, 272KB)
Post-1965 byelaws
These byelaws apply to the whole Borough.
- Sale of Wood Fuel, 1966(pdf, 26KB)
- Establishments for Massage or Special Treatment, 1966(pdf, 114KB)
- Regulation of Swimming Baths and Bathing Pools, 1966(pdf, 151KB)
- Allotment Gardens, 1967(pdf, 174KB)
- Carrying of Mud, etc., On To The Street, 1967(pdf, 38KB)
- Hairdressers and Barbers, 1968(pdf, 89KB)
- Management of Cemeteries, 1968(pdf, 24KB)
- Pleasure Grounds and Open Spaces, 1986(pdf, 348KB)
- Acupuncture, 1986(pdf, 146KB)
- Tattooing, 1986(pdf, 156KB)
- Ear Piercing and Electolysis, 1986(pdf, 122KB)
- Petersham Common, 1988(pdf, 399KB)
- Commons in the Borough, 1988(pdf, 292KB)
- Crane Park Island Nature Reserve, 1992(pdf, 133KB)
- Leg of Mutton Reservoir Nature Reserve, 1992(pdf, 137KB)
- Public Libraries, 1996(pdf, 168KB)
- Employment of Children, 1999(pdf, 200KB)
Cycling on footpath byelaws
Under the Good Rule and Government byelaws a local authority may prohibit cycling on footpaths not alongside roads. A sign must be clearly displayed.
Confirmation of Mooring Byelaws
On Thursday 12 February 2015 the Council received confirmation from the Secretary of State that the Byelaw outlined below will come into force one calendar month after the date of confirmation.
From 13 March 2015 a criminal offence will be committed if any vessel is moored for longer than permitted without the written consent of the Council. The details of the restrictions are detailed in the documents below.
The offences associated with this byelaw are criminal offences which are punishable upon summary conviction with a maximum fine of £500 per contravention. Both the owner and the master of a vessel may be prosecuted.
- Byelaws Relating to Mooring(pdf, 1624KB) (excluding maps)
- Mooring Byelaws Borough-wide Plan(pdf, 467KB)
- Mooring Byelaws Detailed Plan 1 to 6(pdf, 1586KB)
- Mooring Byelaws Detailed Plan 7 to 12(pdf, 2301KB)
- Mooring Byelaws Detailed Plan 13 to 18(pdf, 2287KB)
- Mooring Byelaws Detailed Plan 19 to 24(pdf, 1913KB)
- Mooring Byelaws Detailed Plan 25 to 30(pdf, 2414KB)
- Mooring Byelaws Detailed Plan 31 to 37(pdf, 2779KB)
Local legislation
The Council is responsible for commons and open spaces in the Borough, and for crematoria.
- Metropolitan Commons (Barnes) Supplemental Act, 1898(pdf, 414KB)
- Metropolitan Commons (East Sheen) Supplemental Act, 1898(pdf, 348KB)
- Metropolitan Commons (Petersham) Supplemental Act, 1900(pdf, 603KB)
- Metropolitan Common (Ham) Supplemental Act, 1901(pdf, 793KB)
- Richmond, Petersham and Ham Open Spaces Act, 1902(pdf, 5751KB)
- Metropolitan Common Scheme (Palewell) Confirmation Act, 1935(pdf, 369KB)
- Mortlake Crematorium Act, 1936(pdf, 1965KB)
- South-West Middlesex Crematorium Act, 1947(pdf, 2965KB)
- Metropolitan Common Scheme (Ham) Amending Scheme Confirmation Act, 1954(pdf, 163KB)
Make an enquiry
If you have any queries about the byelaws please email the Legal and Electoral Services Department at legalservices@merton.gov.uk.
Up to: Decision making
Updated: 12 July 2023
Stay up to date! Make sure you subscribe to our email updates.