The Department is responsible for administering the following Acts on behalf of its Ministers.

Animal Welfare Act
Provides for the welfare of animals, and prevents cruelty to animals. The Act ensures that animals are treated humanely and promotes community awareness about the welfare of animals.

Cemeteries Act
Administers the establishment, maintenance and control on cemeteries in the Northern Territory.

Community Government Constitutions

Council By-Laws

Crown Lands Act (Section 79)
Relates to the administration of all Crown Land in the Northern Territory. This department administers section 79 of the Act relating to the appointment and powers of trustees of reserved land in the Northern Territory, including Crown Land that has been reserved for the recreation and amusement of the public or for any other public purpose.

Darwin Rates Act
Provides for the rating of certain land in the Darwin Region and allow for rates to be applied on all the land in the prescribed area.

Housing Act
Establishes a Territory housing authority to provide rental accommodation to those people most in need and the legislative framework to assist eligible Territorians to purchase their own homes.

Jabiru Town Development Act
Provides for, and relates to, the construction and management of the town of Jabiru. The Jabiru Town Development Authority is established under the Act and it provides local government services to Jabiru ensuring compliance with the provisions of the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act of the Commonwealth Government.

Local Government Act
Provides a purpose-designed framework for municipal councils and community government councils incorporated under its provision.

Local Government Grants Commission Act
Provides for the establishment of the Local Government Grants Commission in the Northern Territory, which makes recommendations concerning the distribution of financial assistance to local government bodies.

Local Government (Katherine Rates) Act
Established to correct errors in the percentages specified for the purposes of calculating differential rates in the municipality of Katherine.

Major Cricket Events Act
Provides for the safe and orderly management, operation and control of certain cricket matches and the venues where those cricket matches are held.

Nudity Act
Provides for the establishment of designated ‘free areas’ where nudity is permitted.

Places of Public Entertainment Act
Regulates the licensing of places for public entertainment.

Pounds Act
Relates to the impounding of cattle, which includes horses, sheep, camels, mules, goats, pigs and buffalo found roaming within a municipality or community government council area.

Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004
This legislation provides for the long-term preservation of, and access to, the Northern Territory's documentary heritage. Published documents or those available to the public on request need to be deposited with the Northern Territory Library and Information Service (NTLIS). The legislation covers publications in any form published in the Northern Territory.

Status of Darwin Act
Relates to the status of the municipality of Darwin, constituting it as a city, named the City of Darwin.

Status of Palmerston Act
Constitutes the town of Palmerston as a city.

Swimming Pool Safety Act
Provides for the establishment of safety standards for certain swimming pools, to encourage compliance with those standards, to improve water safety in the Northern Territory and to reduce the incidence of death through drowning.