FAQs

The amended planning regulations are part of the State Government’s suite of short-term rental accommodation (STRA) reforms, which aims to deliver fairer and more consistent regulation of the sector. 

The key changes introduced on 18 September 2024 include:

• statewide planning exemptions for hosted STRA;
• new planning exemptions for unhosted STRA in the Perth metropolitan area where the owner does not intend to rent their property out for more than 90 nights within a 12-month period;
• regional local governments (including Peel) will still have the flexibility to determine planning approval requirements for unhosted STRA based on local conditions and needs;
• new definitions to be introduced into all local government planning schemes which deal with STRA; and
• revised tourism land uses that can be adopted into local government planning schemes.

The changes do not include limitations or caps on the number of nights a property can be leased on the short-term market in WA. 

Click here to find out more information.

The overall aim is to protect the amenity of residential neighbourhoods. Provisions of the draft policy and guidelines include:

Policy

The draft policy provides a framework to manage the use of residential properties for unhosted STRA:

• Assessment Criteria, including preferred locations (in Centres and Station Precincts), car parking requirements, numbers of guests, considerations for single, grouped and multiple dwellings (apartments), and signage 
• Application requirements
• Consultation
• Conditions of Development Approval
• Compliance
• Other approvals (such as building approvals)

Guidelines

The draft guidelines provide a checklist for owners wishing to make an application for Development Approval to operate a STRA, including:

• Cover letter and application form
• Template for strata consent (if required)
• Site and floor plans
• Location justification 
• Management Plan
• Guest code of conduct 
• Bushfire evacuation plan (if required) 

Hosted short-term accommodation means the space being rented out is either in your house where you live, such as a spare bedroom, or on your property where you live, such as a granny flat.

Unhosted short-term accommodation means the space being rented out is not on the property where you live.

Council approval is not needed for:

• Hosted accommodation, or
• Unhosted short-term rental accommodation, where the property is rented out for a total of fewer than 90 days a year.  

Council approval is needed for:

• Unhosted short term accommodation, where the property is rented out for a total of 90 or more days each year.

If you are intending to rent out an unhosted space for more than 90 days per year, you should first make an application for Development Approval to Council. View the City's website for more information.

Jenny lives in her house and rents out the granny flat on a short-term basis. She does not require Council approval.

Bob rents out a house for less than 90 non-consecutive days per year. He does not live there, but uses the house himself as a holiday house for his family when he does not have short-term guests staying there. He does not require Council approval.

Jill rents out her property as a holiday house for more than 90 non-consecutive days. She does not live at the house. She requires Council approval.

The changes will not impact any existing approval for short-term rental accommodation. 

However, if you have a time-limited planning approval and intend to reapply, you will need to address the provisions of the policy and guidelines.