- Two local planning schemes now include short-term rental accommodation provisions
- Town of Victoria Park and Shire of Derby-West Kimberley schemes first to embed new regulations to manage short-term rental properties
- Local government consultation informed new planning definitions and exemptions
- Reminder to register STRA properties as part of mandatory register
Following introduction of new local planning regulations by the Cook Government to support a fairer and better managed Short-Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) sector across WA, the first two local planning schemes to include the new STRA provisions have been approved.
The new Town of Victoria Park Local Planning Scheme No.2 and Shire of Derby-West Kimberley Local Planning Scheme No.9 incorporate provisions for a new land use classification under which landowners must lodge development applications specifically for unhosted short-term rental accommodation use.
These two schemes incorporate provisions for a new land use classification under which landowners mustlodge development applications specifically for unhosted short-term rental accommodation use, and in the majority of cases, will be required to undergo a period of public consultation and advertising prior to determination.
The Shire of Derby West-Kimberely Local Planning Scheme No. 9 was gazetted on 5 December 2024 with its STRA provisions now operational. Similar provisions forming part of the Town of Victoria Park Local Planning Scheme No.2 are expected to be gazetted next week.
Changes to the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015 introduced in September provide a consistent set of rules for hosted STRA properties where the host lives onsite and unhosted properties, where guests have exclusive use of the accommodation. The changes were finalised through consultation with local governments and other key stakeholders.
To ensure common terminology across the State, local governments are required to amend their planning schemes to reflect new land use definitions for STRA.
Critically, all metropolitan local governments will be required to amend their planning schemes to include the requirement for a development approval for unhosted STRA by mid-next year.
Regional local governments retain flexibility to determine planning approval requirements for unhosted STRA based on local housing and tourism conditions.
Where a local government amends its scheme, development approvals for unhosted STRA will need to be in place by 1 January 2026. STRA owners and operators should contact their local government about the new planning regulations to ascertain any approval requirements.
The planning changes supplement the State-wide STRA Register, launched in July 2024, which will become mandatory for all STRA in Western Australia from 1 January 2025.
