FAQs

Short-Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) refers to the practice of renting out a property (or part of a property) for a relatively short period of time, usually on a nightly or weekly basis.

This type of accommodation is usually booked through online platforms and is popular among travellers and visitors seeking a temporary place to stay for holidays, business trips or other short stays.

STRA includes types of properties that have not been developed for traditional accommodation purposes and can include apartments, houses, or even individual rooms within a host’s residence.

STRA properties are either hosted – where the host lives onsite, or un-hosted – where guests have exclusive use of the premises.

City Planning Scheme No. 2 (CPS2) - applies to Central Perth, East Perth, and parts of Crawley, Northbridge and West Perth.

Local Planning Scheme No. 26 (LPS26) - applies to Normalised Redevelopment Areas in Claisebrook and Northbridge. These areas are former Development WA planning-controlled areas that have been transferred back to the City of Perth.

Town Planning Scheme No. 4 (TPS4) - applies to land in Nedlands-Crawley that was previously within the City of Subiaco.

It is key to note that the Deemed Provisions in the LPS Regulations apply to all Local Planning Schemes. The Deemed Provisions are to be read in conjunction with Local Planning Schemes. 

Where STRA complies with the exemptions from the requirement to obtain an application for development approval under the Deemed Provisions, a Local Planning Scheme cannot override this requirement. The following exemptions for STRA apply under the Deemed Provisions:

1. A state-wide exemption for ‘hosted’ short-term rental accommodation; and
2. A 90-night (cumulative) exemption for ‘un-hosted’ short-term rental accommodation within the Perth metropolitan area.

Where 'Unhosted STRA' is proposed for greater than 90 nights, an application for development approval may be required under the City's Local Planning Schemes as outlined below.

CPS2 & LPS26

Under CPS2 and LPS26, land uses that have similar characteristics are grouped together as a single ‘Land Use Category’ for the purposes of land use permissibility. Applications for development approval for STRA and other tourist and visitor accommodation land uses are currently assessed as a ‘Special Residential’ land use category under CPS2, and ‘Transient Residential’ land use category under LPS26. These land uses are generally ‘Preferred’ or ‘Contemplated’ across these scheme areas. 

Under CPS2 and LPS26, Planning Policy Section 3.9 - Special Residential (Serviced and Short-Term Accommodation) applies to all applications for development approval for ‘Special Residential’ and ‘Transient Residential’ uses.

TPS4

Under TPS4, applications for development approval for STRA would be assessed as ‘Bed and Breakfast’ for ‘Hosted STRA’, or a ‘use not listed’ for ‘Unhosted STRA’. ‘Tourist and Visitor Accommodation’ land uses would be assessed as ‘Serviced Apartments’, or ‘use not listed’.

There is currently no local planning policy (LPP) under TPS4 to guide the assessment of applications for development approval for short-term rental accommodation or other tourist accommodation land uses. 

The Scheme Amendments and LPPs demonstrate alignment with the City's strategic framework for the following key reasons:

• The Local Planning Strategy seeks to ensure land use and development positively contributes to the public realm and desired character of the Perth city neighbourhoods. The scheme amendments and local planning policies seek to deliver high quality ‘tourist and visitor accommodation’ and ‘short-term rental accommodation’ that supports local businesses and minimises the impact on the long-term residential population. 
• The Events Strategy sets a vision to be a destination and includes an action to promote and encourage visitors to stay and enjoy Perth for longer. The provision of a diverse variety of well-designed and managed ‘tourist and visitor accommodation’ and ‘short-term rental accommodation’ supports this vision. 
• The scheme amendments and LPPs provide certainty to the tourism industry, supporting the objective of the Economic Development Strategy to celebrate and leverage Perth’s unique position in the world and strong international connections.

Council Policy 3.5 (CP 3.5) guides the initiation of Local Planning Scheme Amendments. The Scheme Amendments demonstrate alignment with CP 3.5 for the following key reasons: 

• The scheme amendments are required for procedural purposes to align with the Ministers instruction and to implement changes to the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015 (LPS Regulations). 
• The scheme amendments support the Residential Priority set by the Local Planning Strategy (the Strategy) through introducing a clear framework to regulate ‘Unhosted STRA’. Action EE3c of the Strategy discusses the review of land use permissibilities to ensure that land uses which may have a significant amenity impact require development approval. All ‘Unhosted STRA’ within the city will require an application for development approval. This allows the City an opportunity to protect residential amenity. 
• Draft Local Planning Scheme No.3 (LPS3) was prepared prior to the amendment of LPS Regulations that introduced, replaced, and deleted land use terms into the Deemed and Model Definitions. As a result, the previous model land use terms were used in the draft LPS3. The scheme amendments are consistent with the land use permissibilities proposed in the draft LPS3 zoning table for the equivalent model and deemed land use definitions of the LPS Regulations prior to its amendment.

The Scheme Amendments will not affect or impact the transition from CPS2 to LPS3.

The draft Local Planning Policies (LPPs) have been prepared in coordination with the draft Specialised Accommodation Local Planning Policy (LPS3) and do not undermine the approach taken in draft LPS3.

The scheme amendments have been progressed to align with the State Planning Framework and direction of the Minister for Planning. 

The Scheme Amendments are being advertised for a period of 42 days in accordance with the requirements for advertising 'Standard Amendments' to Local Planning Schemes as set out in the LPS Regulations. 

The Scheme Amendments are being advertised online via Engage Perth webpage, a notice placed in the local newspaper and Council House foyer.  

Property Owners affected by the Minister's modifications to Local Planning Scheme No.26 are also being sent letters with specific information on the proposed changes.

The proposed draft Planning Policies are required to be advertised for 21 days under the LPS Regulations, but given its relationship with the scheme amendments, the draft LPPs will be advertised concurrently for 42 days.