Planning Approvals

You need Planning Approval from the City if you plan to:

• Build a new house
• Build a new building
• Extend or alter an existing building (including sheds, patios, garages, carports and satellite dishes)
• Build a replacement structure (for example, an old patio is being dismantled and another patio is being built as a replacement)
• Change the use of the subject property
• Conduct a business from home.

Planning Approval Application

For most kinds of Planning Approval applications, a reputable architect, draftsperson or town planner should be engaged to prepare and assist with submission.

Your application needs to include:

• Application for Planning Approval Form
• Three sets of plans including site plan, floor plan and elevations (floor plans and site plans maybe combined)
• A letter explaining any variations to requirements
• Prescribed fee (see Schedule of Fees).

Assessment
A Planning Officer initially considers the application to determine whether it complies with:

• the City's Town Planning Scheme
• the Residential Design Codes of Western Australia
• any relevant policy, strategy or plan adopted by the Council
• the Municipal Heritage Inventory
• the City's expectations concerning orderly and proper planning and the preservation of the amenity of the locality.

Can I lodge a Building Licence application at the same time?
Yes, however the Building Licence will not be assessed until Planning Approval has been issued. This is because Planning Approvals may require changes to plans which must be shown in the Building Licence. The City encourages lodging the Building Licence after the Planning Approval has been issued.

How long will it take for my application to be approved?
Planning Approval applications generally take 21 working days to be approved if they don’t require neighbour consultation and 35 working days when neighbour consultation is required. Applications that are required to go to a Council Meeting may take two to three months.

Appealing a Decision
If you want to appeal a decision on a Planning Approval application, you can have it reviewed at a Council Meeting or the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT). You can only appeal if you are the applicant or a representative of the applicant. Neighbours are not permitted to appeal.

For more information about Planning Approvals, contact the City on 9474 0777.