This information sheet provides guidance on the planning requirements for hosted and unhosted Short-Term Rental Accommodation (STRA), including land use permissibility, State Government registration requirements, and the information required to lodge a Development Application where applicable.
To help you find the information relevant to your proposal, refer to the following sections:
Land Use Definition and Permissibility – Explains the definitions of hosted and unhosted Short-Term Rental Accommodation and whether the land use is permitted or requires a Development Application.
Short-Term Rental Accommodation Register – Details the State Government registration requirements for all Short-Term Rental Accommodation in Western Australia.
How do I find details about my property? – How to confirm your property's zoning, lot size, and other planning constraints using the City’s Public Mapping Tool.
Public Drinking Water Source Areas – Additional considerations for properties located within Public Drinking Water Source Areas. Refer to “How do I find details about my property?” to confirm if your property falls within a Public Drinking Water Source Area.
Lodging a Development Application – Development Application requirements, statutory timeframes, supporting plans and documentation including site plans, floor plans, planning reports and technical assessments.
Duty Planner Bookings – Information about the City's free pre-lodgement planning advice service.
Lodging a Building Application - The next steps following planning approval, including building permit requirements and timeframes.
Are any other approvals required? - Details of any additional approvals that may be required from other agencies or City departments before commencing the land use.
Short-Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) refers to the practice of renting out a property or part of a property to paying guests for stays of up to three months in duration.
This type of accommodation, which is usually booked through online platforms, is popular among travellers and visitors seeking temporary lodging for holidays, business trips or other short stays.
STRA is either
Short-Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) – a dwelling provided, on a commercial basis, for occupation under a short-term rental arrangement, but does not include a dwelling that is, or is part of, any of the following:
Hosted Short-Term Rental Accommodation – any of the following:
Hosted Short-Term Rental Accommodation is a ‘P’ (permitted) use in Special Rural, Rural Composite, Rural Agriculture, Rural Landscape Interest and Rural Conservation zones.
A ‘P’ use means that the use is permitted by the Scheme, and no Planning Approvals are required.
Unhosted Short-Term Rental Accommodation – short-term rental accommodation that:
Unhosted Short-Term Rental Accommodation is a ‘D’ (discretionary) use in Special Rural, Rural Composite, Rural Agriculture, Rural Landscape Interest and Rural Conservation zones. A ‘D’ use means that the use is not permitted unless the council has granted planning approval (Development Application required).
NOTE: an exemption from the requirement to obtain development approval where unhosted STRA is leased for 90 nights or less (non-consecutive) within a 12-month period, as per the date of registration (refer to “Short-Term Rental Accommodation Register” below).
All STRA operating in Western Australia must be registered regardless of whether a planning (development) approval is required or not. Being registered will allow bookings to be taken for a STRA property. As part of the STRA registration process, demonstration of planning (development) approval may be required.
Registration is for one (1) year from the date of registration and will need to be renewed every 12 months.
The process on how to register and a flowchart demonstrating the general approvals and registration steps for different types of STRA at the State Government Level, is available here.
Refer to Planning Layer on the City’s Public Mapping Tool to confirm your lot size, zoning and/or density of the property.
You can also find out if your property is located within a Bushfire Prone Area or within a Public Drinking Water Source Area.
Water Quality Protection Note 25 (WQPN25) provides guidance on land uses and activities within public drinking water source areas (PDWSAs) to protect drinking water quality and public health. To identify whether a site falls within a PDWSA and the associated priority (P) of this PDWSA, refer to the online mapping tool. The land use compatibility for ancillary dwellings in PDWSAs are tabled below (taken from WQPN25).
The applicable conditions as referenced above must be met for the unhosted short-term rental accommodation to be capable of support. Refer to the definitions in WQPN25 for “Bed and Breakfast” and “Holiday House” to determine which land use aligns with the proposal.
Water Quality Protection Note 88 (WQPN 88) provides guidance and recommendations on proposed tourist accommodation on rural land that is located within or close to a sensitive water resource. The land use compatibility for ancillary dwellings in PDWSAs are tabled below (taken from WQPN88).
The applicable conditions as referenced above must be met for the tourist and visitor accommodation to be capable of support. For applications in a PDWSA, a referral to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulations (DWER) may be required as part of the Development Application process, and it is recommended to contact DWER for further advice.
To lodge a Development Application, please complete the Development Application Form and Checklist linked below.
Form and Checklist
The following is required to be lodged with the application:
Once all plans and reports are prepared, submit the Development Application to the City by emailing all documents to enquiries@kalamunda.wa.gov.au.
The City offers a free Duty Planner service to help landowners and community members with planning matters. This service provides general guidance only – staff can outline key considerations and likely information requirements, but they cannot assess proposals or indicate whether they would support them.
If you would like to discuss your proposal, you can book a Duty Planner meeting here: Duty Planner – Online Booking. You can also contact the City directly on 9257 9999 or via enquiries@kalamunda.wa.gov.au if you need further advice.
Please note:
Once you receive your planning approval, the next step is to lodge a Building Application.
For further details on the Building Permit process, you may refer to the City’s Building Checklist and Guidelines Webpage, the WA Building and Energy Website and/or contact the City on 9257 9999.
Approvals from the Department of Health may also be required if there is any water body (including spa pools, swimming pools, swimming baths, water slides, and wave pools) on the property where a STRA land use is proposed.
Approvals from the City’s Building and/or Environmental Health Services may also be required prior to commencing the land use and/or carrying out any work. For further information they can be contacted on 9257 9999 or via email to enquiries@kalamunda.wa.gov.au
Where food is prepared for customers, a Food and Beverage License is to be lodged concurrently to the City’s Environmental Health Department.
Under the Short-Term Rental Accommodation Act 2024, all providers of STRA within Western Australia, both hosted and un-hosted, are required to register their property with the STRA Register. Please contact the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety for further information.
This information sheet is for guidance purposes only. This information sheet relates to the general development application process and does not account for special or extenuating circumstances. The City of Kalamunda assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions contained in this information and shall not be held responsible for the misinterpretation or misapplication of the information contained in this document. In some instances, the local government may require additional information from the applicant, referral to related government agencies or public advertising beyond the scope of a standard application to make an informed decision on the application.
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