- Cook Labor Government's game-changing reforms to the Residential Design Codes open for public comment
- Reforms support a greater diversity of housing choice and increased flexibility for all types of development from granny flats through to apartments
- Proposed changes mean even more granny flats will be exempt from Council planning approvals and baseline heights for apartments lifted
- More than 70,000 existing residential properties to become eligible to subdivide, creating more diverse housing opportunities in established areas
Western Australians are invited to have their say on proposed changes to the Residential Design Codes (R-Codes) that aim to make it easier for thousands of property owners to build a granny flat or subdivide their property.
New changes to granny flat standards include lifting the maximum floor space from 70 to 90 square metres, abolishing minimum car parking requirements and reducing rear lot boundary setback in lower density areas.
This reform, together with the broader package of changes, will cut unnecessary red tape and provide more Western Australians choice when seeking to downsize or support multigenerational living.
Additional changes to apartments standards include a new and simpler 'low', 'mid' and 'high' rise structure to replace the existing R-AC codes, with an uplift in building heights proposed. The review proposes one new 'Mid Rise' code supporting development up to 6-storeys, and two additional 'High Rise' codes supporting development up to 16 and 20-storeys.
The package of reforms will also see the average lot sizes for R10 - R25 scrapped in Perth and Peel, meaning more than 70,000 existing residential properties will become eligible to subdivide, creating more opportunities for gentle density in our established suburbs.
The community and stakeholders can review the proposed R-Codes changes and make a submission through Have Your Say WA.
The R-Codes govern residential design and density across Western Australia, controlling lot sizes, building heights, parking, setbacks, open space, privacy and landscaping.
Feedback will play a critical role in informing the final R-Codes before they are submitted to the Western Australian Planning Commission for consideration.
Consultation closes on 26 February 2027.
These measures are a part of the Cook Labor Government's major reforms to the R-Codes announced in July, that will increase the supply of housing by simplifying the codes, enabling more lots to be subdivided and reducing approvals timeframe.
The proposed reforms complement the Cook Labor Government's record investment of more than $10.8 billion in housing and homelessness measures.
As stated by Planning and Lands Minister John Carey:
"These reforms are a game changer for Western Australians, with property owners given greater flexibility to develop their land depending on their individual circumstances.
"Whether it's a granny flat for a young or ageing family member, or subdividing off the backyard to downsize, we are providing more opportunities for housing choice in existing suburbs.
"By adjusting the standards for granny flats, more developments will avoid a two or three-month planning approval process, saving time and money with only a building permit required.
"These changes are part of our significant changes to the R-Codes, which will cut unnecessary planning red-tape, streamline approvals and unlock land for tens of thousands of new subdivisions."
