Western Australian Land & Water Rules, by Council

Every council covered on our WA livestock page sits in non-cyclonic Wind Region A, which simplifies one part of the picture (see the state-wide WA article for the full framework). What still varies is whether your specific property sits within a DWER-proclaimed water area, which determines whether dam or bore licensing applies at all.

Perth metro councils: Stirling, Wanneroo, South Perth, Nedlands, Joondalup, Cockburn, Melville, Kwinana, Bayswater, East Fremantle, Bassendean, Vincent

These twelve inner-to-middle Perth metro councils are all fully urbanised, with no rural land where WA's proclaimed-water-area dam and bore exemptions would meaningfully apply. The standard shed building permit exemption (10m², 2.4m high, Wind Region A) applies across all of them; staying planning-approval-free too generally requires meeting the R-Codes deemed-to-comply outbuilding standard on residential-zoned land, which describes the majority of these LGAs.

Source: Building Regulations 2012 (WA); AS/NZS 1170.2 wind region classification; R-Codes

City of Rockingham

Rockingham has both established suburban areas and Rural/Special Rural zoned land further out, consistent with council's own livestock rules restricting large animals to those zones. Rural-zoned land here has genuine potential for DWER proclaimed-area dam and bore considerations; confirm directly for your specific property.

Source: City of Rockingham Local Planning Scheme; DWER proclaimed area information

City of Swan

Swan has substantial rural land on its outer fringes, consistent with council's own sustainability-based (rather than fixed-number) approach to livestock stocking rates. This rural land has genuine potential for DWER proclaimed-area dam and bore considerations.

Source: City of Swan Local Planning Scheme; DWER proclaimed area information

City of Kalamunda

Kalamunda has larger rural-residential lots in its outer areas, consistent with council's own tiered poultry-by-lot-size system. These larger lots have genuine potential for DWER proclaimed-area considerations for any dam or bore.

Source: City of Kalamunda Local Planning Scheme; DWER proclaimed area information

City of Armadale

Armadale has a designated rural zone separate from its built-up areas, consistent with council's own Non-Rural Permit system for livestock outside that zone. Rural-zoned land here has genuine potential for DWER proclaimed-area considerations.

Source: City of Armadale Local Planning Scheme; DWER proclaimed area information

City of Mandurah

Mandurah sits in Wind Region A like the rest of this page. Being a coastal city south of Perth, most of the LGA is established residential land; confirm directly with DWER whether any specific rural-fringe property is in a proclaimed water area.

Source: City of Mandurah Local Planning Scheme; DWER proclaimed area information

City of Albany

Albany, on WA's south coast, sits in Wind Region A. Council's own livestock rules already distinguish ordinary owners from affiliated club members with larger allowances, suggesting genuine rural land exists in parts of the LGA where DWER proclaimed-area dam and bore rules may apply.

Source: City of Albany Local Planning Scheme; DWER proclaimed area information

City of Busselton

Busselton, in WA's South West, sits in Wind Region A. Genuine rural and rural-residential land exists beyond the built-up coastal area, where DWER proclaimed-area considerations for dams and bores may apply.

Source: City of Busselton Local Planning Scheme; DWER proclaimed area information

Frequently Asked Questions