Western Australian Selling, Home Business & Farm-Stay Rules, by Council
WA's statewide Short-Term Rental Accommodation reform exempts hosted STRA from planning approval uniformly across every council (see the state-wide WA article for the full framework). Where councils actually differ is in larger-scale rural tourism development (unhosted chalets, guesthouses, caravan parks) sitting outside the STRA reform, assessed under each council's own local planning policy.
Busselton, Albany
Busselton's local planning policy is the most specifically documented on this page: larger-scale rural tourism development outside the STRA reform needs at least 15 hectares for chalet development, and at least 10 hectares for a guesthouse, caravan park or camping ground. Albany is the other truly rural council on this page, with real farming and rural-residential land where larger-scale tourism development has practical application, though a documented public breakdown of Albany's specific minimum lot sizes wasn't available at time of writing.
Source: City of Busselton local planning policy; City of Albany local planning scheme
Perth metro councils: Stirling, Wanneroo, South Perth, Nedlands, Rockingham, Swan, Joondalup, Cockburn, Kalamunda, Armadale, Melville, Kwinana, Mandurah, Bayswater, East Fremantle, Bassendean, Vincent
These seventeen councils are established Perth metro suburbs with little or no rural land, so larger-scale rural tourism development beyond the hosted STRA exemption has limited practical application in most of these LGAs. The hosted STRA exemption and Food Act 2008 council notification requirements still apply exactly as set out in the state framework — there's no council-level variation to track for those two topics.
Source: WA Planning Portal zoning information, by council area
Frequently Asked Questions
Does WA's hosted STRA exemption apply the same way in every council?
Yes. The statewide Short-Term Rental Accommodation reform exempts hosted STRA (the host lives on-site) from needing planning approval everywhere in WA, regardless of council. There is no council-level variation for this specific exemption.
Does Busselton have its own rules for larger farm-stay development?
Yes. Busselton's local planning policy sets specific minimum lot sizes for larger-scale rural tourism development outside the STRA reform: at least 15 hectares for chalet development, and at least 10 hectares for a guesthouse, caravan park or camping ground.
Do most WA councils have real rural land for larger-scale farm tourism development?
No. Most of the 19 councils on this page are established Perth metro suburbs with little or no rural land, so larger-scale rural tourism development beyond the hosted STRA exemption has limited application there. Busselton and Albany are the two councils on this page with genuine rural land where it matters most.