The City offers planning services and guidance. It also has a pre-lodgement service for applicants to get advice and understand the application process better. This helps in addressing concerns and making the process transparent.
Getting advice
The City can provide a variety of formal and informal planning advice. It’s beneficial to have some information on hand when you seek advice to help the team assist you effectively.
For general advice and before getting in touch, please explore our Address and application assistant, which offers a vast range of address-specific information, appropriate guides, and application forms.
You can obtain general advice on legislative requirements, the planning process, available exemptions, and the land uses you can undertake on your property.
For a formal response, the City also offers written planning advice, deemed-to-comply checks, and free pre-lodgement advice.
To get advice, please contact us via the following methods:
| Via website | Using the Address and Application Assistant |
| Via email | development@stirling.wa.gov.au |
| Via phone | Duty Planning Officers are available from 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday for phone enquiries. This can be obtained by phoning (08) 9205 8555 |
| In person | Duty Planning Officers are available from 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday as the at the counter at the City’s Administration Centre, 25 Cedric Street Stirling |
General advice
The City can provide general planning advice such as:
- Zoning
- How to lodge a development application
- The development approvals process; the types of development applications, fees, payment methods, and timeframes
- What kinds of development are exempt from needing a development approval
- What planning framework is relevant and the land uses that can be considered on a property
- Unauthorised land uses and structures and the development applications process for these matters
- Design Review Panel process.
This information can be found on the City’s website, via email, via phone, or in person.
Written advice
The City is able to provide written planning advice for the specific application and/or interpretation of applying a piece of the City’s local planning framework or for any other matter that cannot be addressed through general advice, pre-development advice, or deemed-to-comply checks.
The application fee for written planning advice is non-refundable.
Written advice will not identify if a non-compliant aspect of a proposal will be supported as this cannot be done outside of the development application process.
The City charges $73.00 for written planning advice and requires up to 10 business days to review and respond.
To lodge a written planning advice request, please complete the written planning advice application form and send it to development@stirling.wa.gov.au.
Written advice FAQs
The City is unable to provide the following information through the written planning advice process:
- Specific advice on proposed variations for a development that has not been formally lodged with the City, and whether a particular variation would be supported by the City
- Whether an aspect of a proposal complies with the R-Code or Policy requirements.
These matters can only be dealt with via the development application process.
The City charges $73.00 for written planning advice.
The City may take up to 10 business days to review and respond to your request for advice.
Deemed-to-comply checks
The intent of a deemed-to-comply check is to provide applicants with confidence that their proposal can proceed straight to building permit.
What is a deemed-to-comply (DTC) check?
A ‘deemed-to-comply’ check allows landowners and/or applicants to seek written advice from their local government as to whether development approval is required for what they are proposing. The 'deemed-to-comply' check covers additions and renovations to single houses and grouped dwellings and also includes a check for new single houses and up to two grouped dwellings.
This is a voluntary process and the intent of this check is to provide applicants with confidence that their proposal can proceed straight to a building permit.
Clause 61A of the Deemed Provisions in Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015 allows for landowners and/or applicants to seek written advice from the Local Government to assess and confirm that the works proposed are exempt from development approval and can proceed straight to a building permit.
Additions up to and including Single Houses are exempt from development approval provided they meet the deemed-to-comply criteria of the R-Codes and any relevant local planning policy.
A deemed-to-comply check can be lodged for:
- Deemed-to-comply check for minor works to a single house ($73.00):
- Patio
- Front fence
- Outbuilding
- Site works/retaining walls
- Ancillary dwelling (Granny flat)
- Carport.
- Deemed-to-comply check for works to a single house ($295.00):
- Garages
- Any extension/addition to a single house
- Erection of single house.
Once the application is accepted and lodged, advice of the outcome will be provided within 14 calendar days.
| Document name |
|---|
| Deemed to Comply Check Application Form - single house |
The City’s Local Planning Policy 6.15 Exemption from Requiring Development Approval exempts up to two grouped dwellings on a parent lot and/or additions, extensions and renovations to an existing grouped dwelling, provided they meet the deemed-to-comply criteria of the R-Codes and any relevant local planning policy.
A deemed-to-comply check can be lodged for:
- Deemed-to-comply check for minor works to a grouped dwelling ($73.00):
- Patio
- Front fence
- Outbuilding
- Site works/retaining walls
- Carport.
- Deemed-to-comply check for works to a grouped dwelling ($295.00):
- Garages
- Any extension/addition to a grouped dwelling
- Erection of up to two grouped dwellings.
Once the application is accepted and lodged, advice of the outcome will be provided within 14 calendar days.
| Document name |
|---|
| 6.15 Exemption from Requiring Development Approval |
| Deemed to Comply Check Application Form - Grouped dwellings |
Deemed-to-comply check FAQs
The advice will state either that:
- The proposal is exempt from development approval and the proposal can proceed straight to a building permit
- The proposal is not exempt from development approval, including an outline of where and how the proposal does not meet the deemed-to-comply criteria of the R-Codes and any relevant local planning policy.
An administration check will be carried out upon receipt of the application form. You may be asked to provide more information before the application is accepted and lodged.
Once the application is accepted and lodged, advice of the outcome will be provided within 14 calendar days.
If your proposal is not exempt, the following options are available:
- You can lodge a development application
- You may amend your plans to address the areas of non-compliance and submit a new deemed-to-comply check application
- You may amend your plans to address the areas of non-compliance and submit for a Building Permit.
Please provide the following documents in the application of deemed-to-comply check:
- Deemed to Comply Application Form:
- A site plan or plans showing the following:
- Location of the site including street names, lot numbers, north point and site dimensions
- Existing and proposed ground levels of the site Location, height and type of all existing structures and environmental features
- Structures and environmental features proposed to be removed
- Existing and proposed means of pedestrian and vehicle access for the site
- The location, number, dimensions and layout of all car parking spaces
- The nature and extent of any open space and landscaping proposed for the site.
- Floor plans and elevations of any building proposed to be erected or altered, and any building that is intended to be retained.
- Pre-calculation plan - a diagram of indicative lot boundaries and sizes, including common property (for grouped dwellings only).
The deemed-to-comply check application can be via one of the below options:
- eLodgement services on the City of Stirling website lodge an application, lodge it as a development application category and put the description as Deemed to comply check;
- In Person at the City’s Administration Centre at 25 Cedric Street, Stirling WA 6021
- Or a hard copy via post/courier.
Application forms can be found here, on the planning checklists and information sheets page.
Pre-lodgement advice
The City’s pre-lodgement advice service is designed to aid customers who are intending to lodge a development application by providing more individualised guidance prior to lodgement.
Pre-lodgement can help with identifying any problem areas and possible improvements, and can contribute to quicker delivery of decisions, time and cost savings, and higher quality developments.
While the outcome of a development application cannot be guaranteed, it is more likely to succeed if it is well-prepared, aligns with the City’s planning framework, and properly addresses and responds to relevant issues identified at the pre-lodgement stage.
Please note that the pre-lodgement advice service responds to specific questions raised by customers prior to lodgement. This service is not a substitute for seeking professional advice. Applicants who are unsure about preparing a development application are advised to consult with an independent, suitably qualified planning professional. Details of town planning consultants can be found on the Planning Institute of Australia’s website.
Note the following exclusions for pre-lodgement advice:
- Technical advice relating to design, architectural, traffic, or civil engineering aspects of a design is not provided
- Does not apply to existing development applications or to applications for review that are currently being considered by the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT)
- The planning team will not undertake a full assessment and advise whether a proposal meets the City’s Planning Framework or not. A full assessment of the proposal is undertaken when a formal development application is lodged with the City
- A review against the Residential Design Codes of Western Australia that would be covered in a Deemed-to-Comply Check is not included.
The pre-lodgement advice service does not apply to existing development applications or to applications for review that are currently being considered by the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT).
The pre-lodgement advice service is provided for the City to provide specific answers raised by customers prior to the lodgement of a development application. This service is not a substitute for seeking professional advice on your proposal and will not be able to provide specific technical advice relating to the design, architectural, traffic, or civil engineering aspects of a design.
The pre-lodgement service is not a full assessment of a proposal, and responses by the planning team are limited to specific questions raised regarding your proposal.
The planning team will not undertake a full assessment and advise whether a proposal meets the City’s Planning Framework or not. A full assessment of the proposal is undertaken when a formal development application is lodged with the City.
Applicants who are unsure about preparing a development application are advised to consult with an independent, suitably qualified planning professional. Details of town planning consultants can be found on the Planning Institute of Australia’s website.
The form requires customers to provide information relating to the proposed development including:
- Type of development
- Cost of development
- Development address
- Proposed development details
- Preferred method of advice (Written advice or Meeting).
Customers are also required to attach relevant documents such as site plans, floor plans, elevations, overshadowing diagrams, etc. The greater level of detail submitted by customers will enable planning officers to provide more detailed planning advice on their proposal. The City will assess the information provided against the City’s planning framework and provide this to the customer in writing or via a meeting as requested.
Pre-development advice is a service provided free of charge.
The City may take up to 10 business days to review and respond to your request for advice. Complex requests may require increased assessment timeframes; in these instances, the City will keep you informed of progress and advise when you can expect to receive a full response.
All requests for pre-lodgement advice are submitted through the City’s website by completing a pre-lodgement advice form.
Ready to apply?
Pre-development advice is a free-of-charge service and can be requested by completing the online form below. The City may take up to 10 business days to review and respond to your request. Complex requests may require additional time; however, the City will keep you informed of progress.
The greater level of detail provided will enable planning officers to provide more detailed planning advice on your proposal. Please have the following information handy:
- Type and cost of development
- Development address and proposed development details
- Preferred method of advice (written or in-person meeting)
- Relevant documents for attachment such as site plans, floor plans, elevations, overshadowing diagrams, etc.
