Development Approval
A development approval is a legal document that gives permission for a use or development on a particular piece of land. To obtain a development approval, an application for development approval must be made to the City of South Perth.
Development approvals ensure that development within the City complies with the Town Planning Scheme, Residential Design Codes and other relevant legislation and policies.
Applicants can discuss planning proposals and preliminary plans with the City’s duty Urban Planner to find out more about the process. The duty Urban Planner can advise applicants on a proposed development or land use and the information required to lodge a complete application.
Development approval is required for most building works and/or when changing the use of a site. Applicants must seek approval from the City to:
- Build a single house, grouped dwellings or multiple dwellings
- Extend or alter an existing building (including sheds, patios, garages, carports and satellite dishes)
- Build a replacement structure (for example, an old patio is being dismantled and another patio is being built as a replacement)
- Change the use of the subject property
- Conduct a business from home.
If you are uncertain whether approval is required for your development, our Urban Planners are available to attend to general planning enquiries during business hours. Please call 9474 0777.
Alternatively, you can complete a ‘Written Planning Advice’ enquiry in the mySouthPerth portal. Please note there is a fee associated to this enquiry, refer to the related fees table below.
FAQs
Applying for development approval and a building permit are two separate processes, both controlled under different legislation.
A development approval grants permission for a development or land use. It ensures that the development complies with the local planning scheme, Residential Design Codes (R-Codes) and other relevant legislation and policies.
A building permit ensures that the building is structurally safe and complies with the relevant legislation.
Depending on the proposed development and land use, both development and building approval may be required.
A building permit is required for any works of a structural nature. Development approval and building permits are two separate development application processes required before a development can commence.
In most cases, both development and building approval will be required, however there are instances when only one is required. For more information on gaining a building permit, please see Building Permits.
Where a development has the potential to affect surrounding properties, the City will undergo a consultation process. Comments received through that process are taken into account when making a decision on the development.
The City’s Planning Policy P301 Community Engagement in Planning Proposals provides guidance on the geographic extent, method and duration of the required consultation for various kinds of planning proposals. The Policy also provides advice to submitters on the extent to which their comments may contribute to the City’s decision-making process.
Visit the Advertised DA page of this website for details of where you can view the development applications currently open for comment.Development Approval applications of a value of $10 million or more are determined by the Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP).
Visit the Development Assessment Panel page for more information.
Related documents
Related fees
Development Approvals
| Description | Applicable to | Condition | GST | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Development Cost not more than $50,000 | All Applicants | Base Fee | Exc | $147.00 |
| Development Cost more than $50,000 but not more than $500,000 | All Applicants | 0.32% of estimated cost of development | Exc | 0.32% of estimated cost of development |
| Development Cost more than $500,000 but not more than $2.5 million | All Applicants | Base fee of $1,700 plus 0.257% of cost over $500,000 | Exc | $1,700 plus 0.257% for every $1 in excess of $500,000 |
| Development Cost more than $2.5 million but not more than $5 million | All Applicants | Base fee of $7,161 plus 0.206% of cost over $2.5 million | Exc | $7,161 plus 0.206% for every $1 in excess of $2.5 million |
| Development Cost more than $5 million but not more than $21.5 million | All Applicants | Base fee of $12,633 plus 0.123% of cost over $5 million | Exc | $12,633 plus 0.123% for every $1 in excess of $5 million |
| Development Cost more than $21.5 million | All Applicants | Base Fee | Exc | $34,196.00 |
| Description | Applicable to | Condition | GST | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Determining an application to amend or cancel development approval (if amendment would not substantially change the development approval) | All applicants | Per application | Exc | $295.00 |
| Extension of Approval Timeline | All Applicants | Per Application | Exc | $295.00 |
| Amend or Delete Condition of Approval | All Applicants | Per Application | Exc | $295.00 |
| Referral to City Environment | All Applicants | Per Referral | Exc | $65.00 |
| Referral to Design Review Panel | All Applicants | Per Referral | Exc | $800.00 |
| Preliminary Planning Assessment | If Applicable | Prior to advice being given - any unused balance will be refunded (min $147) | Exc | 25% of total fee for the estimated cost of the development |
| Advertising Costs | All Applicants | Area 1 Consultation (P301) Standard Development Application | Exc | $165.00 |
| Advertising Costs | All Applicants | Area 2 Consultation (P301) Complex Development Application | Exc | $325.00 |
| Change of Use | All Applicants | Per Application | Exc | $295.00 |
| Extension of Non Conforming Use | All Applicants | Per Application | Exc | $295.00 |
| Home Occupation | All Applicants | Per Application | Exc | $222.00 |
| Proposed 'Major' Variation (as per Policy P689) to Previously Determined Application | All Applicants | Per Application (min $147) | Exc | 30% of original fee |
| Retrospective Approval of Existing Change of Use or Non Conforming Use | All Applicants | Original Fee ($295) plus $590 Penalty | Exc | $885.00 |
| Retrospective Approval - of Existing Development | All Applicants | Penalty is double the maximum fee plus the original fee | Exc | 3 x original fee |
| Deemed to comply check (clause 61A) | If applicable | Prior to advice being given | Exc | $295.00 max fee |
| Retrospective Approval - Home occupation | All Applicants | Original Fee ($222) plus $444 Penalty | Exc | $666.00 |
| Approval for over height fence (clause 6.7 TPS6) | If applicable | Prior to advice being given | Exc | $147.00 |
| Refused Application for Planning Approval | All Applicants | Fee is not refunded | Exc | Fee is not refunded |
| Withdrawn Application for Development Approval | If Applicable | Fee may be refunded at the discretion of the City where processing has not started but administrative tasks have begun | Exc | Fee may be refunded at the discretion of the City where processing has not started but administrative tasks have begun |
| Description | Applicable to | Condition | GST | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Development Cost no more than $50,000 but no more than $500,000 | If applicable | Prior to advice being given | Exc | $100.00 |
| Development Cost no more than $500,000 but no more than $2,500,000 | If applicable | Prior to advice being given | Exc | $250.00 |
| Development Cost no more than $2,500,000 but no more $5,000,000 | If applicable | Prior to advice being given | Exc | $500.00 |
| Development Cost more than $5,000,000 but no more than $21,500,000 | If applicable | Prior to advice being given | Exc | $750.00 |
| Development Cost more than $21,500,000 | If applicable | Prior to advice being given | Exc | $750.00 |
