Granny flat permits · Perth & WA
Granny flat permits in WA, done for you.
Since April 2024, most granny flats up to 70 m² on residential lots can skip planning approval in Western Australia. You still need a building permit. We check your lot against the rules, line up the plans and engineering, and lodge it with your council.
- Fixed price up front
- The 70 m² check done for you
- Kit, modular or custom
Do I need approval?
Do I need council approval for a granny flat?
Every granny flat in WA needs a building permit. Since 10 April 2024 most don't need planning approval if they are 70 m² or smaller, on a residential lot, and meet the R-Codes' standard rules such as setbacks.
- No minimum lot size on residential lots any more.
- Anyone can live in it, and it can be rented out.
- Rural lots often still need a development application.
Check your granny flat
Answer a few quick questions. It takes about 20 seconds.
What changed
The 2024 granny flat rules in WA, in plain English
The WA Government changed the R-Codes to make granny flats easier to build. Here is what that means.
| Before | Since 10 April 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Planning approval | Often needed, especially on smaller lots | Not needed if 70 m² or less and R-Code compliant on a residential lot |
| Minimum lot size | Applied | Removed for residential lots |
| Maximum size | 70 m² | 70 m² |
| Parking | Extra bay usually required | More flexible |
| Building permit | Required | Still required |
How it works
From backyard to building permit
Tell us about your lot
Your address, the granny flat design or the kit you like, and where it will go.
We check and prepare
Zoning, size and setbacks first. Then drawings, energy efficiency, engineering and forms.
We lodge and follow up
We lodge with your council, answer their questions and send you the permit.
What a granny flat application needs
More than a shed, less than a house.
- Site plan with setbacks, open space and the main house.
- Floor plans, elevations and sections of the granny flat.
- Engineering for the slab or footings and the frame.
- Energy efficiency assessment to the building code.
- Bushfire assessment if the lot is in a bushfire-prone area.
- Forms, owner consent and fees, then lodgement.
Questions
Common questions
Do I need council approval for a granny flat in WA?
You always need a building permit. Since 10 April 2024 you usually don't need planning approval for a granny flat up to 70 m² on a residential lot, as long as it meets the R-Codes' standard rules, including setbacks.
Is there a minimum lot size for a granny flat in WA?
Not any more on residential lots. The old 350 m² minimum lot size was removed in April 2024, so a compliant granny flat can go on a residential lot of any size if it fits within the setbacks and open space rules.
Can I rent out my granny flat?
Yes. In WA anyone can live in a granny flat, not just family, and it can be rented out separately from the main house.
How big can a granny flat be in WA?
Up to 70 m² of internal floor area under the R-Codes' ancillary dwelling rules. Bigger than that needs planning approval and may be assessed as a second house.
Does a granny flat need its own parking?
The R-Codes set parking rules for granny flats, and the 2024 changes made them more flexible, particularly near public transport. Your council's local policy can add to them. We check this as part of the application.
Who can lodge the building permit?
Your builder often does it as part of the build. If you are using a kit, a modular supplier or an owner-builder, we can prepare and lodge it for you.
A granny flat is a big project. The paperwork shouldn't be.
We check the 70 m² rules, line up the drawings and engineering, and lodge with your council. You get one point of contact from start to permit.