Who grants franchise agreements for utilities in Perth?

The City of Perth or the approving authority for public land grants licences or road-occupation approvals; state agencies may control statutory franchises for certain utilities.

How do I report an unauthorised utility asset?

Report to the City of Perth approvals or by-law enforcement team via the city report or contact pages and include location and photos.

Are there standard fees or published fines for breaches?

Standard fees and fines vary by instrument; the municipal guidance page does not list consolidated penalty amounts and refers to the controlling legislation or agreement for specifics.

Perth Bylaws: Franchise Agreements for Utilities

Business and Consumer Protection Western Australia 3 Minutes Read · published February 11, 2026

Perth, Western Australia municipal authorities manage use of public land and road reserves where utilities run mains or place assets, and franchise agreements or licences may be required to install or maintain services. This guide explains how franchise arrangements are treated in a Perth local-government context, the departments to contact, typical compliance steps and how enforcement works, with links to the City of Perth local-laws guidance and the state Local Government Act for legal context.

Penalties & Enforcement

Local authorities enforce franchise, access and utility-related conditions through bylaw compliance, permitting conditions and road-occupation approvals. Specific monetary penalties for breaches of franchise terms or local laws are not consistently listed on the municipal guidance pages and must be read in the controlling statute or instrument cited by the city.

Fine amounts: not specified on the cited page^[1].
Escalation: first offence / repeat / continuing offence ranges not specified on the cited page^[1].
Non-monetary sanctions: compliance orders, work-restoration directions, removal of unauthorised works and court proceedings are referenced as enforcement tools on municipal pages; exact orders depend on the controlling instrument.
Enforcer: City of Perth By-law Enforcement or relevant approvals team; complaints and reports go to the City of Perth contact or report pages^[1].
Appeals and review: appeal routes usually follow the decision provisions in the controlling local law or the Local Government Act 1995 (WA); specific time limits for appeal are not specified on the cited municipal guidance and should be checked on the statutory page^[2].
Defences and discretion: permits, approved variances, or demonstrated reasonable excuse may be recognised where the decision-maker has discretion; check the authorising instrument.

Seek written approvals before any works in road reserves or public land to avoid enforcement action.

Applications & Forms

The City of Perth publishes guidance for local-law compliance and applications for works in public places; specific franchise agreement forms are not centrally listed on the city guidance page and may be issued per project or by negotiation with the approvals team^[1].

Common application types: road-occupation permits, public-works licences and easement agreements; names and fees may be set by the city or under a state instrument.
Fees: not specified on the cited municipal guidance; check the specific application form or contact the approvals office.
Submission method: typically via the City of Perth online applications or by contacting the approvals team; use the city contact pages for the correct form and lodgement process^[1].

Compliance Steps and Practical Action

Practical steps for utilities and contractors dealing with franchise matters in Perth:

Plan early: allow time for council approvals, public-notice requirements and any required traffic management plans.
Apply for licences or permits specific to works in public places and secure written agreements for occupation of road reserves.
Comply with conditions: follow reinstatement, asset-protection and insurance conditions in the agreement.
Record-keeping: retain copies of approvals, communications and inspection reports to respond to enforcement actions.

FAQ

Who grants franchise agreements for utilities in Perth?: The City of Perth or the approving authority for public land grants licences or road-occupation approvals; state agencies may control statutory franchises for certain utilities.
How do I report an unauthorised utility asset?: Report to the City of Perth approvals or by-law enforcement team via the city report/contact pages; include location and photos.
Are there standard fees or published fines for breaches?: Standard fees and fines vary by instrument; the municipal guidance page does not list consolidated penalty amounts and refers to the controlling legislation or agreement for specifics^[1].

How-To

Identify the asset location and determine whether the work is on City of Perth land or state-controlled land.
Contact the City of Perth approvals team to confirm required permits and any application forms.
Prepare documentation: plans, traffic management, insurance and environmental assessments as required by the approvals team.
Submit the application and pay applicable fees; follow up with the approvals officer until you receive written consent.
Complete works to the agreed standard and lodge any completion or reinstatement reports required by the agreement.

Key Takeaways

Franchise and access matters in Perth require early engagement with the City of Perth approvals and by-law teams.
Monetary fines and escalation details are not consolidated on the municipal guidance pages and must be checked in the specific instrument cited by the city.
Keep records and obtain written approvals to reduce risk of enforcement.