Perth Evacuation Plan Guide - City Bylaws (WA)

Public Safety Western Australia 3 Minutes Read ยท published February 11, 2026 Flag of Western Australia

Preparing an evacuation plan is essential for households, small businesses and community organisations in Perth, Western Australia. This guide explains the local planning steps, who is responsible for enforcement, typical compliance issues and practical actions you can take to make sure occupants evacuate safely during bushfire, flood or other emergencies. Use the steps below to draft, test and share a clear evacuation plan that matches local emergency arrangements and the wider state emergency framework.

Preparing an Evacuation Plan

An evacuation plan should identify hazards, safe assembly areas, evacuation routes, roles and communication methods. Plans must be realistic for the building type and the people using it (including visitors, people with access needs and pets). Keep the plan simple, test it regularly and record results of exercises.

  • Set review and drill dates at least annually.
  • Document primary and alternative evacuation routes.
  • List emergency contacts and a nominated contact person for family or staff.
  • Record assembly points with maps and photographs.
  • Log training, drills and any changes to the plan.
Test your evacuation plan in a timed drill and revise problems discovered during the exercise.

Who must prepare a plan

Owners or occupiers of buildings vulnerable to bushfire, flood or industrial hazards should prepare an evacuation plan. This includes householders in high-risk suburbs and managers of public venues. Larger workplaces may have obligations under occupational safety laws in addition to local emergency guidance.

Penalties & Enforcement

Rules about evacuation orders, compliance with emergency directions and related enforcement depend on state emergency legislation and local emergency arrangements. Specific monetary fines for failing to comply with evacuation directions are not specified on the cited pages; enforcement and prosecution are governed by state emergency laws and local emergency management arrangements.Emergency Management Act 2005 (WA)[3]

  • Enforcer: Local emergency management committees and the City of Perth community safety/by-law officers coordinate local compliance; state agencies (DFES) provide operational command during declared emergencies.DFES Prepare guidance[2]
  • Fines: not specified on the cited page.
  • Escalation: not specified on the cited page; matters may be dealt with by infringement notices, prosecutions or court action under state law.
  • Inspection and complaints: report safety or compliance concerns to the City of Perth community safety or local emergency management committee for your suburb.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: emergency directions, orders to evacuate, seizure of property where necessary and prosecution under state emergency legislation are possible.
If you receive an official evacuation order, follow it immediately and seek information from emergency services.

Applications & Forms

There is no city-issued evacuation permit or formal application form for household evacuation plans published on the City of Perth emergency management pages; planning templates and guidance are provided instead.City of Perth emergency management[1]

Common violations

  • Failure to follow official evacuation directions during an emergency.
  • Blocked or unsafe evacuation routes on private property.
  • Not maintaining shared assembly areas or emergency equipment as required by local arrangements.

Action steps

  • Draft a one-page evacuation plan and distribute it to occupants and neighbours.
  • Run a timed evacuation drill and log the outcome.
  • Keep an up-to-date contact list for emergency services and local council community safety.
Keep one printed copy of the plan at the assembly point and one accessible digitally.

FAQ

Who enforces evacuation orders in Perth?
Local emergency management committees and the City of Perth coordinate enforcement during incidents, supported by DFES for operational command.
Do I need council approval to make an evacuation plan?
No formal approval is required for private or workplace evacuation plans; the council provides guidance and templates instead.
Are there standard forms for evacuation plans?
There are no mandatory forms published by the City of Perth for household evacuation plans; guidance templates are available on the council site.

How-To

  1. Identify hazards and likely triggers for evacuation.
  2. Choose safe assembly points and primary/secondary evacuation routes.
  3. Assign roles: a coordinator, a communications lead and helpers for people with access needs.
  4. Create a contact and notification plan, including who calls emergency services.
  5. Run and record a timed drill; revise the plan based on lessons learned.
  6. Store the plan in print at assembly points and digitally for quick access during an emergency.

Key Takeaways

  • Keep evacuation plans simple, tested and shared with all occupants.
  • Contact City of Perth community safety for local guidance and reporting concerns.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] City of Perth - Emergency Management
  2. [2] DFES - Prepare and plan
  3. [3] Emergency Management Act 2005 (WA) - Legislation WA

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