Perth Heritage Grants & Tax Incentives Bylaws

Land Use and Zoning Western Australia 4 Minutes Read · published February 11, 2026 Flag of Western Australia

Perth, Western Australia protects many historic buildings and precincts through local planning rules and state heritage programs. This guide explains how City of Perth heritage grants and tax-related incentives interact with local bylaws, who enforces conservation obligations, what penalties may apply, and practical steps owners must follow when repairing or altering a heritage place in Perth. It draws on official municipal and state heritage resources and directs you to the right departments and forms so you can apply for assistance, obtain approvals, or challenge an enforcement decision.

Overview

Owners of heritage-listed properties in Perth may be eligible for conservation advice, grants, or incentives administered by the City of Perth and by Western Australian heritage authorities. State heritage listings and local heritage overlays create legal obligations under planning instruments and local laws; approvals are usually required before demolition or significant alteration.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement for breaches of heritage controls is carried out by the City of Perth planning and compliance teams and, for state‑listed places, by the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage or the Heritage Council of Western Australia. Specific monetary fines for heritage contraventions are not listed on the City of Perth heritage guidance pages cited below[1]. Where the City or the state has published penalty schedules, those pages identify the applicable local law or statutory instrument and any listed fine amounts.[1]

Unauthorised works on a heritage place can trigger orders to restore or remove changes.
  • Enforcer: City of Perth Planning & Heritage officers and local law compliance teams (complaints via City channels).
  • Court actions and statutory orders: councils may issue breach notices, stop-work orders and seek penalties in court.
  • Fine amounts: not specified on the cited City of Perth heritage pages; consult the enforcement or local laws pages for numeric schedules.[1]
  • Escalation: typical progression is warning, infringement/penalty or prosecution; specific first/repeat/continuing offence ranges are not published on the main heritage guidance pages.[1]
  • Inspection and complaint pathway: report suspected unlawful works to City of Perth Compliance (see Resources below).
  • Appeals and review: planning decisions and enforcement notices can usually be reviewed by council or appealed to the State Administrative Tribunal; time limits for merits review or appeal depend on the notice type and are not specified on the cited heritage guidance page.[1]
  • Defences/discretion: approvals, permits, or demonstrated 'necessary emergency work' may be accepted; councils have discretion in issuing permits and exercise powers under relevant planning laws.

Applications & Forms

The City of Perth and the State publish guidance on applying for heritage grants, permits and planning approval. Specific application form names and published fee schedules for City heritage grants are not provided on the generic heritage guidance page; see the official grants page for application forms and eligibility criteria.[2]

Always contact City of Perth heritage staff before starting any work on a listed place.

How grants and tax incentives typically work

Grant programs usually fund conservation‑scale works that retain fabric and character; tax incentives in Australia are limited at state level and may include rate relief or planning concessions offered by councils where local policy provides for conservation incentives. The Heritage Council/State programs provide targeted grant rounds for conservation projects; details on eligible works and submission windows are on the official heritage grants page.[2]

  • Eligibility: property must be heritage‑listed at local or state level and meet program criteria.
  • Funding: funding amounts and co‑contribution requirements are published on the grant program page when a round is open.[2]
  • Acceptable works: conservation, repair, and maintenance that preserve heritage values are prioritised.
  • Assessment: applications assessed by City staff or a panel against published criteria.
Grant rounds and eligibility criteria are updated periodically; check official program pages before preparing an application.

Action steps

  • Contact City of Perth Heritage/Planning to confirm listing status and pre-application advice.
  • Obtain required heritage or development approvals before commencing works.
  • When a grant round is open, download the official application form, provide required quotes and heritage reports, and submit by the advertised deadline.
  • If you receive a notice or infringement, read appeal time limits and seek review through council or the State Administrative Tribunal promptly.

FAQ

Can I get a grant to restore a heritage facade?
Possibly—grant eligibility depends on the program and the heritage significance of the facade; check the official grants page and contact City heritage officers for pre-application advice.
Will the City pay all my restoration costs?
Grants commonly require co-contribution; full funding is rare. Check the specific grant round details on the official program page.
What happens if I start work without approval?
You may receive a breach notice, be required to reinstate works, or be fined; enforcement pathways are set out by the City and state heritage authorities.

How-To

  1. Confirm whether your property is listed on the City of Perth heritage register or the State heritage list by contacting City heritage staff.
  2. Request pre-application advice from City planning/heritage to identify required approvals and documentation.
  3. Prepare a grant application if a program is open: gather quotes, a conservation plan, photographs and owner consent.
  4. Submit the application form by the stated deadline on the official grants page and monitor for assessment outcomes.
  5. If you receive an enforcement notice, follow the review or appeal instructions promptly and seek advice from the City or legal counsel.

Key Takeaways

  • Check listing status and get pre-application advice before work begins.
  • Grant eligibility and application forms are published when rounds open; requirements vary.
  • Report suspected unlawful works to City compliance to avoid escalation.

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