Perth Open Data Portal Bylaw Guidance

Technology and Data Western Australia 3 Minutes Read · published February 11, 2026 Flag of Western Australia

Introduction

Perth, Western Australia requires that public agencies and contractors consider local bylaws, privacy rules and recordkeeping when publishing datasets to an open data portal. This guide explains which City of Perth offices to contact, legal controls you should check before publication, practical steps to publish, and how enforcement and appeals operate.

Overview of requirements

Before uploading datasets, confirm copyright, personal information removal, and any bylaw constraints that may restrict publication of particular municipal records. Consult the City of Perth open data guidance and the City local laws for detail [1][2].

Penalties & Enforcement

Local-law breaches related to improper publication, misuse of council records, or failure to follow statutory access controls are dealt with by the City of Perth enforcement area and may involve fines or orders. Specific amounts and escalation steps depend on the controlling local law or statute; where the official City pages do not list amounts we note that below.

  • Fine amounts: not specified on the cited page [2]
  • Escalation: first, repeat or continuing-offence treatment not specified on the cited page [2]
  • Non-monetary sanctions: orders to remove or correct published material, injunctions, or referral to court - specific remedies are not specified on the cited page [2]
  • Enforcer: By-law Enforcement / Compliance unit of the City of Perth (contact via official complaints page listed below)
  • Inspection and complaint pathways: refer complaints to the City of Perth compliance contact or the relevant business unit; see Help and Support / Resources below
  • Appeal/review: appeal or review routes are governed by the notice or order served; time limits are not specified on the cited page [2]
  • Defences/discretion: common defences include acting under a valid access permit, reasonable excuse, or a council-authorised release; specific statutory defences are not specified on the cited page [2]
Check copyright and personal information removal before publishing.

Applications & Forms

The City does not publish a single ‘‘open data publication’’ form on its general guidance page; dataset publication is handled through the City open data portal request process or by contacting the relevant business unit for approvals [1].

  • Name/number: no single City form number listed on the open data guidance page; contact details are provided on the portal page [1]
  • Fees: none specified for dataset publication on the cited open data page [1]
  • Submission: follow the portal workflow or email the listed City contact on the open data guidance page [1]
  • Deadlines: none specified for publishing requests on the cited page [1]
If in doubt, email the City unit listed on the open data page before publishing.

Practical compliance steps

  • Identify dataset owner and record custodian within the City or contractor team.
  • Check copyright, licensing and third-party terms; obtain written release where required.
  • Remove or redact personal information in line with the Privacy Act and City privacy guidance; seek Legal/FOI advice for ambiguous records.
  • Prepare metadata and machine-readable formats recommended by the City open data portal.
  • Submit through the open data portal workflow or contact the relevant City business unit for approval [1].
Maintain a record of approvals and published dataset versions for audits.

FAQ

Who approves datasets for publication?
Dataset publications are approved by the dataset custodian and the City business unit responsible for the information; contact details are on the open data guidance page [1].
Are there fees to publish data to the City portal?
The open data guidance page does not list publication fees; none are specified on the cited page [1].
What happens if I publish restricted information?
The City may order removal or take enforcement action under the applicable local law; specific penalties and timelines are not specified on the cited local laws page [2].

How-To

  1. Identify the dataset owner and confirm the dataset purpose and license.
  2. Perform privacy and copyright checks; redact where required.
  3. Prepare metadata and preferred formats per the portal guidance.
  4. Submit via the City of Perth open data portal or email the portal contact for onboarding [1].
  5. Retain approval records and respond promptly to any Council compliance inquiries.

Key Takeaways

  • Always clear copyright and privacy before publication.
  • Use the City portal workflow and keep approval records.
  • Contact City enforcement or FOI units if unsure; contact links below.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] City of Perth - Open data guidance
  2. [2] City of Perth - Local laws

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