Perth Rezoning Public Hearings - City Planning Law

Perth, Western Australia applicants seeking a rezoning or local planning scheme amendment must follow a public hearing and consultation process administered by the City of Perth and assessed under state planning processes. This guide explains steps for notifying the community, how hearings and submissions are handled, the responsible offices, enforcement pathways, and practical actions applicants should take to progress an amendment or respond to objections.

Overview of the Public Hearing Process

Local planning scheme amendments typically require public advertising, an opportunity for submissions, council consideration, and referral to the Western Australian Planning Commission or Minister for Planning where required. Advertising timelines, notice methods and who must be notified are set out by local government practice and state guidance; applicants should check the City of Perth planning pages for the exact current requirements and lodgement pathways City of Perth Planning & Building^[1] and the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage guidance on local planning schemes Local planning schemes - DPLH^[2].

• Public advertising period and submission deadline (see council notice).
• How to make a submission: written submissions to council as advertised.
• Council workshop or public hearing to consider submissions and officer reports.
• Referral to Western Australian Planning Commission or Minister where required by the Planning and Development Act.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement for unlawful works or breaches of planning controls in Perth is undertaken by the City of Perth planning and compliance teams, with certain offences and appeals operating under state planning legislation.

• Fine amounts: not specified on the cited page City of Perth Planning & Building^[1].
• Escalation: first, repeat and continuing offence handling not specified on the cited page; refer to enforcement notices on the City website and state legislation for particular offences DPLH guidance^[2].
• Non-monetary sanctions: planning orders, stop-works notices, enforcement notices and court action are available remedies; specific powers are set out in local and state instruments (see enforcing department links below).
• Enforcer and complaints: City of Perth Planning and Compliance is the primary enforcer for local matters; complaints pages on the City website give submission routes.
• Appeals and review: merits and legal review avenues include referral to the State Administrative Tribunal for eligible matters and ministerial review for scheme amendments; time limits for filing are not specified on the cited pages and should be confirmed with the SAT and DPLH links.

Applications & Forms

The City of Perth publishes guidance and lodgement requirements for scheme amendments and development applications; applicants normally lodge forms and supporting material with the City as the local government authority and follow the advertised process on the City website City of Perth Planning & Building^[1]. Specific form names, application fees and detailed lodgement methods are provided on those official pages; if a form or fee is not shown, it is not specified on the cited page.

Practical Steps for Rezoning Applicants

• Confirm whether a scheme amendment is required and early consultation expectations with City planning officers.
• Prepare the application package: plans, justification report, public notification material and stakeholder engagement plan.
• Check and budget for application fees and advertising costs as listed by the City.
• Lodge the application and monitor the public advertising period; respond to submissions and provide amended information where requested.
• If referred to the WAPC or Minister, comply promptly with any further information requests.

FAQ

How long does public advertising last for a scheme amendment?

Advertising periods are set by the City of Perth and are published with the amendment notice; see the City planning pages for current periods and deadlines.

Can third parties appeal a rezoning decision?

Appeal rights vary by type of decision; some planning decisions may be reviewable at the State Administrative Tribunal while scheme amendments may be final at ministerial level—check the relevant decision notice and SAT guidance.

Where do I lodge a submission or complaint about a proposed rezoning?

Submissions are lodged with the City of Perth as advertised; complaints about compliance should be made to City of Perth Planning and Compliance via the City website.

How-To

1. Confirm with City planning staff if a scheme amendment is required and request pre-lodgement advice.
2. Prepare required documents: plans, reports, and an engagement plan addressing likely submissions.
3. Complete the City application form and pay any lodgement fees as directed on the City website.
4. Ensure public notification material is ready and comply with the advertising requirements during the advertised period.
5. Respond to submissions and, if required, provide further information to the City, WAPC or Minister for determination.
6. If you receive an adverse decision or enforcement notice, seek review options and note appeal time limits shown on the decision or SAT guidance.

Key Takeaways

• Begin pre-lodgement consultation with City planning officers to streamline the process.
• Public advertising and submissions are essential steps; check official notices for exact deadlines.
• Referral to the WAPC or Minister can affect the final decision path and timing.

Help and Support / Resources

• City of Perth Planning & Building
• Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage - Local planning schemes
• Western Australian Planning Commission
• State Administrative Tribunal (WA)

1. [1] City of Perth Planning & Building
2. [2] Local planning schemes - Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage