Granny Flats rules in Wanneroo
Building a granny flat in Wanneroo? City of Wanneroo applies the Western Australia planning framework. Here's what that means locally — plus the overlays worth checking on your specific block.
No planning approval if it meets the R-Codes
Yes. An ancillary dwelling of up to 70 m² that meets the R-Codes deemed-to-comply rules needs no planning approval - just a building permit - and there has been no minimum lot size since April 2024.
Key rules at a glance
| Maximum floor area | 70 m² (deemed-to-comply) |
| Minimum lot size | None (350 m² minimum removed April 2024) |
| Planning approval | Not required if deemed-to-comply |
| Setbacks | Per the local planning scheme |
| Can it be rented? | Yes - separately from the main house |
| Self-contained | Yes (own kitchen and bathroom) |
Heritage, flood and bushfire controls on your specific lot can remove the fast-track and require a full application — even when the general rules say you're fine.
How often this applies in Wanneroo
These are the overlays that can remove the fast-track, measured across every parcel in Wanneroo from the same data behind our zoning map. They describe the council, not your block, and they are counted separately — one parcel can carry more than one, so they cannot be added together.
| Overlay | Share of parcels | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Heritage | Not mapped | No heritage mapping is published for Wanneroo, so it cannot be ruled out here. That is not the same as the land being clear. |
| Flood | Not mapped | No flood mapping is published for Wanneroo, so it cannot be ruled out here. That is not the same as the land being clear. |
| Bushfire | 21.81% | 23,194 parcels flagged. The rest are mapped and sit outside it. |
The most common zone in Wanneroo is Residential, covering 66.1% of its 106,364 parcels. What you can build is decided by your own lot's zone, not the council's most common one.
Measured from our mapped parcel data, snapshot taken 2026-09-06. Overlays are checked live for a specific address on the address tool.
Granny flats in Wanneroo
City of Wanneroo is the authority for Wanneroo in Perth. The statewide Western Australia rules above set the baseline; the council can apply extra local controls, and heritage, flood or bushfire overlays on your lot can change what's allowed.
Visit City of Wanneroo ↗ Full Western Australia rules →
See the Wanneroo zoning map → — every parcel in Wanneroo by zone, lot size and mapped constraints.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need council approval for a granny flat in Wanneroo?
Often not. Western Australia allows a granny flat to proceed without a full development application when it meets the standards, and City of Wanneroo follows that framework. But local overlays — heritage, flood or bushfire — can remove the fast-track, so check your exact address before you rely on it.
Which council approves a granny flat in Wanneroo?
City of Wanneroo is the consent authority for Wanneroo (Perth). You can review local planning controls on the council website and lodge through your state planning portal.
Do I need planning approval for a granny flat in WA?
Not if it meets the deemed-to-comply rules of the R-Codes - up to 70 m² and the required setbacks - in which case only a building permit is needed.
Sources
- Ancillary dwelling (granny flat) information sheet - WA Planning ↗
- Revised R-Codes now in effect - WA Planning ↗
Related building rules
General guidance only — not professional planning advice. Local requirements in Wanneroo can differ from the statewide summary and change over time; always confirm with City of Wanneroo before starting work. Last reviewed: July 2026.
Talk to a town planner in Wanneroo
This page covers the general rules. A qualified town planner can tell you what applies to your actual block — the zone, the overlays and the approval path — before you spend money on drawings.
- Qualified, practising town planners
- Advice on your property, not a generic rule
- No cost, no obligation