Subdivision rules in Western Australia (2026)

Whether you can subdivide depends on the R-Code density coded to your lot in the local planning scheme and on the minimum and average site areas that code allows. The distinctive feature of Western Australia is who decides: subdivision approval is granted by the Western Australian Planning Commission, a state body, not by your local council.

Depends on your lot

The WA Planning Commission decides subdivision, not your council

Approval pathway: Unlike every other state, you apply directly to the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC), normally through the Planning Online portal using Form 1A for freehold or survey-strata subdivision. The WAPC refers the application to your local council and to servicing agencies (Water Corporation, Western Power, Main Roads and others) for comment, then makes the decision - it has 90 days to do so. Approval comes with conditions: you clear each condition with the relevant agency within the approval's currency period, a licensed surveyor prepares the deposited plan or survey-strata plan, Landgate certifies it, the WAPC endorses it and Landgate then registers the new titles. Your council still assesses development applications for what you build on the resulting lots, but it cannot approve the subdivision itself.

Key rules at a glance

Minimum lot size	Driven by the R-Code density coded to your lot in the local planning scheme - indicatively R20 allows an average 450 m² and minimum 350 m² per dwelling, R25 an average 350 m² and minimum 300 m², R30 an average 300 m² and minimum 260 m² (indicative, coded per property)
Approval needed	Subdivision approval from the WA Planning Commission (Form 1A), then clearance of all conditions before titles can issue
Assessed by	The Western Australian Planning Commission - your local council is only a referral agency for subdivision, not the decision maker
Frontage	Set by the R-Codes and the local planning scheme - commonly 10 m or more for a green title lot, with prescribed access leg widths for battle-axe lots (indicative)
Typical timeframe	The WAPC has 90 days for a small subdivision (120 days for more than 100 lots) to decide, and 3-5 months is typical including preparation; clearing conditions and reaching titles commonly takes 12-24 months in total (indicative)
Title created	Green (freehold) title on a deposited plan, or survey-strata / strata title where lots share common property
Final step	Clearance of all conditions, WAPC endorsement of the plan, then registration at Landgate

Conditions & eligibility

Your lot must carry an R-Code density that supports the number of lots proposed, and each lot must meet the minimum and average site areas for that code.
Each lot needs frontage, or a compliant access leg, to a constructed public road.
Water, sewer, power, drainage and telecommunications must be provided - Water Corporation headworks and agency clearances are standard conditions and are charged per additional lot.
Existing dwellings and structures must sit within the new boundaries and meet setback and open space requirements, or be demolished.
Local scheme provisions, structure plans and local development plans can restrict subdivision below the headline R-Code figures.
Bushfire (a BAL assessment), flood, heritage, contamination and environmental constraints add reports and can prevent approval.

Overlays can change your eligibility

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.

HeritageFloodBushfire

Check your address for overlays →

How approval works in Western Australia

Unlike every other state, you apply directly to the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC), normally through the Planning Online portal using Form 1A for freehold or survey-strata subdivision. The WAPC refers the application to your local council and to servicing agencies (Water Corporation, Western Power, Main Roads and others) for comment, then makes the decision - it has 90 days to do so. Approval comes with conditions: you clear each condition with the relevant agency within the approval's currency period, a licensed surveyor prepares the deposited plan or survey-strata plan, Landgate certifies it, the WAPC endorses it and Landgate then registers the new titles. Your council still assesses development applications for what you build on the resulting lots, but it cannot approve the subdivision itself.

Your council sets the R-Code density through the local planning scheme and comments on your application, but the WA Planning Commission makes the subdivision decision - a genuine point of difference from the rest of Australia.

Subdivision rules by council in Western Australia

Local councils apply the Western Australia framework and can add their own controls. Pick your council:

Stirling Wanneroo Perth

Frequently asked questions

Who approves subdivision in Western Australia?

The Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC), not your local council. You lodge the subdivision application directly with the WAPC through the Planning Online portal; the WAPC refers it to your council and to servicing agencies for comment and then decides within 90 days. Councils in WA still assess development applications for buildings, but they cannot approve a subdivision.

What size block do I need to subdivide in WA?

It depends on the R-Code density coded to your lot. Indicatively, R20 allows an average 450 m² and minimum 350 m² per dwelling, R25 an average 350 m² and minimum 300 m², and R30 an average 300 m² and minimum 260 m² - but the code is applied lot by lot through the local planning scheme, and local structure plans can tighten it further.

How do I find my R-Code and whether my WA block can be subdivided?

Your R-Code density is shown on your local government's planning scheme map, and councils will usually confirm it on request or through a property enquiry. Search your address on ZoneScout to see your zone and mapped planning controls, then confirm the R-Code and any structure plan or local development plan with your council before you commit to a design.

Sources

Last reviewed: July 2026. Rules can change — verify with your council before starting work.

Related building rules

This is general guidance, not professional planning advice. Figures are summarised from the sources above and can change — confirm with your council or the WA Planning before starting work. Last reviewed: July 2026.

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