Building a granny flat in WA just got easier

“Our government is continuing to do everything we can to bolster housing supply throughout Western Australia,” said state Planning Minister John Carey, who describes the changes as “nation-leading planning reforms that cut unnecessary red tape”.

“The new exemptions for ancillary dwellings – or granny flats – offer a boost to housing diversity, choice and supply for Western Australia,” Carey said.

Going forward, property owners across the state will no longer need to seek planning approval for R-code compliant granny flats on lots of any size. Owners will still need to seek a building permit to construct an ancillary dwelling.

In addition, a number of pre-existing requirements have been relaxed.

Previously, granny flats could only be built on lots greater than 350 square metres, but the minimum size threshold has now been removed.

Granny flats will also now be permitted in grouped dwellings and strata lots, such as duplexes.

Aesthetic requirements have been eased, and granny flats are now no longer required to be compatible with the design of the existing main dwelling. In addition, developers are no longer required to provide a parking bay for ancillary dwellings, except in specific densities and locations where the distance from public transport is too great to be practical.

Setback requirements and the 70-square-metre maximum size requirement for granny flats will still stand.

Carey stated: “This is just one of the major reforms to Western Australia’s planning system that aim to accelerate the delivery of diverse housing supply across the state.

“Our major planning reforms align with the National Planning Reform Blueprint agreed to by national cabinet and complement our government’s unprecedented $2.6 billion investment in housing and homelessness measures.”

The changes to granny flat planning laws in Western Australia follows on from South Australia, which in October 2023 passed new legislation allowing ancillary dwellings to be rented out to all community members, not just family members.

It also follows insights provided by major industry voices such as CoreLogic and Angus Raine, who have both stated that granny flats could be mobilised to help alleviate the rental crisis.