Planning changes to Short Term Holiday Accommodation
Consultation has concluded
The City is seeking the community’s views on streamlining the approvals process for low-impact short stay accommodation while giving greater guidance to hosts and ensuring good management of guests.
Vincent residents wanting to make their homes available to holidaymakers – whether it’s to a couple in a town centre or a family house swap in a residential area – currently need planning approval. Under the proposed changes, people living in town centres or commercial areas would be able to rent out their homes to four guests, or one family, for up to three months in one year without getting approval.
People in residential areas would be able to have up to two people or a family in their home without first asking the City for permission. Residential home sharing would be limited to a single stay in one year for a maximum of three months.
All home owners would have to provide the City with written notification, a management plan and code of conduct to address potential issues such as noise, parking and impact on their neighbours..
The City will take a range of factors into account when assessing the application, including the location, whether the host is on-site and any proposed minimum night stay for guests.
Considering the potential impact to neighbourhood amenity, the following uses are considered low risk and are proposed to be exempt from development approval through the amended policy:
- Holiday House and Holiday Accommodation in any zone where there is no host present and a maximum of 2 guests (or one family) staying on one occasion in a 12 month period for a maximum of 3 consecutive months;
- Bed and Breakfast in a Local Centre, District Centre, Regional Centre or Commercial Zone where there is a maximum of 4 guests or one family (noting that the definition of Bed and Breakfast requires a host to be present);
- Holiday House and Holiday Accommodation in a Local Centre, District Centre, Regional Centre or Commercial Zone where a host is present and there is a maximum of 4 guests or one family, or there is no host present and a maximum of 2 guests (or one family);
- Bed and Breakfast in a Residential and Mixed Use zone where there is a maximum of 2 guests or one family (noting that the definition of Bed and Breakfast requires a host to be present); and
- Holiday House and Holiday Accommodation in a Residential and Mixed Use zone where a host is present and there is a maximum of 2 guests (or one family).
The proposed changes would also provide more clarity to people or businesses that want to operate larger-scale or continuous short-term accommodation. Anyone who wants to use their home as a holiday rental on a more permanent basis, or host large groups, would still need to apply for planning approval
The proposal includes an amendment to both the City's Local Planning Scheme No. 2 and Local Planning Policy 7.4.5: Short Term Accommodation. The amendment documents are available in the Document Library on the right, or below:
- Local Planning Scheme No 2 - Amendment 6
- Draft Amended Local Planning Policy 7.4.5 - Short Term Accommodation
Share your thoughts
We are now in the formal advertising phase of the proposed amendment, and encourage you to share your thoughts online. Your valuable feedback will be used to inform our next step.
An online survey is available below or alternatively you can send us your thoughts and comments directly to mail@vincent.wa.gov.au. Submissions close: 17 October 2020
What happens next?
Our project team will review the feedback provided and refine the proposed amendments if required. The amendments will be presented to the Council and the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) for final consideration.
If you've made a submission, we'll let you know when the proposal is being presented to Council, and give you an opportunity to provide any further comments. For more information about this project, check out our FAQs or contact the Policy & Place team on 9273 6000 or email us at mail@vincent.wa.gov.au
