WA's Draft R-Codes Are Out: Granny Flats Up to 90 Square Metres With No Parking Minimum, and 70,000 More Perth Lots Able to Subdivide. Keep Building to Today's Codes and Get Your Submission In by 26 February.

WA's draft R-Codes are out for comment

Western Australia's Residential Design Codes, the rules that control lot sizes, building heights, parking, setbacks, open space, privacy and landscaping for housing across the state, are now open for public comment. The Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) opened consultation on the draft R-Codes and supporting guidelines on Saturday 24 October 2026, and submissions close at 5pm AWST on Friday 26 February 2027.

The draft follows the reforms the State Government flagged in July 2026, which HIA welcomed at the time as "an important step towards a simpler, more responsive, and efficient planning system". HIA has flagged the consultation to members this week.

What's in the draft

According to Planning and Lands Minister John Carey's 24 October media statement, the key proposals are:

| Area | Proposed change | | --- | --- | | Granny flats | Maximum floor space lifted from 70 to 90 square metres | | Granny flat parking | Minimum car parking requirements abolished | | Granny flat setbacks | Rear lot boundary setback reduced in lower density areas | | Apartments | Existing R-AC codes replaced with a simpler 'low', 'mid' and 'high' rise structure | | Mid Rise code | New code supporting development up to 6 storeys | | High Rise codes | Two new codes supporting development up to 16 and 20 storeys | | Subdivision | Average lot sizes for R10 to R25 scrapped in Perth and Peel |

The Government says scrapping the average lot sizes would make more than 70,000 existing residential properties eligible to subdivide. It also says more granny flats will be exempt from council planning approval. "By adjusting the standards for granny flats, more developments will avoid a two or three-month planning approval process, saving time and money with only a building permit required," Mr Carey said.

The Have Your Say WA consultation page says the changes were informed by more than 12 months of engagement with local government, industry and housing stakeholders, and are designed to simplify and consolidate the codes, streamline assessment and give more flexibility for subdivision and different housing types. The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH) has published a Table of Changes and information sheets alongside the draft.

Nothing changes yet

This is a draft. DPLH says on its review page that development and subdivision applications continue to be assessed under the current planning framework while the review is under way, and that, subject to consultation, endorsement and approval, amendments are expected to begin taking effect from mid to late 2027.

A separate consultation proposes repealing Operational Policy 2.2 Residential Subdivision and moving its remaining content into a consolidated subdivision policy. As Trace Planning summarises, DPLH says that change relocates existing provisions rather than adding new subdivision requirements. It closes on the same date.

What it means on the desk

• Keep quoting and designing to today's codes. Any job going in for approval now is assessed under the current R-Codes. Don't promise clients a 90 square metre granny flat or a parking-free design until the final codes are adopted.
• Talk to your granny flat and small-lot clients now. If the draft lands as proposed, some granny flats that currently need council approval may need only a building permit. Tell interested clients what's proposed and that timing depends on the final codes.
• Map your infill pipeline. If you build in Perth and Peel, the proposed removal of R10 to R25 average lot sizes could bring backyard subdivisions into play for more owners. Flag it with your sales team and land contacts.
• Read the Table of Changes for your product. Start with the information sheet that matches your work, whether that's single houses, grouped dwellings or apartments.
• Make a specific submission. If a clause would add cost or delay on your sites, say so with the clause number and the practical effect. Submissions close 26 February 2027 and late ones may not be considered. You can also feed comments through HIA or Master Builders WA.

This article reports on a draft planning consultation. It is not legal or planning advice.

Sources: WA Government, Draft Residential Design Codes open for consultation (24 October 2026); Minister for Planning and Lands, Changes to cut red tape for new granny flat developments (24 October 2026); Have Your Say WA, Residential Design Codes Review; DPLH, Residential Design Codes Review; HIA, WA's Residential Design Codes review announced (26 October 2026); HIA, Simplified R-Codes announced for WA (2 July 2026); Trace Planning, R-Codes review open for comment (25 October 2026).