Holiday Home Accommodation

Rent out my whole house to holiday makers

This is called a Holiday Home (Single House): a single house (excluding ancillary accommodation), which may also be used for short stay accommodation for hire or reward for no more than 12 people (but does not include a bed and breakfast, chalet, guesthouse, rural tourist accommodation or tourist accommodation).

This requires a two-step approval process:

1. Obtain a Development Approval to change the use of the property from ‘residential’ to ‘holiday home'.
2. Apply for a Holiday Home Registration.

Rent out my whole duplex, unit or flat to holiday makers

This is called a Holiday Home (Grouped or Multiple Dwelling): a grouped dwelling or multiple dwelling, which may also be used for short stay accommodation for hire or reward for no more than six people (but does not include a bed and breakfast, chalet, guesthouse, rural tourist accommodation or tourist accommodation).

This requires a two-step approval process:

1. Obtain a Development Approval to change the use of the property from ‘residential’ to ‘holiday home’.
2. Apply for a Holiday Home Registration.

Rent out a room in my house to holiday makers

This is called a Bed and Breakfast. Visit the Bed and Breakfast Accommodation page for more information.

Do I need development approval?

Yes, an application for development approval is required if you wish to use your property to accommodate guests on a short term accommodation basis.

What do I need to consider?

Water

Connected to reticulated water or serviced by a minimum 135,000 litre potable water tank.

Waste

Currently serviced by the City’s kerbside waste collection or where kerbside collection is not available, alternate waste management will be considered.

Sewerage

Connected to reticulated sewerage or adequate on-site effluent disposal system.             

Bushfire 

Additional requirements apply where located within a Bushfire Prone Area. To determine if your property is located within a bushfire prone area, refer to the DFES website. Any application in a bushfire prone area is required to have a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) assessment prepared.

Applications for Bed and Breakfast, which is classified as a ‘Vulnerable Land Use’ by State Planning Policy 3.7 - Planning in Bushfire Prone Areas, with a nominated BAL rating of BAL-12.5 or above will require a Bushfire Management Plan (BMP) and Bushfire Emergency Evacuation Plan (BEEP) prepared by a suitably qualified Level 3 Accredited Bushfire Practitioner to be submitted with the application. A register of accredited professionals is located here: FPAA.

For more information view the Holiday Homes Local Planning Policy.                  

How many guests can I accommodate?

What do I need to include in my application?

Please refer to the Holiday Home Checklist document below.

Holiday Home Application Checklist

What will a development application cost?

• Development Application Fee: $295 (2024/25 financial year)
• Advertising/Referral Fee: $138
• Retrospective Development Application Fee: Any short term accommodation which has commenced operating prior to obtaining development approval will incur an additional retrospective fee - Development Application Fee + twice that amount as penalty.

Note: these costs are relevant City fees only. Other costs may apply.

How can I submit my application?

Email   city@busselton.wa.gov.au

In Person   City of Busselton Administration Building, 2 Southern Drive, Busselton WA 6280

By Post   City of Busselton Locked bag 1, Busselton WA 6280

What happens once I have submitted my application?

• A Planning Administration Officer will undertake a preliminary review of the submitted development application to determine if all relevant documentation is received. The application will be “deemed complete” or “deemed incomplete” and an acknowledgement email forwarded to the applicant accordingly.
  • “Deemed Complete” Request for Payment; or
  • “Deemed Incomplete” Request for Additional Information
• Planning Officer will undertake an initial assessment, and action advertising/referrals to adjoining landowners and/or external agencies (as applicable).
• Once the period for advertising/referrals has closed, the Planning Officer will complete officer assessment, and make a determination.
• If supported, a development approval, subject to condition(s) will be granted. Generally, the development application process takes approximately 60 to 90 days. Note however, the City may request additional information during the assessment process may extend the assessment timeframes.

I have been granted development approval - what's next?

• Read and Understand Approval Conditions:

• • Read the decision notice and ensure any ‘Prior to Commencement’ conditions have been completed/satisfied.
  • It is important to note that any Prior to Commencement Conditions must be satisfied prior to the commencement of the approved use.
  • Should you have any questions in relation to the development approval, please contact Planning Services directly on 9781 0444.
• Apply for Registration 
  • Holiday Home - please continue reading the Annual Registration section below.
  • Bed and Breakfast - please continue reading the Bed and Breakfast section below.

Who can I contact if I need more information?

Planning Services

Phone   08 9781 0444

Email   city@busselton.wa.gov.au

Do I need an annual registration?

All holiday homes require an annual registration.

Why do I need to register my holiday home?

The City of Busselton has in place a regulation framework to manage holiday homes, consisting of a Holiday Homes Local Law and a Holiday Homes Policy.

These regulations are aimed at improving the management of holiday homes and minimising the risk of causing a nuisance to neighbours, while continuing to recognise the important role they play in our tourist economy.  They include the need to register your holiday home, as well as requirements around signage and having a manager for your holiday home.  For more information see the link below.

Holiday Homes Regulatory Framework

What form do I need?

To register your holiday home, you need to fill out the Application for Registration form below. 

Application for Registration - Holiday Home

Change of Manager / Acting Manager of a Holiday Home

What will it cost?

• Application Fee:   $167.00 (2024/25 financial year). This is a once off fee for review of your application.
• Annual Registration (pro rata):   $263.00. Registration is for each financial year and incurs an annual fee.
• Annual Renewal:   $287.00
• Differential Rate:   All holiday homes in the City of Busselton attract an annual differential rate with a minimum payment which is levied if it is equal to or less than the amount when calculating rates by using the rate in the dollar multiplied by a properties valuation.

Please contact the Rates team on 08 9781 0444 for assistance in understanding valuations for individual properties.

How can I submit my application?

Email   city@busselton.wa.gov.au

In Person   City of Busselton Administration Building, 2 Southern Drive, Busselton WA 6280

By Post   City of Busselton Locked bag 1, Busselton WA 6280

How long does it take?

Once the City has confirmed the ‘Prior to Commencement’ conditions of the Development Approval and have been completed/satisfied, the City will process the application for Holiday Home Registration and a Registration Certificate will be issued within 21 days of all relevant documentation being received and applications fees being paid.

What ongoing obligations do I have?

This Registration of the Premises as a Holiday Home must comply with:

• Conditions of Registrations
  • Includes Condition 8 Signage requirement.
• Code of Conduct 
• The provisions of the Holiday Homes Local Law

I have a swimming pool at my Holiday Home, what are the rules?

Any water body (spa, swimming pool, water slide) located at a holiday home, is considered an aquatic facility under the Health (Aquatic Facilities) Regulations 2007 (Regulations). A person must not operate an aquatic facility without a Certificate of Compliance and Permit to Operate issued by the Chief Health Officer (CHO) unless they hold a valid exemption. Please refer to the Department of Health Aquatic Facilities at Temporary, Short Stay or Holiday Accommodation website for further information and exemption.

Inspections of installed barriers occur as required by the Building Act 2011 (the Act); and the Building Regulations 2012 (the Regulations). These inspections should occur at least once every four years with penalties for any non-compliant barriers.

Who can I contact if I need more information?

Regulatory Services

Phone   08 9781 0444

Email   city@busselton.wa.gov.au