Busselton Joins WA Councils Tightening Rules on Short-Term Rentals: What This Means for Property Owners and Tourists

Busselton's New Rules: Amendment No. 61

City of Busselton's Local Planning Scheme No. 21 is undergoing Amendment No. 61, targeting tourist and short-term rental accommodations.

What happened

The City of Busselton is updating its Local Planning Scheme No. 21 through Amendment No. 61. This amendment, published in the WA Government Gazette, specifically addresses land use definitions and permissibility related to tourist accommodation and short-term rental accommodations. The changes aim to provide clearer guidelines and regulations for properties operating as short-term rentals within the City of Busselton.

What this means for you

If you own a property in Busselton and currently operate it as a short-term rental, these changes will directly affect you. You'll need to review the updated planning scheme to ensure your property complies with the new definitions and regulations. This may involve applying for new permits, adhering to stricter operational guidelines, or potentially altering how you use your property. If you are a tourist, expect potentially fewer available short-term rental options and potentially higher prices, as compliance costs could be passed on to consumers. The changes may also lead to improved quality and regulation of existing short-term rentals.

What this means for WA

Busselton's move mirrors a growing trend among Western Australian councils to regulate the burgeoning short-term rental market, especially those operating through platforms like Airbnb. This follows similar actions by councils such as Wanneroo and Serpentine Jarrahdale, signalling a statewide push to balance the economic benefits of tourism with the needs of local residents and long-term housing availability. This trend indicates a shift in power towards local governments in managing the impact of short-term rentals on their communities, potentially setting a precedent for other councils to follow suit.

The numbers

Local Planning Scheme No. 21 Amendment No. 61 is the specific mechanism for these changes. The amendment, published in the WA Government Gazette in March 2026, directly targets "tourist accommodation and short-term rental accommodations." This action follows recent similar updates in Wanneroo and Serpentine Jarrahdale, highlighting a growing trend. The City of Swan also had a notice published in the gazette regarding its "Basis of Rates — City of Swan — Section 6.28 (1)", indicating local governments are actively managing property-related regulations.

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