Serpentine Jarrahdale Updates Planning Scheme: New Rules for Short-Term Rentals

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Amendment No. 9 to the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale's Local Planning Scheme No. 3 focuses specifically on short-term accommodation definitions.

What happened

The Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale is actively amending its Local Planning Scheme No. 3. According to a recent notice in the WA Government Gazette, Amendment No. 9 specifically targets the definitions and permissibility of short-term accommodation within the shire. This means the council is updating its rules to manage the growing number of properties being used for services like Airbnb. This follows other recent amendments, including Amendment No. 8 which rezoned land in Byford Central, Nettleton Road, and Marri Park Estate, and Amendment No. 3 which modified the scheme's text and map.

What this means for you

If you own a property in the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale and are considering using it for short-term accommodation, these changes directly affect you. The updated definitions will clarify what constitutes short-term accommodation under the Shire's rules. If you currently operate a short-term rental, you'll need to ensure your property complies with the new regulations to avoid potential penalties. This could involve meeting specific safety standards, obtaining permits, or adhering to restrictions on the number of guests or the duration of stays. It is crucial to review the updated planning scheme details available on the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale website to understand your obligations and ensure compliance.

What this means for WA

Serpentine Jarrahdale's move reflects a growing trend among local governments in Western Australia to regulate short-term accommodation. As the popularity of platforms like Airbnb increases, councils are grappling with the need to balance the economic benefits of tourism with the potential impacts on residential amenity and housing affordability. This amendment signals that the Cook Labor Government, under Premier Roger Cook, is allowing local councils to take the lead on these issues. The approach taken by Serpentine Jarrahdale could serve as a model for other shires facing similar challenges, potentially leading to a more consistent approach to short-term rental regulation across the state. This mirrors a similar move by the City of Canning, as reported by GovScanner in "Canning Cracks Down on Short-Term Rentals: New Planning Rules for Airbnb and Tourist Accommodation."

The numbers

Local Planning Scheme No. 3 has seen at least three amendments recently, according to the WA Government Gazette, with Amendment No. 9 directly addressing short-term accommodation. Amendment No. 8 focused on rezoning land within Byford Central, Nettleton Road, and Marri Park Estate, demonstrating the Shire's ongoing development and planning efforts. Creditors for multiple deceased estates, as listed in the Gazette, have either 30 days or one month to make claims, highlighting the tight deadlines for legal and financial matters. Prospecting licences P 51/3111 and P 52/1615 are liable for forfeiture, indicating the strict regulatory environment for mining activities in WA.

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