Before you begin | City of Fremantle
translate

Top Menu

Before you begin

Null

Important things to know about your property

Prior to proposing a development or change of use there are a few things you should know about your property that will help when making your planning application. These include:

  • What is the zoning and density coding (R-coding) of your property?
  • Are there any important planning policies that apply to the site?
  • Is the property heritage listed or in a heritage area?

Once you know which policies and heritage designations apply to your property, you can find the City’s local planning policies on the policies page. Please note some local planning policies have more specific requirements for certain types of development. For example, the Hilton Garden Suburb Precinct has different requirements for front fences than the rest of Fremantle, and is a heritage area where the demolition of any house requires planning approval.

You can check all of these things by locating your property on the City's mapping system. This information, and more, is included on the 'planning' and 'heritage' modules. 

What information is required to lodge a planning application?

The following information is required to lodge a planning application:

  • a completed Application for development approval
  • Copies of scaled site plans, floor plans and elevations of the proposal - clearly dimensioned and annotated 
  • payment of the application fee
  • a letter or submission justifying the proposal. This should address any variations to legislation or policies.

If you are submitting the application online, all of the relevant forms and documents can be uploaded during the lodgement process.

Additional forms required for signage and liquor licence applications:

For development assessment panel applications see development assessment panel application requirements.

Please note: developments valued over $2 million require an EFT transfer for payment of planning application fees when such fees exceed $10 000. Please contact the City's customer service staff prior to lodging an application.

Planning applications can be lodged online, in person or by mail. To lodge a planning application via our new online portal, please follow the link below: 

How are planning applications assessed?

There are a number of legislative and policy documents that provide criteria that are used to assess planning applications. Some of the most commonly used documents are:

Planning applications are assessed against the requirements set out in the relevant legislation or policies. The City will either approve or refuse an application based on how it meets the legislative requirements. Planning applications may be approved or refused either through delegated authority (meaning certain City officers can make a decision) or by the City of Fremantle Council.

Where a proposal does not meet legislative or policy requirements and has the potential to affect surrounding properties, the City will contact nearby owners and residents to ask for comments on the proposal. Comments received through that process are taken into account when making a decision on the proposal.

Useful housing design resources

The City strongly encourages sustainable, adaptable and energy-efficient design of new homes. The following links are provided to assist property owners in considering the design of new homes or additions to existing homes.

  • Livable Housing Australia (LHA) - a resource dedicated to providing options for universal housing design. Livable Housing Australia (LHA) is a partnership between community and consumer groups, government and industry.
  • Your Home - an Australian Government initiative providing guidance on how to design a home with a reduced impact upon the environment. 

Vertical Tabs