Operating a business

Use the City of Stirling’s Planning Wizard to check if your business requires planning approval. Depending on your business type, you may also need building, health, signage or liquor licensing approvals. 

For further information on development applications, please contact the City’s planning officers or call (08) 9205 8555. 

For general advice on planning and building, please refer to the City’s website or call (08) 9205 8555. The City has duty planners and building surveyors available from 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday, to discuss general development matters. 

General time frames for the assessment and determination of development applications are set by the State Government.

The City has 60 days after lodgement to determine non-advertised applications and 90 days after lodgement for advertised applications.

Applicants have a right of review through the State Administrative Tribunal if the City has not determined an application after these dates.

The City endeavours to assess and determine development applications in a timely manner and in many cases determines applications well before the required time frames. 

The City provides the opportunity for customers to obtain pre-lodgement advice prior to lodging a development application. 

The City’s planning legislation and documents and planning checklists and information sheets are available online. 

Access the City’s mapping system to search your property, its zoning and other useful information. 

Development applications can be lodged with the City online or lodged in person at the City’s Administration Centre. 

For further details, view the City’s development application checklist. 

Most building works require building approval prior to any works being undertaken. There are some exemptions that do not require a building permit, and this information can be found within the Building Regulations 2012 Schedule 4, or you may wish to contact the City for further information. 

The following assessment timeframes are in accordance with the Building Act 2011: 

• Certified building permit applications (BA1 Form): 10 business days (excluding public holidays) 
• Uncertified building permit applications (BA2 Form): 25 business days (excluding public holidays). 

Learn about the types of building applications on the lodge an application webpage.

You may lodge your full application electronically here, or in person at the City’s Administration Centre. 

You may need health approval from the City of Stirling if your business involves: 

• Preparing or selling food (e.g. cafés, food trucks, home-based food) 
• Providing personal services (e.g. tattooing, piercing, beauty treatments) 
• Operating accommodation or public venues (e.g. hostels, event spaces) 
• Handling animal products (e.g. pet meat, seafood, dairy).

If you're unsure, contact our Environmental Health team for further information.  

The City of Stirling is home to a vast array of food businesses of varying types and sizes. Under the Food Act 2008, any business or activity that involves the handling of food for sale is required to be registered by the City. Prior to receiving a registration certificate, applicants must: 

• Complete and submit a food premises notification form and pay the relevant fees 
• Provide scaled floor and sectional elevation plans showing the position of all fixtures and equipment. Plans should include details of wall, floor and ceiling finishes, water supply and wastewater services, toilet facilities, mechanical ventilation, any grease traps and bin storage enclosures 
• Receive a site visit by a City environmental health officer to confirm that the premises complies with the Australian New Zealand Food Standards Code - see the Food Safety Standards. 

Once issued, a registration remains valid until a food business is sold or closes. Environmental health officers conduct routine assessments of all food businesses on a frequency determined by risk and performance history. Most assessments are unannounced and the outcome will be communicated to the food business via email.

Once registered, a food business will be charged ongoing annual fees by the City.  

Prospective purchasers are strongly encouraged to discuss the assessment history with the current owners and request copies of previous assessment reports. Registration does not transfer to a new owner, so prior to settlement, a food premises notification form should be completed and submitted to the City.

In most instances, an environmental health officer will also conduct a site visit to meet with you and discuss the premises’ current condition and food safety requirements. 

A personal care business includes services that involve direct contact with a client’s skin or body and may pose a risk of infection if not properly managed. In the City of Stirling, this includes: 

• Beauty therapy (e.g. facials, waxing, tinting) 
• Hairdressing and barbering 
• Manicures and pedicures 
• Tattooing and cosmetic tattooing 
• Body piercing and dermal anchors 
• Electrolysis and laser treatments 
• Acupuncture and other skin penetration procedures.

These businesses must meet strict hygiene, infection control, and fit-out requirements under WA’s Public Health Act 2016 and local health laws. Approval from the City’s Environmental Health team is required before starting operations. Find out more about health approvals on our website.

Businesses providing personal care services are also popular in the City and are required to meet specific health requirements. Businesses conducting skin penetration activities (such as beauty therapy and tattooing) are required to submit the following: 

• Complete and submit a notification of skin penetration premises form 
• Provide plans showing the location of basins, floor, wall and ceiling finishes, fixtures and fittings, and number of work stations 
• Receive a site visit by a City environmental health officer to confirm that the premises complies with relevant legislation. 

Ongoing assessments are conducted by the City on a frequency determined by risk and performance history (usually once per year). During these visits the structural compliance, cleanliness and operating practices of the business are assessed. Find out more on our health approvals page.

All proprietors and food handlers are required to have skills and knowledge relevant to the tasks they carry out at the food business.  

To assist food businesses, the City provides a free online food safety training course called ‘I’m Alert’.

Please visit the I’m Alert website to learn more. 

The same legal requirements apply for mobile, temporary and home-based food businesses. If you are handling food for sale you must obtain a Food Act registration. 

For more information, please contact one of the City’s environmental health officers via email environmentalhealth@stirling.wa.gov.au or call on (08) 9205 8555.