Business support guide

The City of Stirling envisions a future where innovation, sustainability, and community thrive together. As a forward-thinking local government, Stirling is dedicated to creating a vibrant, inclusive, and prosperous environment for all its residents and businesses. The city’s vision focuses on fostering economic growth, enhancing quality of life, and promoting environmental stewardship.

By investing in cutting-edge infrastructure, supporting local enterprises, and encouraging sustainable practices, the City of Stirling aims to be a leader in urban development and a model of resilience. This vision ensures that Stirling remains a dynamic and attractive destination for businesses, offering a supportive ecosystem where innovation and opportunity can flourish.

The City of Stirling, located in the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia, is a vibrant and diverse community known for its dynamic business environment. With a population of over 240,000 residents, it is one of the largest local government areas in the state. The City boasts a robust economy supported by a mix of retail, commercial, and industrial sectors, making it an ideal location for businesses to flourish.

Stirling offers excellent infrastructure, including well-connected transport networks, modern facilities, and a range of business support services. The city is committed to fostering innovation and growth, providing resources and programs to help businesses of all sizes succeed. Whether you’re a start-up or an established enterprise, the City of Stirling provides a supportive and thriving environment to help your business reach its full potential.

You can view the City's economic and community profiles here.

Business and tourism support

The City supports business development and the local visitor economy in many ways. The Economic Development Team works with state and federal government to improve local business conditions and support the business community.

The team engages with the local business community, facilitates access to various services, partners with external organisations to provide business support and training and promotes the City and surrounding region as a visitor destination and business location. It does this by implementing the City’s Economic and Tourism Development Strategy 2021-2025.

The City’s website provides information about what you may need to consider when starting a business in the City of Stirling. The Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) also has a step-by-step guide, checklists, tools and all the resources you need to start a small business. For more information, please visit the SBDC website.

Engagement

The City engages with the business and tourism sectors by:

• Conducting regular business surveys to assess the needs and concerns of the business community and identify potential City service improvements
• Providing opportunities to connect with local business and share information through the City’s Event opportunities website page
• Producing and distributing the City’s Stirling Business News. The online newsletter highlights advice, support and training services available to local business
• Sign up to receive the City’s newsletters direct to your inbox
• Promoting ‘buy local’ initiatives such as Make a Small Change Campaign, and encouraging local purchasing by the City. Small business is big business, accounting for 98 per cent of the 22,000 businesses actively trading in the City, and it is a vital part of our local economy.

Facilitation

The City supports business and tourism sectors by:

• Facilitating access to business information, state and federal government assistance, planning, building and health approvals and economic data
• Promoting potential development and leasing opportunities on City-owned or City-managed land and buildings in the City’s website and through the Stirling Business News
• Providing supplier development training to encourage local businesses to become suppliers to the City and local government across the state and maintain a local business register of interested suppliers. For more details please contact the City
• Hosting or promoting a range of business events such as workshops, business forums and information sessions which can be found on the Business support page
• Supporting business start-up and growth through ongoing sponsorship of Stirling Business Association.
• Providing free access to Stirling grant finder. This initiative gives local businesses access to grant and other funding opportunities Australia-wide. Local businesses can search for opportunities and set up alerts to advise when relevant grants or other funding opportunities are available
• The City has listened to small-business owners and has made changes to create more vibrant and liveable commercial centres. For more details on how this could benefit your business, please see the link for Footpath Trading and Activation Permit.

Partnership

The team partners with other organisations to access services and improve operating conditions for the business and tourism sectors by:

• Managing the Small Business Friendly Local Governments partnership with the SBDC to address key concerns of small business and reduce red tape. The SBDC supports new and existing small businesses with a range of free and low-cost workshops as well as business advice, including leasing specialists. A range of practical business resources, tools and templates are also available in print and online
• Liaising with local business associations such as Stirling Business Association and Scarborough Beach Association on local business and tourism issues, supporting business events, attracting visitation and listening to feedback from the business and tourism sectors. The local associations are member-based and provide opportunities for networking
• Promoting access to federal government support through government departments such as AusIndustry, or through organisations contracting to the federal government. These include Business Foundations (supporting unemployed people to become selfemployed) and Business Foundations for the Australian Small Business Advisory Services (supporting access to digital solutions and training services).

To understand how planning, building and health approvals are linked and might affect your application, please view the Approvals processes and timelines.

To find detailed address information and relevant applications for your residential project, commercial development or business, please view the Address and Application Assistant.

Need general advice?

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.

Planning approval

The City’s Local Planning Scheme No.3 outlines what development can take place within the City’s boundaries.

How do I know if I need approval?

A development application is required for works that are not exempted under the City’s Planning Framework. For further information on development applications please contact the City’s planning officers or call (08) 9205 8555.

How long does a planning approval take?

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.

Need advice prior to lodging a development application?

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

Want to look for yourself?

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

Want a visual guide?

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

How do I lodge?

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

What do I need to provide when I lodge?

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

Building approval

The Building Act 2011 and the Building Regulations 2012 provide a comprehensive system of building control and sets standards for building work in WA.

Do I need building approval?

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 schedule 4, or you may wish to contact the City for further information.

How long will it take to get my approval?

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).

Click here for further information on the type of building applications.

What documents do I need to provide?

As the building works will be completed within a commercial building, you need to speak to a Building Surveyor Contractor. A list of private contractors can be found here. Your surveyor will advise what documents they require prior to lodging your full application with the City.

How can I lodge my application?

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

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.

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.

Ongoing assessment

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.

What if I’m buying an existing business?

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.

Personal care businesses (eg, beauty therapy and tattooing)

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.

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.