Transitional Residential Design Codes arrangements to conclude 10 April 2026
When the Residential Design Codes Part C (R-Codes Part C) were introduced, temporary provisions were included in Sections 4 and 5 to give stakeholders time to adjust local planning frameworks and development practices to align with the new R-Codes.
The transitional period for the R‑Codes Part C is ending on 10 April 2026, which may impact future residential development proposals. From 10 April 2026, the key changes impacting the assessment of residential development within the City of Stirling include:
- Single house and grouped dwelling developments must be assessed against Design Element 3.1 – Site Cover, with transitional deemed-to-comply provisions in Part C, Section 5 is no longer applicable.
- Single houses in areas coded R50 and above subject to a structure plan or local development plan must be assessed against Part C of the R-Codes Volume 1. Section 4 is no longer applicable.
- Exception: Clause C2.2.4 Solar Orientation will remain exempt until 10 April 2030 for single houses within R50 and above areas approved prior to 10 April 2024.
From April 10 2026, in accordance with these changes as all new applications will be assessed solely under the operative R‑Codes Part C requirements.
The Residential Design Codes Volume 1 - Part C
The R-Codes Part C forms part of the State Government’s broader Action Plan for Planning Reform. The purpose of the reform is to achieve more consistent planning outcomes, an improved approval processes and provide great places for people to live, work and play across Western Australia.
The R-Codes Part C were introduced in April 2024 and affects approximately half of residential properties within the City of Stirling. The R-Codes Part C provides for different building typologies for grouped dwellings coded R30 and above and single houses R50 and above. The below table outlines the residential density coding that will the R-Codes Part C will apply to.
| SPP 7.3 Residential Design Codes Single Houses | Single Houses | Grouped Dwellings | Multiple Dwellings (including dwelling components of mixed use developments) | |
| Volume 1 | Part B Low Density | R40 and below | R25 and below | R10 to R25 |
| Part C Medium Density | R50 and above | R30 and above; R100-SL; R-AC | R30 to R60 | |
| Volume 2 | N/A | N/A | R80 and above; R-AC | |
See where the new code will apply
View impacted areas on the medium density map.
FAQs
The amended Residential Design Codes Volume 1 - Part C is part of the State Government’s broader Action Plan for Planning Reform. The purpose of this Reform is to achieve more consistent planning outcomes, improve approval processes and provide great places for people to live, work and play across Western Australia.
Within this Reform, the amended Residential Design Codes Volume 1 - Part C have been designed to address several notable challenges and poor outcomes being created using the current planning framework including the following:
- A loss of existing established trees with little opportunity for the planting of new trees
- New developments being designed with high site coverage taken by up dwellings, garages, and driveways
- An increase in impermeable surfaces such as paving and driveways for the areas surrounding new dwellings
- Reduced open space and loss of backyards for newer dwellings, particularly in groups of units which only provide small, covered courtyards
- Low quality building materials being used with high energy costs and poor sustainability outcomes.
This is a significant update to the existing State Planning Policy 7.3 – Residential Design Codes Volume 1, which is more commonly referred to as the ‘R-Codes’.
This update will result in residential development applications (single houses, grouped dwellings and multiple dwellings/apartments) being assessed against new and modified provisions if they fall within the scope of Part C (refer to the table above). These new provisions are intended to provide better-quality built form outcomes by setting higher standards for residential development.
Please refer to the City’s online Intramaps system to check whether your address is located within a Medium Density area. The City’s Intramaps system can be accessed here.
Development application timeframes will remain unchanged. For residential applications (single houses, grouped dwellings and multiple dwellings/apartments comprising less than 10 units and an estimated value less than $2 million) this is generally 60 days from the date of lodgement.
There are however certain circumstances which will extend this timeframe to 90 days from the date of lodgement, for example referral of the application to an external agency such as Main Roads Western Australia.
For further information on development application timeframes, please contact the City’s Development Services Department on (08) 9205 8555.
The City will be working with the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage to review the existing local planning framework. The existing framework will continue to apply except where modified with the special transitional arrangements outlined in the new R-Codes Volume 1 - Part C.
For further information, please contact the City’s Development Services Department on (08) 9205 8555.
Additions, extensions and alterations to single and grouped dwellings will need to comply with the new R-Codes Volume 1 - Part C. Development which proposes variations to the deemed-to-comply requirements of Part C will require the lodgement of a development application to demonstrate compliance with the applicable design principles.
For further information on development application requirements, please contact the City’s Development Services Department on (08) 9205 8555.
