New short-term rental accommodation rules are now in effect for Bunbury, following Ministerial approval of changes to the City’s Local Planning Scheme.
Published 30 March 2026
Scheme Amendment No. 14 was approved by the Minister for Planning on 3 March 2026 and gazetted on 20 March 2026, formally introducing a new planning framework for short-term rental accommodation (STRA) in Bunbury.
The changes are part of the City’s response to State-wide planning reforms and reflect a growing need to balance Bunbury’s tourism economy with housing availability for local residents.
Like many communities across WA, Bunbury is feeling the pressure of housing availability. These changes give us the tools to manage short-term rentals in a way that supports our visitor economy while making sure homes remain available for the people who live and work here.
What the changes mean
Under the new framework:
- Hosted STRA (where the owner lives on-site during a guest’s stay) does not require planning approval but must be registered on the State STRA Register.
- Unhosted STRA (where guests have exclusive use of an entire property) requires development approval from the City and must be registered with the State register.
- STRA is encouraged in Bunbury’s tourism areas, with additional considerations for residential zones to protect neighbourhood amenity and housing supply.
The City has also adopted Local Planning Policy 2.2, which provides detailed guidance on where and how unhosted STRA can operate, including measures to protect the long-term rental market.
Protecting housing availability
The new framework is one of several ways the City is working to address housing pressures in Bunbury. By requiring development approval for unhosted STRA, the City can assess proposals on a case-by-case basis to ensure properties aren’t unnecessarily lost from the long-term rental market.
The STRA framework sits alongside other City initiatives to support housing availability, including land rationalisation and advocacy efforts towards increased investment in infrastructure, services and land releases to enable housing options in Bunbury.
What property owners need to do
Property owners currently operating or planning to operate short-term rental accommodation should:
- Register on the State STRA Register
- Check whether development approval is required (unhosted STRA)
- Apply through the City if needed
Full details, application forms, and further information are available on the City’s STRA webpage.
For questions, contact the City’s Planning Team at info@bunbury.wa.gov.au or call 9792 7000.
