Carport permits · Perth & WA
Carport permits in Perth, done for you.
Carports nearly always need a building permit in Western Australia, and the ones in front of the house often need planning approval too. We work out what your council needs, prepare the plans and lodge it all for you.
- Fixed price up front
- Planning and building
- Every Perth council
Do I need one?
Do I need a permit for my carport?
Yes, a carport almost always needs a building permit in WA. It also needs planning approval if it doesn't meet the standard planning rules, which usually happens when it is in front of the house or on a side boundary.
- Open carports can sit closer to the street than garages.
- The 60% rule: no wider than 60% of the lot's frontage.
- A solid door makes it a garage, with stricter setbacks.
Do I need a permit?
Answer a few quick questions. It takes about 20 seconds.
The two approvals
Planning approval and the building permit
Many carports need both. Here is what each one checks.
Planning approval
Checks the carport suits the site and the street: how far it is from the street and the boundaries, how wide it is, and how it looks. Needed when the carport is outside the R-Codes' standard rules or your council's local policy. It comes first.
Building permit
Checks the carport is safe and meets the building code: the posts, beams, footings, tie-downs for your wind rating, and fire separation near boundaries. Needed for almost every carport.
How it works
From driveway to approved
Send us the basics
Your address, the carport size and where it goes. Your supplier's quote or drawings help.
We check and prepare
We check the setbacks and frontage rules, then prepare the site plan, elevations, engineering and forms.
We lodge and follow up
Planning approval first if needed, then the building permit. We answer council's questions throughout.
Guides
Carport permit guides
Questions
Common questions
Do I need council approval for a carport in WA?
Almost always you need a building permit. You also need planning approval if the carport doesn't meet the standard planning rules, which most often happens with carports in front of the house or on a side boundary.
How close to the street can a carport be?
Under the R-Codes, an open carport can generally be built closer to the street than a house or garage: the street setback can be halved if the carport is no wider than 60% of the frontage and doesn't block the view between the house and the street. Councils can set their own rules on top.
Can I put a roller door on my carport?
A solid door turns a carport into a garage under the planning rules, and garages usually have to sit further back. A visually permeable (see-through) door may be allowed. Check before you add one.
Does a carport need engineering?
Yes. The permit needs proof the posts, beams, footings and tie-downs suit the wind rating at your address. Carport kit suppliers usually provide certified engineering.
Is a carport cheaper to approve than a garage?
Often, yes. Carports are allowed closer to the street, so many avoid planning approval altogether. Council fees are also based on the value of the work, and carports usually cost less to build.
How long does it take?
A building permit only: a few days to prepare, then up to 25 business days for a standard council decision. If planning approval is needed, it comes first and adds several weeks.
Park the paperwork with us.
Planning approval, building permit or both: we work out what your council needs and lodge it for you.