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In Western Australia, sign permits are called development applications and are lodged with your local government under the Planning and Development Act 2005. Each WA local government sets its own…

In Western Australia, sign permits are called development applications and are lodged with your local government under the Planning and Development Act 2005. Each WA local government sets its own fee schedule based on the estimated development cost of the sign.

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WA Sign Permit Fee Structure

Estimated Cost of Sign WorksTypical WA DA Fee
Under $50,000$147 + $1.47 per $1,000 over $50,000
$50,001 – $500,000$1,040 + $1.09 per $1,000 over $100,000

WA DA fees are set by the Planning and Development (Development Assessment Panels) Regulations 2011. Minor variations apply between local governments.

City of Perth Sign Permit Fees 2026

Sign Application TypeFee
Small sign DA (under $50,000 cost)$147 minimum
Standard sign DA$295 – $1,500
Advertising sign (third-party)$500 – $3,000
Heritage area signDA fee + $300 heritage referral

Permitted Development (No Permit Needed) in WA

Under WA’s Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015, some signs are permitted development and don’t require a DA. Common exemptions:

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  • One non-illuminated flat sign on the building facade up to 2m²
  • Temporary election signs during election periods
  • Real estate signs during active sales/lease campaigns
  • Directional signs under 0.5m²

WA Heritage Areas — Additional Costs

Signs in Heritage Areas (covered by State Heritage listings or Local Heritage Inventories) require additional assessment. Budget for:

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  • Heritage advice from a registered heritage consultant: $1,000 – $3,000
  • Referral to State Heritage Office if on State Register: $300–$600 referral fee + additional assessment time
  • Non-illuminated, heritage-compatible materials generally favoured

WA Council Sign Permit Pages

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a sign permit cost in Western Australia?
WA sign permit (development application) fees start at $147 for small signs. For most small business signs costing under $10,000 to install, expect to pay $150u2013$400 in DA fees. Larger advertising or pylon signs attract higher fees based on estimated cost of works.
Not always. Some small non-illuminated business identification signs under 2mu00b2 are permitted development under WA planning regulations and don't need a DA. Illuminated signs, signs larger than 2mu00b2, freestanding signs, and signs in heritage areas require a development application to your local government.
Standard sign DAs in WA take 4u20138 weeks. Heritage-affected applications can take 10u201316 weeks. Developments assessed by the Metro or Regional Development Assessment Panel take longer. Pre-application meetings with council are recommended for complex signs.
Yes u2014 the City of Perth has its own Local Planning Policy (LPP) for signage that applies additional rules on top of state regulations. These cover sign height, area, illumination, heritage areas, and advertising signs. The City of Perth's CBD sign policy is more detailed than most other WA local governments.