Shopfitters in WA — Licensing, Approvals & Costs

Who regulates shopfitting in Western Australia?

The licensing body for Western Australia is Building and Energy (DEMIRS).

Building work requires a registered building contractor (or owner-builder approval). Registration is required for building work above the prescribed value and for all structural/specified work; electrical, plumbing and gas each have their own licensed trades.

Check before you sign: ask for the contractor’s licence or registration number, verify it on the Building and Energy register, and have it written into the contract.

The approval pathway in Western Australia

Approval pathway — the order matters, because a permit issued before the use is approved is wasted money.

Development approval from your local council for a change of use (Planning and Development Act 2005).
Building permit from the local government (permit authority) — required for fit-out works affecting structure, fire, egress or services.
Occupancy permit / building approval certificate before trading.

Access & compliance

AS 1428.1 access is assessed with the building permit; accessible sanitary facilities and path of travel are the usual sticking points.

Food, liquor, signage and fire

Food premises

Register the food business with your local government (Food Act 2008); the premises are inspected before registration is granted.

Liquor

Racing, Gaming and Liquor (RGL) within the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.

Signage

Council planning approval for signage — WA planning schemes have specific signage tables by zone and size.

Fire safety

Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) sets fire safety requirements; the permit authority requires a fire safety schedule and ongoing maintenance.

Plumbing & trade waste

Plumbing permit via the licensed plumber; trade waste (grease trap) approval from the Water Corporation.

Asbestos

Buildings built before 1990 are far more likely to contain asbestos; workplaces need a register and removal is licensed work regulated by WorkSafe WA.

What a fit-out costs in Western Australia

Project tier	Indicative range	What it buys
Refresh	$1,300 – $1,600/m²	Paint, flooring, lighting swap, minor joinery
Standard fit-out	Mid-range of $1,300 – $3,400 /m²	New shopfront, counters, joinery, services adjustments
Premium / flagship	Top of $1,300 – $3,400 /m²	Custom joinery, feature ceilings, full services upgrade

Benchmarks include fit-out works only — not base building works, rent, stock or professional fees. Run the calculator for a range on your size and tier.

Areas covered

Perth, Fremantle, Joondalup, Bunbury.

Local gotchas worth knowing

Regional WA permit authorities can be slow — pre-lodgement meetings save weeks.
Water Corporation trade waste approval runs separately from council; cafes need it before the grease trap is connected.
Heritage Act referrals apply across Perth’s older precincts (Northbridge, Fremantle, Guildford).

FAQs — Western Australia

Who issues the building permit in WA?

Your local government (the permit authority). Some larger councils have online lodgement portals.

Is development approval always needed?

Only if the use changes or the works don’t meet the scheme’s exemption criteria. Internal refits within the approved use can often go straight to a building permit.

What about grease traps for cafes?

Two approvals: council/building for the plumbing work, and Water Corporation trade waste consent for the discharge.

Guidance only. Approval requirements change. Confirm your specific project with a licensed building surveyor or certifier, your local council, and the relevant state regulator before committing to a lease or a build programme.

Shopfitting in Western Australia