Office
An Office is a premise that is used for administration, clerical, technical, professional or similar business activities.
You don’t need planning approval for your Office if:
- It is located in a Mixed Use, Local Centre, District Centre, Regional Centre or Commercial zone.
To check your properties zoning, open our Online Maps. Then search your property address at the bottom of the page and refer to the “LPS2 Zone” of your property at the top right of the page.
- It is not located on the ground floor of a building, unless it’s in a Commercial zone.
If your Office does not meet these conditions then it needs planning approval. To check what you need to do to get planning approval see here.
If your Office does meet these conditions then it doesn’t need planning approval.
It may still need the following approvals:
Building Permit Approval
Building permits are generally required for all works involving alterations and additions to premises.
Building permits are not needed where a simple fit out is proposed, and only movable furniture is being replaced or painting and decorating is being carried out.
In most cases, proposed partitioning works for office fit outs will affect the way the building complies with an applicable Building Standard and will require a building permit.
For example, including but not limited to:
- Fit out changes that affect the existing path of travel to a required exit will affect the way the building complies with the egress provisions of the Building Code.
- Changes to access requirements (accessible paths of travel, corridor widths, door widths and doorways etc.)
- Internal and/or external alterations resulting in the relocation of, changes to, existing services (sprinkler systems, fire hydrant coverage, smoke detection and alarm systems, emergency lighting and exit signs, mechanical ventilation systems etc.)
For information on the building permit process please visit the following webpages:
Building & Occupancy Permits for Commercial Fitouts
Building Services Information
Building Application Forms
Have any questions? Give our Building team a call on 9273 6000 between 8.30am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday or email us at mail@vincent.wa.gov.au.
Health Approval
Health approval is not required if you are not selling food or alcohol.
Have any questions? Give our Health team a call on 9273 6000 between 8.30am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday or email us at mail@vincent.wa.gov.au.
Occupancy Permit Approval
An occupancy permit must be obtained from the City before a commercial tenancy or building can be occupied. This is required to change the use or classification of a building.
An occupancy permit relates to the building, and not to the owner or occupier. This means that subsequent tenants may do renovation, fit out or minor works that do not involve a change of use or classification without needing to obtain a new occupancy permit.
A copy or details of the occupancy permit must be displayed at or near the principal entrance to the building so that it is clearly visible to occupiers and other people using the building.
For more information on occupancy permits please visit the following webpages:
Occupancy Permits
Building & Occupancy Permits for Commercial Fitouts
Have any questions? Give our Building team a call on 9273 6000 between 8.30am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday or email us at mail@vincent.wa.gov.au.
Once you have got the required approvals then you can open your Office and start operating!
Some other information which may be useful is available here: