SPP 7.3 R-Codes (WA): the statutory residential design instrument

State Planning Policy 7.3 (the R-Codes) is Western Australia’s statutory residential design instrument under the Planning and Development Act 2005 (WA). The R-Codes are split into two volumes: Volume 1 covers single houses, grouped dwellings, ancillary dwellings, and multiple dwellings up to R60 density; Volume 2 covers R80+ apartments. The R-Codes are called up by every Local Planning Scheme in WA, meaning every council’s planning scheme references SPP 7.3 as the source of residential design controls. The current operative version dates from April 2026 following the 2025 amendments. They replaced residential design provisions that previously sat in council-specific Town Planning Schemes (TPS). Verified per Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage guidance (2026-05-23).

Structure of the R-Codes

The R-Codes are organised around R-coding density labels (R10, R20, R25, R30, R40, R60, R80, R100, R160, R200+), where the number approximates the minimum dwellings per hectare for the zone. The R-code is set in the council’s Local Planning Scheme map; the same Volume 1 / Volume 2 rules apply across WA, calibrated to the R-code:

R-code	Approx. lot size	Typical zone application
R5-R10	1000 m²+	Rural living, large lot residential
R20	350-500 m²	Standard suburban
R25-R30	280-350 m²	Inner suburban, dual occupancy permitted
R40	220-280 m²	Higher-density suburban
R60	180-220 m²	Highest in Volume 1; multiple dwellings
R80-R100	Volume 2	Apartments
R160-R200+	Volume 2	Higher-density apartments

Volume 1: single, grouped, ancillary, multiple to R60

Volume 1 is the most commonly-cited part of the R-Codes for residential builders. It sets:

Topic	Controls
Site requirements	Minimum site area, frontage, lot dimensions for each R-code
Building height	Maximum height per R-code (typically 7.5-9.5 m wall height + roof)
Setbacks	Primary street setback, side and rear setbacks, secondary street (corner)
Plot ratio	Maximum gross floor area as a ratio of site area (e.g. R30 = 0.5)
Open space	Minimum % of site as open space (typically 30-60%)
Outdoor living area (OLA)	Minimum area + dimensions for usable outdoor space per dwelling
Solar access	Minimum solar access to the principal living area
Privacy	Setback for windows + screening requirements
Parking	Minimum on-site parking per dwelling type
Streetscape and design	Façade design, garage prominence, fences
Ancillary dwelling	Minimum + maximum size, setbacks, parking
Grouped dwelling	Multiple dwellings on one lot, common requirements
Stormwater	On-site detention + treatment

Volume 2: apartment-class development

Volume 2 covers R80+ density and applies to:

Apartment buildings (3+ storeys typical).
Mixed-use buildings with residential component.
Dwelling clusters where the density justifies apartment design controls.

Volume 2 adds requirements that Volume 1 doesn’t:

Volume 2 specific	What it does
Apartment design guidelines	Internal layout, room sizes, natural light, ventilation
Communal open space	Shared outdoor space sized to apartment count
Apartment dimensions	Minimum room sizes per occupant load
Sound insulation	Between apartments + corridor walls
Acoustic privacy	Beyond NCC, additional WA-specific controls
Universal design	Accessibility provisions beyond NCC
Mixed-use ground floor	Where retail or commercial occupies ground level

How the R-Codes operate

Every WA Local Planning Scheme (LPS) calls up SPP 7.3 as the residential design standard. The LPS sets the R-code mapping for each parcel of land; the R-Codes then provide the design controls for that R-code.

Planning and Development Act 2005 (WA)
  └─ SPP 7.3 R-Codes (state, calls up the design standard)
      └─ Local Planning Scheme (council, maps R-codes to land)
          └─ Local Planning Policy (council, may add controls)

Builders should read in this order:

LPS to identify the R-code of the property.
R-Codes (SPP 7.3) for the design controls applicable to that R-code.
Local Planning Policy (LPP) for any council-specific add-ons.

Compliance pathways

The R-Codes operate on Deemed-to-Comply and Design Principle pathways, similar to NSW DTS/PA:

Pathway	Trigger	Outcome
Deemed-to-Comply (DTC)	Proposal meets all listed dimensional and use criteria	Compliance demonstrated; council typically approves quickly
Design Principle	Proposal misses one or more DTC criteria but argues against the underlying design principle	Council/DAP must consider on its merits

A Design Principle approval requires the applicant to demonstrate that the proposal achieves the policy intent of each missed DTC criterion. This is the WA equivalent of SA’s Performance Assessed pathway and NSW’s clause 4.6 variation.

Key 2025-2026 changes

The April 2026 R-Codes update introduced:

Change	Effect
Tighter solar access provisions	Wider arc of solar access to principal living area
Streetscape design controls	Garage prominence limits
Increased open space requirements	At lower R-codes
Ancillary dwelling expansion	Larger ancillary dwellings permitted under DTC at R20-R30
Stormwater more prescriptive	On-site detention sizing per impervious area
Tree retention	New canopy-cover requirements in some R-codes

Common defects in R-Codes compliance

Missing the local R-code overlay: assuming R20 when the LPS says R25; redesign for the actual code.
Plot ratio calculated on total site rather than developable site: easements or laneways excluded incorrectly.
Outdoor living area below dimension minimums: technically meets area but fails width/length requirements.
Solar access not modelled to principal living area: refusal grounds; commission a NatHERS-modelled solar analysis early.
Boundary setback infringements missed: corner lots have secondary street setback as well as primary.

Builder takeaway

For WA residential work, the R-Codes are the design bible. Read Volume 1 (or Volume 2 for apartments) before concept design.
Confirm the R-code from the LPS via Landgate or council planning portal.
The 2025 updates tightened multiple controls; if relying on a pre-2025 design template, re-check against current R-Codes.
Brief the architect on the Deemed-to-Comply pathway as the target; Design Principle is a fallback that adds 2-3 months to the DA.

Cross-state equivalents

State	Equivalent residential design instrument
WA	SPP 7.3 R-Codes (this)
NSW	LEP + DCP + Apartment Design Guide (SEPP 65) for apartments
VIC	Plan Melbourne + Rescode (ResCode in planning schemes)
QLD	Planning scheme dwelling code; SEQ Regional Plan
SA	Planning and Design Code residential zone policies
TAS	TPS zone provisions

References

SPP 7.3 R-Codes Volume 1 (Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, WA) (verified 2026-05-23)
SPP 7.3 R-Codes Volume 2 (Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, WA) (verified 2026-05-23)
Planning and Development Act 2005 (WA) (verified 2026-05-23)
WA Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety