Local Planning Scheme (LPS, WA)

A Local Planning Scheme (LPS) in WA is the council-level planning instrument prepared by each Western Australian council under the Planning and Development Act 2005 (WA). It is the WA equivalent of a NSW LEP. The LPS sets zoning, development standards, and assessment pathways for the local government area, calls up SPP 7.3 R-Codes as the residential design standard, and is the primary instrument every WA builder reads before designing a residential project. Older councils may still operate under a Town Planning Scheme (TPS); both are progressively being upgraded to LPS format under the WA Planning Commission framework. Verified per Planning and Development Act 2005 (WA) (2026-05-23).

LPS components:

Section	Content
Scheme text	Zone definitions, use tables, development standards, special provisions
Zoning map	Geographical assignment of zones to land
Special control areas	Heritage, environmental, foreshore, airport noise overlays
R-code map	Density designation under SPP 7.3 (R10, R20, R30, R40, R60, R80, R100, R160+)
Schedule of supplementary provisions	Council-specific add-ons within scheme framework
Local planning policies	Detailed design guidelines for specific areas

Zones (typical WA LPS zones):

Zone	Description
Residential	Suburban living, calibrated by R-code
Residential R-Codes Density Coded	Specific R-code residential
Mixed Use	Combined residential + commercial
Centre / Town Centre	Commercial and retail focus
Business	Commercial uses
Industrial / Service Commercial	Industrial and large-format commercial
Rural Living	Acreage residential
Rural	Primary production
Conservation	Natural environment protection
Special Use	Specific listed uses

Reading the LPS for a project:

1. Open the council’s LPS via the council’s planning portal.
2. Identify the zone of the property via the zoning map.
3. Read the zone provisions in the scheme text (permitted use, development standards).
4. Identify the R-code if residential (from the R-Codes map; LPS calls up SPP 7.3 for the design controls).
5. Check special control areas (heritage, bushfire, foreshore, airport, traffic).
6. Identify the assessment pathway (typically permitted, discretionary, or referred to DAP).
7. Read any local planning policy for the specific precinct.

Town Planning Scheme (TPS) vs Local Planning Scheme (LPS):

Feature	TPS (older format)	LPS (newer format)
Origin	Pre-2010 council schemes	Post-2010 schemes under updated framework
R-Codes connection	Older referencing	Direct call-up of SPP 7.3 R-Codes
Format consistency	Council-specific patterns	More standardised across councils
Status	Being phased out	Replacing TPS as councils review schemes

A WA builder may encounter either format depending on the council. Both have the same legal effect; the LPS is more user-friendly with consistent terminology.

The LPS + SPP 7.3 R-Codes interaction:

Planning and Development Act 2005 (WA)
  └─ State Planning Policy 7.3 (R-Codes), sets residential design controls
      └─ Local Planning Scheme (council, calls up R-Codes)
          └─ Local Planning Policy (council, may add controls)

The LPS zones the land. The R-code on that land determines the R-Codes Volume 1 or Volume 2 design controls. Local Planning Policies add council-specific detail.

Common LPS-specific provisions:

Provision	Application
Boundary setbacks	Front, side, rear setbacks specific to zone
Building envelope	Diagonal envelope from side boundaries
Garage prominence	Limit on garage door area as % of street frontage
Permeable surface	Minimum % of site as permeable
Boundary fencing	Maximum height, materials
Tree retention	Significant tree protection
Solar orientation	Living rooms toward solar access
Outdoor living area	Minimum size + dimensions

These complement or refine the R-Codes; the council can require stricter controls than the R-Codes but not more permissive.

Assessment pathways (typical):

Pathway	When
Exempt	Listed in LPS as not requiring planning approval
Permitted	Use is allowed; standard controls met; council approval routine
Discretionary	Use is allowed if council exercises discretion; merit assessment
DAP referral	Above a certain value, referred to Development Assessment Panel
Prohibited	Use not allowed in the zone

Common defects:

• Reading the wrong scheme: builder reads a neighbouring council’s LPS by mistake; redesign required.
• Missing R-code update: LPS map updated; old design template doesn’t match.
• Missing Local Planning Policy (LPP): LPS references LPP but builder doesn’t find it; LPP often has the detailed controls.
• TPS-to-LPS transition: builder using older TPS template when LPS now applies; some provisions changed.
• Special control area overlooked: heritage, foreshore, airport noise can add design constraints not in the base zone.

Cross-state equivalents:

State	Equivalent council scheme
WA	Local Planning Scheme (LPS) (this) under Planning and Development Act 2005
NSW	Local Environmental Plan (LEP) under EP&A Act 1979
VIC	Planning scheme under PE Act 1987
QLD	Planning scheme under Planning Act 2016
SA	Local provisions under Planning and Design Code (statewide)
TAS	Local Provisions Schedule (LPS) under TPS
NT	NT Planning Scheme 2020 (statewide, no council schemes)

Builder takeaway:

• For WA residential, always read the council LPS first. The R-Codes alone aren’t enough: the LPS calls them up and adds zone-specific controls.
• Confirm the zone and R-code on the LPS map.
• Check for special control areas (most common: heritage and bushfire).
• Engage a WA planning consultant for projects in TPS-to-LPS transition or complex overlay sites.

Also known as: LPS WA; council planning scheme; WA scheme; municipal planning scheme.

Category: Approvals & DA.

Related

• R-Codes (WA)
• DAP (WA)
• Plot ratio (WA)

See also

• SPP 7.3 R-Codes (WA)

---

Last updated: 2026-05-23. Verified: 2026-05-23. Quarterly review for currency.