The Western Australian government is looking into a new planning reform that makes it easier for residents to subdivide their blocks without demolishing the family home.
The proposed ‘Retain and Gain’ reform will form part of a broader review into the state’s Residential Design Codes (R-Codes).
Designed to promote gentle urban infill, the change aims to boost housing supply and expand options for downsizers and first-home buyers across established local communities.
Under the proposal, homeowners on properties coded R10 to R25 will be permitted to subdivide off a backyard or split their land into a maximum of two lots, even if one falls below standard minimum lot size requirements.
To qualify, landowners must retain the existing residence, ensure one lot satisfies the prescribed minimum code size while the second is at least 300 square metres, and comply with standard planning and servicing standards.
Planning and Lands Minister John Carey noted that existing regulations often block sensible subdivision outcomes, even when there is ample space behind an established house.
“Our Retain and Gain subdivision reform is about making it easier for Western Australians to create an additional home on their property without having to knock down the family home,” Carey said.
“By making it easier for people to retain their home and create an additional lot at the rear, we can support gentle infill and increase housing choice for downsizers and first home buyers in the suburbs people already know and love.”
The initiative builds on the state government’s AU$10.8 billion investment in housing measures since 2021, as well as recent updates removing average lot size constraints in lower-density zones. Modernising the R-Codes could unlock more than 70,000 additional lots for development across WA.
Submissions on the proposed R-Codes package are open to the public and key stakeholders via the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage consultation portal until 26 February 2027.
