Short Stay Accommodation

All short stay accommodation requires registration with the Shire.

What is short stay accommodation?

Short stay means temporary accommodation provided either continuously or from time to time, with no guest accommodated for periods totalling more than 3 months in any 12-month period. Short stay accommodation includes:

Lodging house (boarding for more than six (6) people):

  • Short term hostels
  • Serviced apartments
  • A recreational campsite such as accommodation buildings at a school campsite.

Holiday accommodation:

  • Holiday houses
  • Chalets
  • Cottages
  • Bed and breakfasts.

Approval is required for any commercial accommodation. 

How long is my registration valid? 

An approval for short stay accommodation is only valid for a period of 12 months and may or may not be subject to conditions. It is the responsibility of the registered keeper of the short stay accommodation to ensure that the registration is renewed each financial year and remains valid at all times.

Renewal applications start from step two

Step 1 - Determine if planning or building approval is needed

Planning and building approval is generally required to assess the suitability of your proposed business in your chosen location including signage, in relation to zoning, parking, amenity and general compliance with the Building Code of Australia. Contact us to discuss. 

Planning approval is not required for holiday accommodation.

Step 2 - Complete an application form 

Online form - Registration of Accommodation Application

Printable form - Registration of Accommodation Application

Step 3 - Gather supporting documents 

Any application for registration of short stay accommodation must be supported by:

  • Site plan of property
  • Floor plan of the accommodation
  • Management Plan
  • Emergency Response and Fire Management Plan
  • Code of Conduct for Lodgers
  • Complaints management procedure
  • Check-in and check-out procedures (e.g. booking, key collection and drop-off)
  • Waste management procedures (e.g. cleaning and rubbish collection).

The application needs to clearly demonstrate that the proposed holiday accommodation can be adequately managed and will not cause nuisance or adversely affect the amenity of the locality.

Our guides may also help to ensure you have complied with the respective acts, codes, local laws, standards and regulations and that you obtain the relevant approvals and licences.

Guidelines for Lodging Houses

Guidelines for Holiday Accommodation including templates for the above-mentioned plans

If renewing a licence and the details have not changed, you do not need to resupply supporting documents.

Please note that whilst an application is needed in order to meet our local law requirements for management plans, the Shire of Murray will not be registering holiday accommodation (ie houses used for short-term accommodation) as of 1 July 2024, because registrations for holiday accommodation will be through the Department of Mines, Industry, Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) instead.  The Shire will still retain a copy of your application as demonstration of your compliance, so that we can endorse your DMIRS registration.

Registrations with DMIRS are expected to open in mid-2024, and it will be compulsory to register with DMIRS from 1 January 2025 for all short-term rental accommodation (STRA).  Note that accommodation will still have to comply with the standards in the Shire of Murray Health Local Law 2018. See further details for registration on the DMIRS website.

Webpage: Short-Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) Initiatives (www.wa.gov.au)
Enquiries: stra.enquiries@dmirs.wa.gov.au and tourism@dplh.wa.gov.au

Step 4 - Submit your application

Your full application (including a complete form and supporting documents) can be submitted: 

In person: Administration Office at 1915 Pinjarra Road, Pinjarra

Post: PO Box 21, Pinjarra, WA, 6208 

Email: mailbag@murray.wa.gov.au

Step 5 - Make payment 

If you are submitting your application in person, please bring payment with you.

If you are submitting your application electronically, we will contact you to arrange payment once your application has been registered. 

Application fees:

  • Lodging House: $197
  • Lodging House Renewal: $197

Fees and charges

Step 6 - Shire assessment 

We will contact you should we require any further information. If all conditions are met, we will issue approval.

Renewal applications start from step two

Step 1 - Determine if planning or building approval is needed

Environmental Health approval is required to allow camping/caravan stays on any property for a fee or reward.

This license allows the applicant to offer camping and/or caravan stays on a property in the Shire of Murray, over a 12 month period.

Planning and building approval is generally required to assess the suitability of your proposed business in your chosen location including signage, in relation to zoning, parking, amenity and general compliance with the Building Code of Australia. Contact us to discuss.

Step 2 - Complete an application form

Online Form - Caravan Park and Campground Application

Printable Form - Caravan Park and Campground Application

Step 3 - Gather supporting documents 

Any application for registration of short stay accommodation must be supported by:

  • Written approval of the owner of the land or proof that the applicant/s is/are the owner/s of the land
  • A plan of the proposed facility showing:
    • The sites, and where applicable, denoting the types of sites
    • The buildings
    • The roads and paths
    • The drainage and waste water disposal systems
    • The location of fire hoses, fire hydrants and extinguishers.
  • For a nature-based park licence ( i.e. in a natural setting, not close to built up areas and not impacted by natural light), a plan of the proposed facility showing:
    • The sites, and where applicable, denoting the types of sites
    • The buildings
    • The roads and paths
    • The drainage and waste water disposal systems
    • The location of fire hoses, fire hydrants and extinguishers

If renewing a licence and the details have not changed, you do not need to resupply supporting documents.

Step 4 - Submit your application 

Your full application (including a complete form and supporting documents) can be submitted: 

In person: Administration Office at 1915 Pinjarra Road, Pinjarra

Post: PO Box 21, Pinjarra, WA, 6208 

Email: mailbag@murray.wa.gov.au

Step 5 - Make payment 

If you are submitting your application in person, please bring payment with you.

If you are submitting your application electronically, we will contact you to arrange payment once your application has been registered. 

Short stay site $6.00
Camp site $3.00
Overflow site $1.50
Minimum fee per Caravan Park $200

Step 6 - Shire assessment 

We will contact you should we require any further information and should all conditions be satisfactorily met, we will issue approval.

To review or apply, please follow these steps. 

Step 1 - Determine whether you need approval 

Environmental Health approval is required to allow camping/caravans to stay on any property for a fee or reward.

This process allows you to offer camping and/or caravan stays on your property for an accumulative total of up to 90 days per 12 months.

This licence cannot be extended but can be renewed annually.

If you intend to offer accommodation for more than 90 days please visit the Caravan Park and Campground Licence section.

Approval will generally only be considered on land zoned:

  • Rural
  • Special Rural
  • Farmlet
  • Hills Landscape Protection

Step 2 - Complete an application form 

Online Form - Camping Application

Printable Form - Camping Application 

Step 3 - Gather supporting documents 

Any application for registration of short stay accommodation must be supported by:

  • Written approval of the owner of the land or proof that the applicant/s is/are the owner/s of the land
  • A plan of the proposed facility showing
    • The sites, and where applicable, denoting the types of sites
    • The buildings
    • The roads and paths
    • The drainage and waste water disposal systems
    • The location of fire hoses, fire hydrants and extinguishers
    • Location of natural features (contours, water courses)

If renewing a licence and the details have not changed, you do not need to resupply the supporting documents.

Step 4 - Submit your application 

Your full application (including a complete form and supporting documents) can be submitted: 

In person: Administration Office at 1915 Pinjarra Road, Pinjarra

Post: PO Box 21, Pinjarra, WA, 6208 

Email: mailbag@murray.wa.gov.au

Step 5 - Make payment 

If you are submitting your application in person, please bring payment with you.

If you are submitting your application electronically, we will contact you to arrange payment once your application has been registered. 

Application fee: $50

Step 6 - Shire assessment 

We will contact you should we require any further information. If all conditions are met, we will issue approval.