How to notify neighbours in Western Australia

How councils advertise development applications, and the BA20 and BA20A notices you give before work that affects a neighbour’s land.

Street map with a dashed 20 metre circle around a pinned site and notices going to every home inside it

Quick answer: in WA the council advertises development applications. Complex applications go to owners and occupiers within 200 m for 28 days with a sign on the site. Other advertised applications run for 14 days, and council can ask you to pay the costs and put up the signs. Before building or demolition work that affects a neighbour’s land, you give a BA20 or BA20A notice and need their consent or a court order.

Advertising a development application

Who notifiesThe local government. It can make the applicant pay the advertising costs and put up the signs
Complex applicationsOwners and occupiers of every property within 200 m, plus others likely to be affected, and a sign on the land. 28 days
Other advertised applicationsOwners and occupiers council thinks are likely to be affected, a newspaper notice or a sign, as council decides. 14 days
When it is requiredAlways for complex applications. For others when the use is class A, the plans do not comply with the scheme, a heritage assessment is needed, or the scheme says so

We checked the regulations as at 1 May 2024. Check for later changes with your council.

Source: Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015, Schedule 2 cl 64 and 64A (as at 01 May 2024, legislation.wa.gov.au). Checked 7 October 2026.

BA20 and BA20A: work affecting other land

Under Part 6 of the Building Act 2011, the person responsible for the work (builder, demolition contractor or owner) needs each affected owner’s consent, or a Magistrates Court order, before work that:

  • encroaches on or adversely affects their land (form BA20)
  • needs protection structures, affects a party wall, dividing fence or boundary retaining wall, removes a fence or needs access to their land (form BA20A)

The owner has 28 days to consider the notice, or 14 days after any further information you give them. Some fence removals need only 7 business days notice.

Source: Form BA20 Notice and request for consent to encroach or adversely affect (Building and Energy, wa.gov.au). Checked 7 October 2026.

Source: Form BA20A Notice and request for consent: protection structures, party walls, removal of fences, access to land (wa.gov.au). Checked 7 October 2026.

Source: City of Perth: Work Affecting Other Land. Checked 7 October 2026.

Beyond the people next door

Use our construction notice template for the wording, and keep the dated list of addresses you delivered to. If anyone later says they were not told, that list is your answer.

Council by council

What each council publishes about advertising.

City of Stirling

Who notifiesThe City sends letters. You provide and put up signs for complex applications
Who is toldStandard: adjoining owners and occupiers. Complex: everyone within 200 m
How longStandard: 14 days. Complex: 28 days

No sign for standard applications. Complex applications need a sign at least 1.0 m by 1.5 m on each street boundary.

Source: City of Stirling Local Planning Policy 6.18 Public Consultation. Checked 7 October 2026.

City of Perth

Who notifiesThe City
Who is toldPotentially affected parties
How longAs set by the regulations

For work affecting other land, the City points to the BA20 and BA20A forms and the 28 day consent period.

Source: City of Perth: Advertised planning applications. Checked 7 October 2026.

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