Perth’s approved new houses were being built on smaller sites in 2019–20 than 15 years earlier: the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) recorded an average of 427 m² in Greater Perth, down from 575 m² in 2005–06. That series is evidence of a long-term decline, not a current average for every Perth block or a suburb-by-suburb measure.
How much have Perth house sites shrunk?
The ABS series tracks the average site area for houses approved in Greater Perth. It fell by 148 m² between 2005–06 and 2019–20, a decline of about 26% across that period. The annual path was not a straight line: the average rose from 415 m² in 2017–18 to 424 m² in 2018–19, then reached 427 m² in 2019–20. The figures and series are published in the ABS report “Australians building houses on smaller blocks” (2020).
Across the 15 years it examined, the ABS found approved-house site areas trended down in all capital cities and Greater Perth had the smallest average block sizes among them. That comparison applies to the period covered by the report; it should not be read as a current national ranking.
What does “block size” mean in these figures?
“Block size” can describe different groups of land, and their averages are not interchangeable. The ABS figures are for sites associated with approved houses. They do not measure all existing Perth residential properties, the average size of lots currently listed for sale, or the average size of newly created lots in a particular suburb.
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WA’s State Lot Activity collection measures something different: residential subdivision applications lodged with and approved by the Western Australian Planning Commission, for residential-zoned lots under 3,000 m². Its figures should not be blended with the ABS approved-house series as if both measured the same population. See the state government’s planning and development statistics.
Why are new house sites smaller?
The ABS links the national pattern of smaller sites alongside larger house floor areas to rising land costs and a greater share of new houses being built in urban infill locations. It also notes that more two-storey houses are being built to make better use of space on smaller lots, particularly in greenfield developments. This is the ABS’s explanation of the combined national pattern, not a quantified estimate of what caused Perth’s decline specifically. The report is available from the ABS.
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How planning and servicing changed Perth’s lot pattern
Perth’s traditional “quarter-acre block” was just over 1,000 m², according to the WA Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage. The department says deep sewerage and increased housing demand contributed to development at R30 or above standard in many suburbs and towns, compared with historic Perth’s R10 quarter-acre pattern. The R-Codes also include site-area concessions that allow a slight density increase for some small and accessible dwellings. See the department’s Overview of the WA Planning System.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What infill activity and the proposed rule change indicate
Infill share is rising, but remains below the cited target
The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage’s Urban Growth Monitor 17 reports that Perth and Peel’s net infill rate increased from 34% in 2023 to approximately 39% in 2024. Government material refers to a 47% target, so the reported 2024 rate was still below it. The monitor also says 2024 infill development had a higher proportion of lower-density projects than the historical average. Larger lots typically yield more and denser dwellings, although the monitor cautions that ratios for larger lot-size bands vary because relatively few projects fall into those categories. The report is Urban Growth Monitor 17: Perth Metropolitan, Peel and Greater Bunbury Regions.
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The R20-and-below subdivision change was proposed in July 2026
A WA government statement dated 2 July 2026 described a proposal to abolish the average lot-size requirement for land coded R20 and below. The announcement said the change could potentially allow subdivision of 700 m² properties where the stated existing requirement was 900 m², and that more than 50,000 existing properties could potentially be affected. These are figures and effects described for the proposal; the announcement does not establish that the rule has taken effect. Check the status of the reform before relying on it for a subdivision decision. The announcement is Planning code reforms to unlock infill housing opportunities.
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What this means if you are comparing Perth properties
- Use the ABS series as historical context for approved houses, not as a current suburb-level lot-size benchmark.
- When comparing subdivision activity, use the WA State Lot Activity measure and keep its application-based population distinct from approved-house site areas.
- For an individual property, check its zoning, applicable R-Code provisions, servicing and current subdivision rules; metro-wide averages and a proposed reform do not determine what can be done on a specific lot.
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