Public holiday trading hours in Western Australia differ between the Perth metropolitan area and regional WA, and then again between individual Local Government Areas (LGAs). Some dates, like Good Friday, ANZAC Day and Christmas Day, have stricter rules than other public holidays. Your business type also affects when you can open. It’s important to know what applies to your area and your business.
All stores are regarded as general retail shops unless they are a small retail shop, special retail shop, service station or motor vehicle shop.
Regional Trading Hours Variations
Each Local Government Area has the power to apply permanent trading variations to general retail shops within their localities.
The rules for the LGA's within the Bunbury Geographe region are:
City of Bunbury
Trading hours deregulated (no restrictions on opening & closing hours, outside of restricted days)
General retail shops must remain closed on Christmas Day, Good Friday and ANZAC Day.
Shire of Capel
Unrestricted daily trading (no limitations on trading hours or public holiday opening).
Shire of Dardanup
Unrestricted daily trading (no limitations on trading hours or public holiday opening)
Shire of Harvey
Australind and Treendale Shopping Centres and Mardo Commercial Complex:
- Trading from 7.00am to 8.00pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday,
- From 7.00am to 9.00pm on Thursdays and
- From 8.00am to 6.00pm on Saturdays and Sundays, including on public holidays.
General retail shops must remain closed on Christmas Day, Good Friday and ANZAC Day.
The guidelines for all LGA's across WA can be viewed here: WA Regional Trading Hours Variations
Exceptions to the Trading Hours set by your Local Government
Small and Special retail shops
Small & Special retail shops may apply for a certificate to be able to trade outside the restrictions set by your Local Government Area.
A Small retail shop is defined as:
- owned by up to six people
- operating no more than four retail stores
- Having up to 25 people working at the same time across all stores (excluding apprentices).
If a Small retail shop has a certificate, they can trade 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and sell any goods other than motor vehicles.
A Special retail shop are considered necessary for emergency, convenience or recreation goods, and include:
- pharmacies
- garden nurseries
- hardware and home improvement shops
- newsagencies and bookshops
- video shops
- art and craft shops
- souvenir and duty-free shops
- shops at sports venues
- boating shops
- motor vehicle spare parts shops, and
- shops at international standard hotels.
Further detail about special retail shops and the products they can sell is covered in s7 of the Retail Trading Hours Regulations.
If a Special retail shop has a certificate, they can trade 6.00 am – 11:30 pm every day of the year.
Apply for a certificate
Online:
Downloadable forms
Service Stations/Filling Stations
Filling stations include any business selling vehicle fuel. Filling station trading hours are deregulated in all areas. This means they can be open at any time.
They are also restricted in what non-fuel products they can sell outside general retail shop trading hours. The list of the goods able to be sold are prescribed in section 11 of the regulations.
Motor vehicle shops (car yards)
A motor vehicle shop includes any shop where motor vehicles are sold.
Motor vehicle shops trading hours are:
- 8.00am to 6.00pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays
- 8.00am to 9.00pm on Wednesdays
- 8.00am to 1.00pm on Saturdays
- CLOSED on Sundays and public holidays.
Shops not covered by the Act
The trading hours of the following store types are not covered by the Act. This means they can open at any time:
- restaurants
- cafes
- take-away food shops
- short-term markets (set up and dismantled in one day)
- shops on Rottnest Island.
Some of these business types may be subject to other laws & regulations under their sector bodies.
Extended trading permits
Extended trading permits are available under certain conditions, for example, swapmeets, trade fairs and industry expos. Please contact the Consumer Protection retail trading hours team on (08) 6251 1406 for more information.
Further Assistance
Consumer Protection's Contact Centre provides "on-the-spot" information, advice and assistance about general issues in the marketplace, particularly consumer and trader rights and responsibilities. Callers who require more specific advice or information are transferred to other areas of Consumer Protection, or are redirected to external agencies.
- 1300 30 40 54
- consumer@demirs.wa.gov.au
Other considerations for opening on a Public Holiday
You should also be aware of your obligations around pay & employment conditions for your staff to work on the public holiday, and whether they will want to work. You should also consider public holiday surcharges and ensuring it is financially viable for your business.
The Small Business Development Corporation has a great article covering all of this: Opening your Business on a Public Holiday
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