Retail trading hours provide times when retailers in Western Australia can open for business. In some cases the type of business can dictate the hours which the business can be open to customers. There are also times throughout the year when extended trading may apply such as over the Christmas period or on some public holidays.
All shops are regarded as general retail shops unless they fall under any one of the other categories including: small retail shops, special retail shops, filling - service stations or motor vehicle shops.
Yes, cafes and take-away shops are not subject to retail trading hours restrictions and so can open early.
No, only shops that hold a Small Retail Shop Certificate or a Special Retail Shop Certificate are able to open early. General retail stores cannot open until 8am Monday to Saturday and 11am on Sunday.
Application forms and additional information is available on the Small and special retail shops page for small business owners wishing to trader outside general retail trading hours.
Yes, pharmacies, newsagents and bookstores are considered special shops and can open early. Application forms and additional information is available on the Small and special retail shops page.
General retail shops in the Perth metropolitan area are able to trade on the following public holidays
| Public holiday | Trading hours |
|---|---|
| Australia Day (Monday 27 January 2020) | 8am-6pm |
| Labour Day (Monday 2 March 2020) | 8am-6pm |
| Easter Monday (Monday 13 April 2020) | 8am-6pm |
| ANZAC Day additional public holiday (Monday 27 April 2020) | 8am-6pm |
| Western Australia Day (Monday 1 June 2020) | 8am-6pm |
| Queen's Birthday (Monday 28 September 2020) | 8am-6pm |
General trading hours
Traders do not have to open, however may choose when they open within the specified trading hours.
The Retail Trading Hours Act 1987 applies to retail shops in Western Australia south of the 26th parallel. It sets out the trading hours and rules covering various categories of retail outlets.
The trading hours of the following store types are not covered by the Act:
You must apply for a certificate if you want to trade as a small or special retail shop.
Small retail shops can trade 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Special retail shops are considered necessary for emergency, convenience or recreation goods. Shops in this category can trade between 6.00 am – 11:30 pm every day of the year.
Filling stations include any business that sells motor fuel. Filling station trading hours are deregulated in all areas.
There are restrictions on the range of non-petroleum goods which may be sold from filling stations after general retail shop trading hours.
For further information on after hours non-petroleum stock options contact Trading Hours enquiries on (08) 6251 1406.
The list of the goods able to be sold are prescribed in the regulations.
A motor vehicle shop includes any shop where motor vehicles are sold.
*Exemption to trade was granted for the ANZAC Day additional public holiday, Monday, 27th April 2020.
Local government authorities outside the Perth metropolitan area can apply to Consumer Protection to extend the trading hours for general retail shops in their district beyond those stipulated in the Act. The following regional local governments have permanent trading variations applying in their localities:
| Local Government | Location | Variation | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Albany | City Boundaries |
There are no permanent retail trading extensions applying across the City of Albany. (An historical permit continues to apply only at the Farm Fresh Food Market site on Chester Pass Road, Albany. Shops in this complex can trade from 8.00am to 6.00pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and from 8.00am to 9.00pm on Thursdays. These daily hours apply also on public holidays, other than on Christmas Day, Good Friday and prior to 12.00noon on ANZAC Day. |
Section 15 |
| Shire of Augusta - Margaret River | Shire Boundaries | Unrestricted daily trading. | Section 5 |
| Shire of Boyup Brook | Shire Boundaries | Trading prohibited on Saturdays after 1:00pm. | Section 13(1) |
| City of Bunbury | City Boundaries | Trading hours deregulated (other than on Christmas Day, Good Friday and ANZAC Day, which are closed days). | Section 12E |
| City of Busselton | City Boundaries | 8.00am to 9.00pm daily trading. |
Section 12E |
| Shire of Capel | Shire Boundaries | 8.00am to 9.00pm daily trading, other than on Christmas Day and Good Friday. Trading on ANZAC Day is from 1.00pm to 9.00pm. |
Section 12E |
| Shire of Collie | Shire Boundaries | Trading from 8.00am to 8.00pm Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 8.00am to 9.00pm on Thursdays, 8.00am to 6.00pm on Saturdays and 11.00am to 5.00pm on Sundays and public holidays, other than Christmas Day, Good Friday and ANZAC Day, which are closed days. | Section 12E |
| Shire of Coolgardie | Shire Boundaries | Trading from 8.00am to 9.00pm Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 5.00pm on Saturdays, 11.00am to 5.00pm on Sundays and public holidays, other than on Christmas Day, Good Friday and ANZAC Day. | Section 12E |
| Shire of Dandaragan | Townsites of Cervantes and Jurien | During school holidays and long weekends (prescribed periods), 8.00am to 9.00pm trading each day, including public holidays, (other than Christmas Day, Good Friday and ANZAC Day). | Section 5 |
| Trading from 8.00am to 9.00pm every Saturday and Sunday (other than on Christmas Day). | Section 5 | ||
| Shire of Dardanup | Shire Boundaries | Unrestricted daily trading. | Section 5 |
| Shire of Denmark | Townsite of Denmark | Trading each day from 8.00am to 9.00pm. | Section 5 |
| Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup | Townsite of Donnybrook | Unrestricted Sunday trading. Public holidays closed. | Section 5 |
| Shire of Dundas | Townsite of Norseman | Unrestricted daily trading. | Section 5 |
| Shire of Esperance | Shire Boundaries |
From the second Sunday in December to 23 December, Friday trading to 9.00pm and 10.00am to 4.00pm Sunday trading. From the Sunday before 23 December, to 23 December, weeknight trading to 9.00pm. |
Section 12E |
| City of Greater Geraldton | City Boundaries | Trading from 8.00am to 9.00pm Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 5.00pm on Saturdays, 11.00am to 5.00pm on Sundays and public holidays, other than on Christmas Day, Good Friday and ANZAC Day. | Section 12E |
| Shire of Gingin | Townsites of Guilderton, Seabird, Ledge Point, Lancelin and Gingin | Unrestricted daily trading. | Section 5 |
| Shire of Harvey | Australind Shopping Centre and Mardo Comercial 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, (other than on Christmas Day, Good Friday and ANZAC Day) | Section 12E |
| Treendale Shopping Centre | (As for Australind Shopping Centre – Above) | Section 12E | |
| Shire of Irwin | Townsites of Dongara and Port Denison | During school holidays and long weekends (prescribed periods), 8.00am to 9.00pm each day, including public holidays, (other than Christmas Day, Good Friday and ANZAC Day. | Section 5 |
| City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder | City Boundaries (other than in Burt Street Precinct) | Trading from 7.00am to 7.00pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 7.00am to 9.00pm on Thursdays, 7.00am to 6.00pm on Saturdays and 9.00am to 2.00pm on Sundays. Public holidays closed. | Section 12E |
| Burt Street Precinct | Unrestricted daily trading. | Section 5 | |
| Shire of Katanning | Shire Boundaries | Sunday trading from 10.00am to 5.00pm, other than on public holidays, which are closed days. | Section 12E |
| Shire of Kulin | Shire Boundaries | Trading prohibited on Saturdays after 1.00pm. | Section 13(1) |
| Shire of Leonora | Leonora Supermarket and Hardware (only) |
Sunday and public holiday trading, from 10.00am to 3.00pm, other than on Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and ANZAC Day. | Section 12E |
| City of Mandurah | City Boundaries | Trading from 8.00am to 6.00pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, from 8.00am to 9.00pm on Thursday and from 10.00am to 5.00pm on Sundays and public holidays, (other than on Christmas Day, Good Friday and ANZAC Day, which are closed days). | Section 12E |
| Shire of Manjimup | Townsite of Manjimup | Trading from 8.00am to 9.00pm Monday to Friday, from 8.00am to 5.00pm on Saturdays and from 11.00am to 5.00pm on Sundays and public holidays, other than on Christmas Day, Good Friday and ANZAC Day, which are closed days. | Section 12E |
| Townsite of Pemberton | During school holidays and long weekends (prescribed periods), 8.00am to 9.00pm each day, including public holidays, (other than on Christmas Day, Good Friday and ANZAC Day). | Section 5 | |
| Shire of Merredin | Shire Boundaries | Trading from 7.00am to 8.00pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, from 7.00am to 9.00pm on Thursday and from 9.00am to 6.00pm on Sundays and public holidays (other than on Christmas Day, Good Friday and ANZAC Day). | Section 12E |
| Shire of Mingenew | Townsite of Mingenew | Unrestricted daily trading. | Section 5 |
| Shire of Moora | Shire Boundaries | Trading prohibited on Saturdays after 1.00pm. | Section 13(1) |
| Shire of Murray | Townsite of Pinjarra | Unrestricted daily trading. | Section 12E |
| Shire of Narembeen | Shire Boundaries | Unrestricted daily trading. | Section 5 |
| Sire of Northam | Shire Boundaries | Trading from 8.00am to 9.00pm Monday to Friday and from 8.00am to 5.00pm on Saturdays and Sundays. These daily hours apply also on public holidays other than on Christmas Day, Good Friday and ANZAC Day. |
Section 12E |
| Shore of Northampton | Townsites of Port Gregory, Kalbarri, Northampton and Horrocks Beach | Trading each day from 8.00am to 9.00pm. | Section 5 |
| Shire of Plantagenet | Shire Boundaries | Sunday trading from 9.00am to 5.00pm and general daily hours on public holidays other than on Christmas Day and Good Friday, which are closed days. Trading on ANZAC Day from 12.00noon to 4.00pm. |
Section 12E |
| Shire of York | Townsite of York | Trading each day from 8.00am to 9.00pm. | Section 5 |
For detailed advice on the individual Variation Orders or for any additional information, please call the Automotive, Marine and Trading Hours Branch on (08) 6251 1406.
Extended trading permits are available under certain conditions. These include, for example, swapmeets, trade fairs and industry expos. For specific advice on the issue of permits please contact us on (08) 6251 1406.
|
Retail trading hours |
Retail shop lease information |
Wages |
|---|---|---|
|
Automotive, Marine and Trading Hours Branch of Consumer Protection |
Small Business Development Corporation |
Wageline (free and confidential private-sector employment information service) |
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