Stirling: sleeping in your car
Council rules: prohibited without a permit
City of Stirling has been read. Under the City of Stirling Local Government Property Local Law 2009:
Stirling prohibits camping on, or lodging at, local government property except in accordance with a permit.
Except in accordance with a permit, a person must not - (a) camp on, or lodge at, local government property;
Stirling's prohibition is on "local government property", which is the council's own land rather than the road reserve, and it covers lodging as well as camping. The state prohibition applies across the district regardless, so a permit from Stirling is not the only thing a person would need.
Signs override this page. Whatever is signed at the site is the rule that applies, no matter what is written here.
What applies here regardless
Western Australia answers most of this at state level, before any council does, and the state answer is restrictive.
In Western Australia a person may camp only at a site in a licensed caravan park or camping ground, or in accordance with regulation 11. The penalty is a fine of $1 000.
In these regulations camping includes camping in a vehicle, so sleeping in a car, van or motorhome is covered by the same rule as pitching a tent.
Nearest places with a published rule
The state road network has no mapped rest area inside Stirling. The closest 8 places this site holds start 156 km away, in a straight line rather than by road.
- Rest area near Roelands (319CE48E)156 km S in a straight line
- Wubin Rtaa213 km N in a straight line
- Rest area near Darradup (468D8897)254 km S in a straight line
- Albany Lake Grace Road Heavy Vehicle Truck Bays, Stirling Range National Park350 km SE in a straight line
- Jerramungup Roadhouse (Ampol)368 km SE in a straight line
- Koorarawalyee (Boorabbin) 24 Hr Rest Area403 km E in a straight line
- Kirkalocka Station, Daggar Hills412 km NE in a straight line
- Rest area near Ravensthorpe (E40AB56E)451 km SE in a straight line
Where this comes from
- “Except in accordance with a permit, a person must not - (a) camp on, or lodge at, local government property;” — Local Government Property Local Law 2009, City of Stirling. Retrieved 1 Sep 2026.
- “A person may camp only — (a) at a site in a caravan park or camping ground, as appropriate, licensed under the Act; or (b) in accordance with regulation 11. Penalty: a fine of $1 000.” — Caravan Parks and Camping Grounds Regulations 1997 (WA), current compilation, Western Australian Parliamentary Counsel's Office. Retrieved 30 Aug 2026.
- “camp when used as a verb, includes to camp in a vehicle.” — Caravan Parks and Camping Grounds Regulations 1997 (WA), current compilation, Western Australian Parliamentary Counsel's Office. Retrieved 30 Aug 2026.