Retail trading hours in all areas of the State south of the 26th parallel are controlled by the Retail Trading Hours Act 1987.

Trading hours for retail premises with the exception of restaurants, cafes and take-away food shops which are not covered by the Act are set down in four categories:

• general retail shops 
• exempted general retail shops (small shops) 
• special retail shops 
• service stations

General retail shops

All shops are considered general retail shops unless they come within any of the other categories. General retail shops are allowed to trade at any time during the following hours:

8.00am - 6.00pm, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday
8.00am - 9.00pm Thursday
8.00am - 5.00pm Saturday

This category cannot open on Sundays or public holidays.

Motor vehicle shops (car yards)

This sub-category of general retail shops which includes any shop where motor vehicles are sold is allowed to trade:

8.00am - 6.00pm, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday
8.00am - 9.00pm, Wednesday
8.00am - 1.00pm, Saturday

Motor vehicle shops are not permitted to open on Sundays or public holidays.

Tourism precincts - Perth and Fremantle

Expanded trading hours are available to general retail shops in the central tourism precincts of Perth and Fremantle:

Perth tourism precinct

8.00am - 7.00pm, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday
8.00am - 9.00pm, Friday
8.00am - 5.00pm, Saturday 
11.00am - 5.00pm, Sunday

General retail shops in the Perth tourism precinct may not open on public holidays.

Fremantle tourism precinct

8.00am - 7.00pm, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday
8.00am - 9.00pm, Thursday
8.00am - 5.00pm, Saturday 
12noon - 6.00pm Sunday

General retail shops in the Fremantle tourism precinct may not open on public holidays.

Non-metropolitan trading hours

Local government authorities outside the Perth metropolitan region may, subject to Ministerial approval, extend trading hours for general retail shops beyond the standard hours.

Under the Non-Metropolitan Local Government Empowerment Policy the following local government authorities have removed trading hours restrictions within their jurisdictions:

Shire of August-Margaret River
Shire of Bunbury (effective 4 January 2009)
Shire of Dardanup
Shire of Dundas
Shire of Gingin
Shire of Mingenew
Shire of Narambeen

Variations to standard general retail trading hours have been implemented by:

City of Albany
Shire of Busselton
Shire of Dandaragan
Shire of Denmark
Shire of Donnybrook
Shire of Harvey
Shire of Irwin
City of Kalgoorlie
City of Mandurah
Shire of Manjimup
Shire of Northam
Shire of Northampton
Shire of York

Exempted general retail shops (small shops)

This category is defined as:

• shops operated by up to six owners who operate no more than three retail shops; and
• in which no more than thirteen people, including any of the owners, work at any one time

Shops in this category are able to trade up to 24 hours a day, seven days a week without any restrictions, other than motor vehicles, on the goods or services provided. In order to trade under this category the shop must hold a Small Shops Certificate issued on application by the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.

Special retail shops

These are shops considered necessary for emergency, convenience or recreational supplies and include:

• newsagencies
• pharmacies
• garden nurseries
• hardware stores
• video stores
• art and craft stores
• souvenir and duty free stores
• shops at sports venues
• marine craft outlets
• motor vehicle spare parts stores
• shops at international standard hotels

Shops in this category:

• may trade between 6.00am and 11.30pm seven days a week
• are subject to varying restrictions on the range of goods and services that may be sold
• must hold a Special Retail Shop Certificate issued on application by the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection

Service stations

Service stations include garages and any other business that sells motor vehicle fuel. Service station trading hours are completely deregulated in all areas, however, there are restrictions on the range of non-petroleum or motor vehicle related goods which may be sold outside general retail shop hours.

The scope of non-petroleum goods approved for sale depends on the corporate circumstances of each operation. A more expansive range of after hours non-petroleum goods is available to those that meet a similar criteria as set for exempted general retail (small shops) ie:

• service stations operated by up to six people who operate no more than three shops; and
• in which no more than 10 people, including any of the owners, work at any one time

Service station operators wishing to access the small business options must hold a certificate issued on application by the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.

For more information contact the Retail Traders' Association on 08 9365 695 or e-mail: rta@cciwa.com

This year’s Christmas trading hours are as follows:

Sunday 9 December 2007 Monday 10 December 2007 Tuesday 11 December 2007 Wednesday 12 December 2007 Thursday 13 December 2007 Friday 14 December 2007 Saturday 15 December 2007	- - - - - - -	10.00am to 5.00pm Normal Trading Normal Trading Normal Trading Normal Trading Normal Trading Normal Trading
Sunday 16 December 2007 Monday 17 December 2007 Tuesday 18 December 2007	- - -	10.00am to 5.00pm Normal Trading Normal Trading
Wednesday 19 December 2007	-	8.00am to 9.00pm
Thursday 20 December 2007	-	8.00am to 9.00pm
Friday 21 December 2007	-	8.00am to 9.00pm
Saturday 22 December 2007	-	Normal Trading
Sunday 23 December 2007	-	10.00am to 5.00pm
Monday 24 December 2007	-	Normal Trading
Tuesday 25 December 2007	-	Christmas Day – Closed
Wednesday 26 December 2007	-	Boxing Day - Closed
Thursday 27 December 2007		8.00am to 9pm
Friday 28 December 2007	-	Normal trading
Saturday 29 December 2007	-	Normal trading
Sunday 30 December 2007	-	Normal trading
Monday 31 December 2007 Tuesday 1 January 2008	- -	Normal trading New Year’s Day – Closed

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