Pest control in Perth: costs, city services and local pests

Quick answer: In Perth, suspected European wasps are reported to the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development on +61 8 9368 3080 or through MyPestGuide Reporter, so the department can find and destroy the nest. Other pests need a registered pest management business whose technicians hold a WA Department of Health licence.

Local pest issues in Perth

European wasps. Unlike the eastern states, Western Australia treats the European wasp as a declared pest it is trying to keep out. DPIRD says fertilised queens arrive each year in freight and cargo from the eastern states, that about 90% of nests are hidden underground, and that early detection is critical. It asks residents to report suspected European wasps to its Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS) on +61 8 9368 3080, by email to [email protected] or through the MyPestGuide Reporter app, and invites residents and businesses to adopt a surveillance trap during the wasp season, from around December to the end of May. The tell-tale signs DPIRD lists include wasps flying in and out of a single hole in the ground, flying with raised legs and having black antennae.

Argentine ants. DPIRD describes Argentine ants as an introduced major pest species that is established in WA, common in urban areas and the most difficult common pest ant in WA to control because colonies re-colonise quickly. Because they are established, these are a job for a pest controller, not a biosecurity report; unusual or invasive ants such as fire ants should still be reported to PaDIS. Our guide on why ant identification matters explains why the species changes the treatment.

Mosquitoes. The City of Perth’s Environmental Health Officers monitor and treat known natural breeding sites, including Pelican Point in Crawley and Heirisson Island, under a mosquito management plan run with neighbouring councils and WA Health.

City of Perth and state services

Issue	Who deals with it	Charge	How to contact
Suspected European wasp	DPIRD biosecurity team	Free to report	PaDIS +61 8 9368 3080, [email protected] or MyPestGuide Reporter
Unusual or invasive ants	DPIRD	Free to report	PaDIS +61 8 9368 3080
Mosquito breeding at river sites	City of Perth Environmental Health	Free	City of Perth
Checking a pest controller’s licence	WA Department of Health	Free	Ask to see the licence or call 9222 2000
Problem with a pest control business	Consumer Protection WA	Free	Consumer Protection
Rats, termites, cockroaches, Argentine ants at home	You, through a registered pest management business	Private price	Get quotes (see below)

The City of Perth covers the CBD and inner suburbs; neighbouring councils such as South Perth and Vincent publish their own pest pages and deal with their own parks and buildings.

What private pest control costs in Perth

We have not found a reliable published price list specific to Perth, so use the national reported ranges in our Australia pest control cost guide. As a guide, hipages reports rodent removal at $250–$350, cockroach treatment at $215–$315 and bee or wasp nest removal at $100–$550, and puts a pre-purchase pest inspection at around $250. Termite work is priced separately and can run into the thousands for a full barrier.

Our checklist for comparing callouts, follow-up visits and quotes shows what to line up side by side. We are a comparison and referral service, not a pest control company; the form below passes your request to licensed firms that cover your area.

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We are a comparison and referral service, not a pest control company. We do not guarantee a quote, a price or a response time. If there is an immediate risk to health or safety, contact the relevant emergency service.

Renting in Perth: who deals with pests

Consumer Protection WA lists preventing pest infestation, such as rats and mice, among the tenant’s responsibilities, along with keeping the property clean. The landlord must keep the home in a reasonable condition and comply with WA building, health and safety laws, and organise or approve repairs. Consumer Protection also advises checking for pests before signing and getting any promised fix written into the tenancy agreement. If the problem comes from a defect, such as a gap or broken vent, ask the landlord to repair it in writing.

How to choose a pest controller here

WA Health licenses pest management technicians and registers pest management businesses. HealthyWA advises checking that the person is authorised to apply the pesticides they recommend and works for a registered business, by asking to see their licence or calling the Department of Health on 9222 2000.
Consumer Protection WA says that if you are signed up by a door-to-door salesperson, telemarketer or someone who approaches you in public, you get a 10-day cooling-off period under the Australian Consumer Law. It has received 45 complaints about pest control providers since 2023, mostly about due care and skill.
Get the scope in writing: which pests, inside and outside, number of visits, any warranty period and what it excludes.
For termites, ask whether the report follows the Australian Standard for inspections and whether a durable notice is on the property.
Ask what the treatment means for children and pets and when rooms can be re-entered; our guide to treatments around children and pets lists the questions.
Compare at least two quotes. See choosing a pest controller.

Pest control providers in Perth

These businesses appear in public business listings for Perth. We have not checked their WA Health licences, business registration or insurance, so check before booking.