The following information will guide you through the application process, but for further information please contact particular Council.

The simpler the project is, the fewer forms you will need.  Building a unit or sub-dividing, for example, is highly regulated and you will need a lot of pieces of paperwork to show your project will comply with all those regulations.  Please note that additional or specific forms may be required for your situation.

At a minimum, to apply for your Building Permit, in addition to the completed application form you will need proof of the following information:

1. Fees
2. Planning Permit
3. Proof of Ownership
4. Registered Building Practitioners’ Details
5. Drains and Storm Water Information
6. Copies of Design Drawings
7. Total Cost of the Project
8. Impact on Neighbours or Public Property/Assets
9. Owner-Builder
10. Roof Truss and Frame Calculations
11. Energy Efficiency Reports
12. Foundation Work

1.  Fees

The fee which is based on the location, nature and length of your building project and will be determined at the time of application.

This involves:

• Building Permit fees consist of both Statutory fee & Council adopted fee charges, please refer to the council’s Fee Schedule.
• Building Lodgement Fee, and the
• Building Levy

2.  Planning Permits

If the property is less than 500m², you always need a planning permit.

If the property is under an overlay such as the Heritage or Vegetation Overlay, but your project doesn’t require planning permission, you should provide information as to why.

For example, if you are under the Vegetation Overlay and you are renovating (without extending) your bathroom, no planning permission (for altering vegetation) should be required.

3.  Proof of Ownership of the property

Please call us for more information.

4.  Your Registered Building Practitioner’s Details

Even if you are an Owner-Builder, unless you are a licensed plumber or electrician, you will still have to hire a Building Practitioner for anything defined as plumbing or electrical work.

5. Drains and stormwater information for the property

This includes:

1. The position and size of all downpipes
2. The position and size of all stormwater drainage lines
3. The Legal Point of Discharge

6.  Copies of design drawings

Three (3) copies of design drawings are required and will have to include:

6a.  Site Plan

The site plan, drawn to no less than a 1:500 scale, which comprises of the following details:

1. Siting of the proposed work.  This also has to illustrate the dimensions and locations of the other structures on the property and the next-door neighbours on all sides. For example your neighbours’ garages, garden sheds and habitable room windows.
2. Distance to the nearest cross street.  For example, if you are two houses down from the street corner, the distance in metres from your property to that street corner.
3. Over-looking and over-shadowing diagrams.  If your proposed building will overlook or overshadow any of the neighbouring properties you should show this on the site plan.
4. The location, dimensions, and area of the private open space that is currently available and what will be available after your proposed project is completed.  Building Regulations require that, at minimum, 80 m²or 20% of the area of the plot of land should be available to a Class 1 Building, (like a house but not a hotel), as private open space.

6b.  Floor Plan

When the project involves a residential building it should also include the floor plan.

Drawn to a 1:100 scale, the floor plan needs to indicate:

1. The dimensions, – both overall and internal, – for each individual floor. This needs to give exact measurements of the each individual room and the positioning, (and size) of every window and door
2. The thickness and composition of the walls – both internal and external.
3. The ‘proposed use’ of each room by name, such as the bathroom and the kitchen. All the fittings need to be identified; the sinks, baths, shower, kitchen etc.

6c.  Elevations

Elevations, drawn to a minimum scale of 1:100, including:

• North, South, East & West

6d.  Car Parking

Car parking should show both:

1. Access for vehicles to the building project. If your project will involve a lot of extra traffic to a residential area you may also need a Traffic Management Plan
2. Access for vehicles when the project is completed. All Class 1 buildings should have car parking for two cars.

6e.  Detailed Specifications

Detailed specifications must describe:

1. Materials
2. Specific components to be used including details of framing and bracing
3. The stress grade of all timber used or details of how it complies with the relevant Codes and Standards

6f:  Cross-sectional Elevations

Cross-sectional elevations should show:

1. Footing details including component sizes and spacing. The footing or support structure should be specifically explained.
2. Structural details of the floor, wall and roof framing. These details will have to cover the individual components, or parts, of floor, wall or roof; specifically the size, span and spacing of each.

6g:  Visual Indication of Existing Structure Alterations

Where the project involves adding to or altering an existing structure; it should show:

• Colouring or cross-hatching to give a clear visual indication of the difference between existing and new

Conditional Requirements

7.  Total Cost of the Project

Please call Council for more information.

8.  Impact on Neighbours or Public Property

If the project may impact on your neighbour’s or public property, you will need to provide some kind of insurance or protection.

• Asset Protection Permit: Please note that you will, (almost certainly), need this permit.  You will be able to obtain a Building Permit before receiving an Asset Protection Permit application form.
• Under the regulations if protection work is required by your Relevant Building Surveyor who will issue the building permit.  Then you are required to provide a contract of insurance against damages and any liabilities.

9.  Owner-Builder

If you are an owner builder, and the total cost of the project is more than $16,000, you will require a:

• Certificate of Consent is obtained through the Victorian Building Authority

10.  Roof Truss and Frame

If the project involves the roof truss and frame, you must provide:

• One (1) copy of the truss/frame calculations. This needs to be a physical printed copy.

11.  Energy Efficiency Reports

Please call us for more information.

12.  Foundation Work

If the project involves digging up the ground, you must provide:

1. Description of the termite protection being undertaken or preserved
2. Three (3) copies of the soil investigation report. You’ll need a soil investigation report for most structural alterations to an existing dwelling or building a new building. Smaller projects like installing a window, verandah or deck, or landscaping the garden, may not need a report.

Source: City of Monash

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Having a building permit provides you with protection by ensuring:

• The building practitioners working on your project are registered and carry the required insurance
• Adequate documentation is prepared so the construction can be carried out correctly and according to building legislation
• Key stages of the work are independently inspected
• Your building is suitable for occupation.

A building permit will specify that either an occupancy permit or a certificate of final inspection is required on completion of the building work.

Not all building projects require a building permit. Possible exemptions may include:

• Some minor alterations or demolitions
• Pergolas associated with houses
• Some garden sheds with a floor area less than 10m²
• Repair work for maintenance purposes.

Source: Victorian Building Authority

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• A completed application form
• A recent copy of the title for the land (dated no more than 30 days prior to the application) including a copy of the diagram or relevant plan of subdivision and the Register Search Statement which lists any encumbrances or restrictive covenants that may affect the land. A Certificate of Title may be obtained online from LANDATA or by contacting the Land Information Centre.
• A valid Metropolitan Planning Levy Certificate where the estimated cost of works for the proposed development exceeds $1 million. For more information about the levy and obtaining certificates, please contact the State Revenue Office.
• The prescribed application fee

Applications for construction and/or extension of a single dwelling or multi dwellings on lot (rescode) should also include:

• A neighbourhood and site description which may use a site plan (to be submitted in triplicate at a scale of 1:100 or 1:200), photos or other techniques which documents the existing built form and character of the site and surrounding neighbourhood as required by Clause 54.01 or 55.01 of the Melbourne Planning Scheme (as applicable).
• A design response as detailed by Clause 54.01 or Clause 55.01 of the Melbourne Planning Scheme (as applicable) which explains how the design of the proposed development has responded to the site and its context as identified in the neighbourhood and site description.
• Fully dimensioned plans and elevations at preferred scales of 1:100 or 1:200 showing the following (as appropriate):
  • The boundaries and dimensions of the site.
  • Existing conditions plan detailing all buildings and significant landscaping.
  • The extent of building demolition and structures to remain.
  • Plans and elevations of all proposed buildings or works on the site (proposed alterations and additions to be highlighted).
  • Details of Relative Levels to Australian Height Datum or a Temporary Benchmark of the proposed overall building heights, floor to ceiling and finished floor levels to all structures.
  • Shadow diagrams (at 9 am, 12noon and 3 pm at the Equinox) of the proposed buildings and adjacent structures demonstrating the extent of the additional shading to adjacent private open space.
  • Streetscape drawings showing how the proposal relates to adjoining properties.
  • Location of car-parking and/or crossovers both existing and proposed (if applicable) to the Australian Standards.
  • Details of finishes, detailing materials and colours of main external surfaces including roofs, walls, fences and garages resulting from the development.
  • Elevations (with dimensions) of any proposed front fences.
  • Details of any environmentally sustainable design features (e.g. energy efficiency, water saving, etc.)
• Details of the consideration of the Disability (Access to Premises-Buildings) Standards 2010
• A copy of an approved Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP), if applicable. To determine whether or not a CHMP should be prepared please contact the Office of Aboriginal Affairs Victoria.

This checklist outlines the standard information required for application lodgement.  Additional information may be requested by the assessing planning officer.

Source: City of Melbourne

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The authority in charge of administering the planning scheme, including granting permits, is the responsible authority. In most cases the council is the responsible authority. The responsible authority may also be the Minister administering the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (the Act), or some other person or authority specified in the planning scheme. The council is the normal first point of contact for permit applications.

The procedure a responsible authority must follow in deciding whether or not to issue a permit is shown in Figure. The procedure formally begins when a completed application form is lodged with the responsible authority, accompanied by a complete description of the proposal (which may include plans, supporting information and copy of title) and the prescribed fee. In practice, the applicant will benefit from discussing the proposal in detail with the responsible authority before lodging the formal application. Many problems can be avoided in this way.

With many proposals, the views of other agencies will be required before the responsible authority can make a decision. These agencies will be prescribed in the planning scheme based on the proposal, the location and other factors. The responsible authority will send a copy of the application to these agencies for their comment.

In some instances, the responsible authority will give notice or require notice to be given to adjoining owners and occupiers, unless it concludes that material detriment will not be caused to any person, or the planning scheme specifically provides for an exemption from the notice requirements. There are several standard procedures for giving notice of an application.

The responsible authority may also ask for more information to be provided before it makes a decision.
Once notice (if required) has been given and the relevant time has elapsed for submission of objections or comments by any referral authority, the responsible authority can decide the application.

Depending on its view and whether or not objections have been received, the responsible authority will issue a permit, a notice of the decision to grant a permit or a notice of refusal to grant a permit.

An application can also be made to the responsible authority to amend an existing permit. The application is processed in the same way as an application for a permit with the responsible authority ultimately issuing an amended permit, a notice of the decision to grant an amendment to a permit or a notice of the decision to refuse to grant an amendment to a permit.

An applicant and in many cases an objector may have the decision reviewed by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) in particular circumstances.

Source: Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

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A planning permit is a legal document that allows a certain use or development to proceed on a specified parcel of land. The benefit of the permit generally attaches to the land for which it has been granted although a permit is sometimes made specific to a nominated owner or operator. A permit is always subject to a time limit and will expire under specified circumstances. The responsible authority will impose conditions when granting a permit and endorsed plans will also usually form part of the permit. The proposal must satisfy all the conditions on a planning permit.

The planning permit is the preferred form of development approval in the Victorian planning system. Planning schemes allow a wide range of uses to be considered in each zone through the permit process.

A permit is not always required to use or develop the land. Planning schemes allow some changes in land use without the need for a permit, provided conditions are met. Some uses or development may be prohibited.

A planning permit should not be confused with a building permit. A building permit is issued under the Building Regulations 2006 and generally relates only to the construction aspects of a particular building or development. If a planning permit is required, a permit under the Building Act 1993 cannot be granted unless the Building Surveyor is satisfied that any relevant planning permit has been obtained and the building permit will be consistent with that planning permit or other prescribed approval.

Any building permit issued must be consistent with the requirements of the planning permit, including conditions and endorsed plans.

Source: Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

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