Victorian Building and Planning Permits with Hire A Tradesman

Rob Harris, from Hire A Tradesman , construction franchises, presents his guide on Victorian Building and Planning Permits for those considering renovation or alterations to their properties.

Getting the right building permit is essential for renovation plans. Undertaking building work without the necessary building permits is considered a serious offence and can result in severe penalties.

Building permits are documents that show a building surveyor has approved of the building work prior to its commencement. These building works include most alterations, demolitions and removals. Building permits are issued by council planning departments or independent licensed building surveyors.

There is a key difference between building permits and planning permits. Planning permits approve of ‘what’ and ‘where’ of the building works; while the building permits give authorisation on construction and alterations of buildings, with structural safety and amenity. There is also two distinct Building Codes for residential and commercial construction. It is best to ask the building surveyor on each.

There are a few exceptions with some building works that do not require a building permit. These include pergolas associated with houses less than 20m2 in area, garden sheds with floor space less than 10m2 and repair work done for maintenance purposes, such as replacing rotted weatherboards.

Also, depending on location of the building, such as if it is a heritage zone, permits may be required for installing solar panels or water tanks. It is best to check your local council to determine what renovations and alterations require a permit.

Legislation and Building Codes vary from state to state, it is best to refer to the local council for more relevant information of the area.

For more information regarding building and planning permits, consult your municipal council planning department, a privind building surveyor or Building Commission Victoria.