Common types of building work |
Permit required |
Additions |
Additions to a dwelling or any other building |
Yes |
Alterations |
Structural alterations to a dwelling or any other building |
Yes |
Removal of, or alteration to, a load-bearing part of a building |
Yes |
Alteration to a building that involves work to an essential safety measure within the meaning of the Act and Regulations. This includes exit and emergency lighting, hose reels and sprinklers. |
Yes |
Installation of solar panels |
Yes See Does Solar Panel installation need a permit? |
Carports/garages/sheds |
Freestanding, floor area not to exceed 10m2, no more than 3m in height (if 1m off the boundary), or 2.4m in height (if within 1m of the boundary). Not constructed of brick, and located no further forward on the allotment than the associated building. (Note: the consent of a service authority may be required to construct a building of this nature over an easement). |
No |
Attached to another building |
Yes |
Setback less than the associated building |
Yes |
Erection of a shed more than 10m2 in area |
Yes |
Demolition/removal |
Demolition or removal of part or all of a building |
Yes - see Before you demolish or remove a building |
Demolition of a freestanding class 10 building that is not constructed of masonry, does not exceed 40m2 in floor area, and will not adversely affect the safety of the public or occupiers of the building, is not work carried out on or in connection with a building included on the Heritage Register within the meaning of the Heritage Act 1995 |
No |
Easements |
If you intend to build over an easement, you must first obtain consent from any service authorities who have rights to your easement and then obtain a building permit for the project. |
Yes - see Building over easements |
Fences/privacy screens |
Construction of a side or rear boundary fence 2m or less in height |
No |
Construction of a brick front fence less than 1.2m high |
No (but you will need a permit if the fence is within 9m of the point of intersection of street alignment) |
Construction of a timber/colorbond front fence less than 1.5m high |
No (but you will need a permit if the fence is within 9m of the point of intersection of street alignment) |
Construction of a side or rear boundary fence more than 2m high |
Yes - see Fences |
Construction of a fence/screen that is more than 1m in height, within 9m of the point of intersection of street alignment |
Yes - see Fences |
Construction of a chain-wire tennis court fence |
No |
Masts/antennas |
Height more than 3m above the highest point of a building (if attached to a building) |
Yes |
Exceeding 8m above ground level (not attached to a building) |
Yes |
Pergolas (unroofed structure) |
Construction of a pergola (unroofed) associated with a house, not exceeding 20m2 in area, not more than 3.6m high, and located no further forward on the allotment than the associated building |
No |
Construction of a pergola (unroofed) associated with any other building |
Yes |
Retaining walls |
Constructed on or near site boundaries (any height) in order to maintain the stability of the adjoining property |
Yes |
Construction of a retaining wall 1m or more in height |
Yes |
Re-blocking/underpinning or replacement of footings |
Re-blocking, underpinning or re-stumping of an existing building |
Yes |
Roofing |
Replacing of corrugated iron roofing with concrete or terracotta roofing tiles |
Yes |
Replacement of corrugated iron roofing with 'Colorbond' or other pre-finished sheeting |
No |
Signs |
Less than 1m above ground level within 3m of the street alignment |
No |
More than 8m above ground level, and more than 6m2 in display area, and greater than 3m from the street allotment boundary |
Yes |
Swimming pools/spas |
Construction and/or installation of a swimming pool/spa pool that is capable of containing water more than 300mm deep |
Yes - see Swimming pool fencing and safety barriers |
Verandas/decks/decking |
Construction of a veranda |
Yes |
Construction of decks or decking |
Yes |
Windows |
Replacement of windows with similar type windows, where no structural alterations are required |
No |
Installation of "bay" or "corner" type windows where structural alterations are required |
Yes |
Wood heater |
Installation of a wood heater (solid fuel burning appliance) |
No |