You’ve got a vision for what you want your home or business to look like. Together with your architect, you’ve drawn up a blueprint. The build has been budgeted for and funding secured.
You’re ready to go. Almost.
Before you can break ground with your construction or renovation project, it’s important that you get the right permits.
One of the most important? The planning permit
What is a planning permit?
Like the name suggests, the planning permit focuses on the planning stage of your construction.
Essentially, it’s all about ensuring that your plan is appropriate for the area that you’re building in, and that the land is being used appropriately.
Councils set out certain conditions that must be met before construction can commence.
A planning permit certifies that the council has looked over your building or renovation plan, and is satisfied it meets these conditions.
These conditions cover a wide range of different areas of your project. The following are only a handful of examples of the types of considerations planning permits cover.
Essentially, it’s all about ensuring that your plan is appropriate for the area that you’re building in, and that the land is being used appropriately.
Councils set out certain conditions that must be met before construction can commence.
A planning permit certifies that the council has looked over your building or renovation plan, and is satisfied it meets these conditions.
These conditions cover a wide range of different areas of your project. The following are only a handful of examples of the types of considerations planning permits cover.
Appearance and aesthetics
And we aren’t just talking about the colour you’ve chosen for your frontage, either - when it comes to appearance, it’s also important that your plan:
- Matches the unique character of the local area
- Adheres to heritage requirements if you’re renovating a heritage-listed houses
- Fits with the surroundings if you’re building in a heritage overlay
- Is appropriate for your area (is it residential, commercial, or mixed-use?)
These are just some of the things that are considered before your planning permit is approved.
- Matches the unique character of the local area
- Adheres to heritage requirements if you’re renovating a heritage-listed houses
- Fits with the surroundings if you’re building in a heritage overlay
- Is appropriate for your area (is it residential, commercial, or mixed-use?)
These are just some of the things that are considered before your planning permit is approved.
Privacy concerns
Everyone has a right to privacy. Unfortunately, certain types of construction can infringe on the rights of neighbours.
Does your plan overlook the neighbours? Does it allow you to look into neighbours’ homes and backyards?
If so, you may find your permit rejected, and need to make modifications before resubmitting.
Does your plan overlook the neighbours? Does it allow you to look into neighbours’ homes and backyards?
If so, you may find your permit rejected, and need to make modifications before resubmitting.
Congestion issues
Certain types of construction or renovation can drive up congestion in an area.
- Building townhouses, apartments or units instead of a single house
- Constructing a commercial property in a primarily residential zone
- Opening certain types of businesses that draw in large volumes of traffic
Each of these can add congestion and crowding to an area, clogging up streets and reducing the amount of parking available.
In addition to aesthetics, planning permits also certify that the impact of your construction on the surroundings is minimal.vvv
- Building townhouses, apartments or units instead of a single house
- Constructing a commercial property in a primarily residential zone
- Opening certain types of businesses that draw in large volumes of traffic
Each of these can add congestion and crowding to an area, clogging up streets and reducing the amount of parking available.
In addition to aesthetics, planning permits also certify that the impact of your construction on the surroundings is minimal.vvv
Special considerations
Many Australians - retirees in particular - are moving out of the suburbs, choosing to spend their golden years away from the noise of the city in the quiet and tranquility of the country.
Many of these retirees are choosing to settle down in newly-built homes - many of these dream homes are located in or near bushfire and flood overlays.c
When building in areas prone to flooding and bushfires, you’ll have to account for additional considerations when applying for a planning permit. Specifically, you’ll need to prove that your plan:
- Includes adequate preparations for these eventualities
- Meets the required BAL rating
- Adheres to relevant building regulations
Before you can apply for a permit first however, you’ll need to obtain the documentation proving you’ve done your due diligence.
Specifically, that means a flood certificate and a bushfire attack level report.
PSI makes obtaining both of these important documents easy!
Many of these retirees are choosing to settle down in newly-built homes - many of these dream homes are located in or near bushfire and flood overlays.c
When building in areas prone to flooding and bushfires, you’ll have to account for additional considerations when applying for a planning permit. Specifically, you’ll need to prove that your plan:
- Includes adequate preparations for these eventualities
- Meets the required BAL rating
- Adheres to relevant building regulations
Before you can apply for a permit first however, you’ll need to obtain the documentation proving you’ve done your due diligence.
Specifically, that means a flood certificate and a bushfire attack level report.
PSI makes obtaining both of these important documents easy!
When do you need to make a planning permit application?
Answer: it depends on what you’re planning to build.
As with all things legal, the answer isn’t clear-cut. Restrictions on Titles, building envelopes, small lot housing codes, overlays… there are a whole range of restrictions that can necessitate a planning permit.
That’s why we offer planning information advice as one of our key services. Our planning advice application advises you if a planning permit is required for your construction.
For medium density housing however, you’ll generally need a planning permit. That means:
- Townhouses and subdivisions
- Units (excluding granny flats)
- Apartments
- Boarding houses and residential buildings
- Extensions to any of the above
Many types of commercial construction and renovation are also subject to planning permits.
Some situations where you may need to apply for a planning permit with regard to your business include:
- Changing your storefront
- Attaching new signage
- Updating your internal shop fit-out
- Installing outdoor seating and heaters
As with all things legal, the answer isn’t clear-cut. Restrictions on Titles, building envelopes, small lot housing codes, overlays… there are a whole range of restrictions that can necessitate a planning permit.
That’s why we offer planning information advice as one of our key services. Our planning advice application advises you if a planning permit is required for your construction.
For medium density housing however, you’ll generally need a planning permit. That means:
- Townhouses and subdivisions
- Units (excluding granny flats)
- Apartments
- Boarding houses and residential buildings
- Extensions to any of the above
Many types of commercial construction and renovation are also subject to planning permits.
Some situations where you may need to apply for a planning permit with regard to your business include:
- Changing your storefront
- Attaching new signage
- Updating your internal shop fit-out
- Installing outdoor seating and heaters
Planning permit search Victoria
Of course, it isn’t just builders and renovators who may have need of a planning permit - half the reason the permit scheme exists is to give other residents and occupants an opportunity to object if they believe construction or renovation will negatively affect them!
Imagine someone’s planning on demolishing the house next to yours.
Through the grapevine, you hear that they’re planning on building a block of apartments or row of two-storey townhouses.
Should this go ahead, you might:
- Have unwelcome eyes peering onto your property
- Face greater competition for street parking
- Feel that your street feels less welcome, and more crowded
It affects you - naturally, you’ll want to make your perspective heard!
Imagine someone’s planning on demolishing the house next to yours.
Through the grapevine, you hear that they’re planning on building a block of apartments or row of two-storey townhouses.
Should this go ahead, you might:
- Have unwelcome eyes peering onto your property
- Face greater competition for street parking
- Feel that your street feels less welcome, and more crowded
It affects you - naturally, you’ll want to make your perspective heard!
Making it easy to find property information
You’ll need a lot of help to ensure your planning permit application is accepted the first time
While it’s possible to apply for a planning permit by yourself, we don’t recommend it - it’s a complex topic, which often involves a range of different bylaws and other considerations.
In order to ensure that your permit is granted the first time, we recommend getting professional help when making a planning permit application. There are many private companies that offer these services - your local council's planning department can also help..
Of course, they aren’t the only people who can help - if you’re still in the document search stage, PSI can be a huge help!
Luckily, that’s what we’re here for.
Our mission is simple: to make the process of obtaining your planning permit as simple as possible by streamlining the document search process.
Written planning advice tells you:
- Provisions relating to zoning
- Overlays
- Required certificates
- Vegetation and tree removal controls
All it takes to get this information is a couple of clicks!
Get started on your property information search today - give us a call on (03) 8527 6300 or click here to get in touch online.