Hi - i am thinking about extending my backyard with some deck and pergola.. I know based on what i decide to build i might need a building permit..
Just wondering Is it too much of a hassel to get a permit?
And are there people who have build something without a permit? Any issues faced ever?
cheers..
thanks for your response…
i am getting it done from a licensed builder in west melbourne, wyndham area..yeah the plan n drawings seem to be a hassel as they need a lot of details…
we actaullly started building the deck and thats when i relaised I need the license,,so i have stopped the work as of now,,
now when you say council can make you take it down - will they fine me as well or simply tell me to bring it down if someone complains?
People I know in a similar sitution were ordered to remove the improvement.
thanks tonka
In most councils, a pergola can be constructed without approval if it is small.
Call your council and ask.
If it were me, I would choose a slightly smaller pergola with no approvals, over the costs and hassles of approval.
If you want something big, you are best to get it approved, as it would be costly to rip out etc.
Here is the page for Wyndham City Council. They allow quite large pergolas without approval if they are build to code, but you will require a permit if it is a deck:
http://www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/building_planning/building/que…
depends on the council (NSW for me)
when I built mines the rules were
1. had to be around 70cm or 1 metre from the fence
cant be bigger than 20 square metres or need council approval
the roof of the deck must be below the roof
the deck cant be above 1 metre high (or need approval)
thanks guys will check what exactky they need.. looks like the size doesnt matter if the pargola is attcahed to the house… in that cae i will need the approval anyways..
thankfully no planning permission is required for building a low deck < 10m2 in brisbane :) still needs to be self-assessed and meet building code though
you need to go to your local council's web site and check the procedure & requirements are.
You can have a go at drawing the plans yourself. Ring your Council and find out what they require (usually 3 copies of a site plan and a construction plan) To help with the construction plan you could visit Bunnings and get some of their free plans and base yours on them.
thanks ramshead & mattgal… will do that as well..& yeah they need quiet a few detailed drawings so wil ask the builder as well..
If it helps, when I was looking at houses to buy in Wollongong some time ago, the advice I got unofficially from council was that as long as the extension/building was done according to code, they'd assess it after the fact as if it were being requested before. ie. if you built it without approvals and council found out, you'd essentially be going through a similar approvals process. If they determined however that something you did wasn't to code, they'd likely require it to be rectified or removed. Not sure what happens to your house insurance though if you're making alterations that are considered questionable.
thanks for detailing it zambuck… so even if i have alredy started the work.. they would still foloow the process & give me approval if all is ok… is something wrong then i wll have to fix it..makes sense..cheers
also make sure your neighbours are cool with it
if they aint and start complaining to council you'll have problems!
Well, it's a nice idea for extending backyard of your home some deck and pergola. It looks really awesome and increase home value. At the other end, if you have extra space in your backyard, then there is no need to take permit, but you don't have a legal space then you must need it for building anything.
"if you have extra space in your backyard, then there is no need to take permit, but you don't have a legal space then you must need it for building anything."
What does that even mean? I could say I've got 'extra space' in my yard for another house, it doesn't mean I can just build one.
What is a 'legal space' ?
OP, the key thing is that what is required can vary from state to state, and in some cases from council to council.
Using NSW as an example, we have state-level legislation relating to exempt and complying developments. These over-ride 99% of local council regulations and really streamline things. It means that for a lot of 'minor' things, they are considered exempt developments and don't require any approval.
Your profile says you are in Melbourne. You need to contact your local council and find out the specific regulations for where you live.
PLEASE don't take random advice from the internet (including this thread). Check with your local council.
thanks guys all sorted.. this post is from last year… cheers
Oops, didn't see the date, sorry.
Glad you sorted it out.
Hey Coolhead, who did you end up going with? I'm looking for someone to build a deck and pergola for me. I'm in the Wyndham Vale area too.
If you're in NSW you can use this website to check if you need approval. It's dead easy - just enter your address and then you'll see a 3D house. You can click on it to see what rules apply for different projects around your house. So simple!
http://interactivebuildings.planning.nsw.gov.au/
Oh and I put a post up on my blog today with some other deck building tips if anyone is interested:
https://medium.com/@diydave/building-the-deck-of-your-dreams…
Have you had any quotes from builders? What area are you in, someone here may recommend one?