UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PLANNING PERMIT & A BUILDING PERMIT IS AN ESSENTIAL STEP IN ANY NEW PROJECT.

BELOW ARE A  FEW KEY POINTS TO HELP DISTINGUISH ONE PERMIT FROM THE OTHER. 

A PLANNING PERMIT.

IN SHORT, A PLANNING PERMIT IS REQUIRED WHEN YOUR PROJECT TRIGGERS A PLANNING CONTROL. THESE CONTROLS CAN VARY CONSIDERABLY FROM PLACE-TO-PLACE AND CAN IMPACT THE SIZE, TYPE, USE AND EVEN APPEARANCE OF YOUR PROJECT. IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT PLANNING CONTROLS EXIST TO PROTECT THE PREFERRED USE, CHARACTER AND AMENITY OF A PLACE. 

PLANNING CONTROLS ARE READILY IDENTIFIED BY USING THE ONLINE PLANNING PROPERTY SEARCH TOOL HOWEVER, ASSISTANCE IS OFTEN REQUIRED TO UNDERSTAND WHICH CONTROLS APPLY TO YOUR PROJECT.

IT’S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT MOST NEW SINGLE-RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS DO NOT REQUIRE A PLANNING PERMIT, HOWVER MULTI-RESIDENTIAL, HERITAGE AND MANY COMMERICAL PROJECTS, INCLUDING RESTUARANTS AND BARS, DO REQUIRE A PLANNING PERMIT.


A FEW KEY CONSIDERATIONS:

• A PRE-APPLICATION MEETING WITH COUNCIL IS AVAILABLE AND RECOMMENDED.
• A PLANNING FEE IS PAYABLE UPON APPLICATION.
• A PLANNING REPORT MAY BE REQUIRED TO SUPPORT ANY PLAN.
• COUNCIL MAY GRANT OR REFUSE A PERMIT REGARDLESS OF NEIGHBOUR INPUT.
• ASSESSMENT OFTEN TAKES A MIN. 3 MONTHS.

• ARCHITECTURAL PLANS WILL BE REQUIRED (TYPICALLY TO SHOW EXTENT OF PROPOSAL) .
• SECONDARY CONSULTANTS MAY BE REQUIRED (I.E PLANNER / HERITAGE / LANDSCAPE).
• YOUR APPLICATION MAY BE REFERRED TO  INTERNAL/EXTERNAL AUTHORITIES (I.E WATER AUTHORITY/TRANSPORT/POLICE)
• YOUR APPLICAITON MAY BE PUBLICLY ADVERTISED AND MAY FACE OBJECTIONS.
• SOME PROJECTS MAYBE ELIGIBLE FOR VIC. SMART APPLICATION (FAST TRACK).
• IF COUNCIL REFUSES AN APPLICATION, YOU MAY APPEAL THIS DECISION THROUGH VCAT.

A BUILDING PERMIT.
IN SHORT, A BUILDING PERMIT IS REQUIRED TO CONSTRUCT OR ALTER A BUILDING; INCLUDING STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS WITHIN AN EXISTING BUILDING. OBTAINING A BUILDING PERMIT IS A MATTER OF HEALTH & SAFETY, QUALITY ASSURANCE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION.

A BUILDING PERMIT CAN ONLY BE ISSUED BY A PRIVATE BUILDING SURVEYOR OR VIA COUNCIL BUILDING DEPT. (I.E MUNICIPAL BUILDING SURVEYOR). 

A FEW KEY CONSIDERATIONS:

• IF A PLANNING PERMIT HAS NOT BEEN GRANTED, A BUILDING PERMIT WILL NOT BE GRANTED.
  
• A BUILDING PERMIT CAN ONLY ISSUED BY A BUILDING SURVEYOR.
• A BUILDING SURVEYOR IS THE DELEGATED AUTHORITY OF THE VICTORIAN BUILDING AUTHORITY (VBA).
• A BUILDING SURVEYOR IS AN ASSESSMENT AUTHORITY AND DOES NOT PROVIDE ADVICE.
  
• WITHOUT A BUILDING PERMIT, BUILT WORK IS DEEMED ILLEGAL. 
• ILLEGAL BUILDING WORK MAY BE ORDERED TO BE DEMOLISHED BY MUNIPICAL BUILDING SURVEYOR.

• ALL APPROVALS + DOCUMENTS MUST MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE BUILDING REGULATIONS AND NCC .
• A BUILDING CONTRACT MUST BE PROVIDED (HIA / ABIC) (LUMP SUM OR COST PLUS) 
• ALL DOCUMENTS, DESIGN AND SPECIFICATIONS  MUST BE  PREPARED BY A REGISTERED OR LICENSED PRACTITIONER.
• THE  BUILDER MUST BE A REGISTERED BUILDER .
• THE BUILDER MUST PROVIDE HOME WARRANTY INSURANCE.

PLEASE CONTACT US, IF YOU REQUIRE HELPPREPARING A  PLANNING PERMIT APPLICATION OR OBTAINING A  BUILDING PERMIT.

TO FIND OUT MORE, SPEAK TO YOUR LOCAL COUNCIL.