Understanding Building Permits and Approvals

Building Permits plan

Understanding Building Permits and Approvals

If you have decided to build a new home or you’re considering house and land packages, Canberra and surrounding NSW regions are an ideal place to settle. However, there’s a lot to consider and a lot of planning required in the early stages. There’s much more involved in building a new home than determining a functional floorplan and picking out paint colours – there’s an abundance of applications and paperwork that must be carefully completed, but don’t get overwhelmed, your chosen residential builders will be able to help you navigate it all. Permits are an essential piece of the home building puzzle, and they are vital in ensuring your build is safe, legal, and respectful of both the surrounding environment and the community. Read on to find out more.

What Permits Do I Need?

As an integral component of the construction process, building approvals are required in almost every residential construction project to ensure that basic safety, and structural standards are met. When building a new house, the two main permits you will likely need are:

Planning permit – issued by your local council, this is a legal document that gives permission for land to be used for development purposes. It also covers elements such as aesthetics and boundary regulations.

Councils may not provide you with a permit if you don’t meet their regulations and/or your neighbours object to the nature of your build. With this in mind, it might be a good idea to also consult your neighbours in the early stages of planning your new home.

Building permit – this is written approval from a registered building surveyor that your building project is ready to commence. It indicates that your plans and specifications comply with council or safety regulations and allows building work to start.

Lots of people confuse building permits with planning permits, however, these are separate. Before you start building your home, you must find out from the local council whether you need a planning permit. If so, you must get one before you can get a building permit. Generally you will still need a building permit even after receiving a planning permit. As experienced house builders, Canberra, and NSW locals can rely on Elliott Hardie for a streamlined and stress-free home building solution from start to finish. Get in touch to find out more.

How Do I Obtain Permits?

As the homeowner, it is your responsibility to make sure any planning and building permits are obtained prior to commencement work. Fortunately, you can nominate someone like your builder, architect, or draftsperson to act as your ‘agent’ and have them source the permits on your behalf.

How Do I Find a Building Surveyor?

Your builder may recommend a surveyor however, you are free to appoint a private building surveyor of your choice. The building surveyor who issues your building permit should inspect the site at the completion of specific stages of work. It is the builder’s responsibility to advise the surveyor when work on each stage is complete and ready for inspection. You will also need to ensure that you have receive a copy of the required Certificate of Final Inspection or Occupancy permit when the work is complete from the building surveyor.

How Long Are Building Permits Valid?

Validity for a building permit may vary depending on a range of factors, including the nature of the building works. Usually, a building permit has a commencement validity of around 6-12 months and a completion validity of around 6-36 months.

Obtaining permits can be a lengthy process, and all councils vary in their rules, regulations, and timeframes for assessing and processing applications. It’s important to keep the big picture in mind and remember it’s just one step in the exciting process of creating your brand-new home.

For Custom Double and Single Storey Home Builders, Canberra Chooses Elliott Hardie

The planning application process may seem overwhelming but working with a reputable builder will take away the hassle. At Elliott Hardie, we are here to help remove the stress of building and get your new home started and finished as efficiently as possible. Contact us to find out how we can create your dream home today. Enquire online or call us on (02) 6170 2438.