Questions and Answers

I have a site and want to build a new home on it, where do I start?

It is often suggested that the first thing you should do is to talk to your local council about your ideas for building. More often than not you will come out of that conversation with no more clarity than you began with. Councils planners can be very helpfull, but you do need to be specific. General questions such as "can I build a 2 storey home" will get you general answers like "its possible".

I suggest that you engage a building designer who can do some groundwork for you. And by that I mean going through your local councils LEP and DCP to work out what is possible for you site. With that in hand, you and your designer can begin the design process.

What is a Development Application (DA)?

A development application is a formal application into your local council requesting approval for your proposal. This is to ensure that the proposal complies with Councils Development Control Plan and Local Environmental Plan.
The DA generally gives approval of the proposal in principle. It does not give approval to start building. A Construction Certificate will be required to be obtained.

Whats involved in submitting a Development Application?

All Council will have a standard level of documentation required for a development application. A standard set of drawings usually consisting of a site plan, floor plans, elevations and section as a minimum.
Requirement for supportive documentation will be determined by what is being proposed, site and/or environmental factors, and council own particular requirements. For more infromation please click on the Approval Process of this website

When do you need to obtain DA from council?

If you are planning a new structure, substantially changing the structure of an existing building, or altering the external envelope of the building, a Development Application must be lodged with your local council. We can advise as to wether a DA is required.

How long does it usually take for a development application to be assessed?

There is no one answer for this. A very simple application can be processed and determined in 4-6 weeks. Larger development with more complexities can take many months.