Building Permit

No, building work needs to be approved through a private certifier. A private certifier must be accredited through the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) and will provide advice on building work and whether the work requires building approval. A private certifier is not permitted to design the building or carry out the building works, this will need to be done through a draftsman or builder. The private certifier will lodged the necessary paperwork with Council.

A Building Application requires the following documentation:

• DA Form2
• Plans of Development including Site, Floor and Elevation Plans
• Soil Test Report
• Form 15 - Compliance certificate for building design or specification by a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ) (if applicable)
• Details of QBCC Certification Licence and Insurance Receipt numbers
• Payment of Portable Long Service Leave Levy including amount, date and number (i.e. where works exceed $150,000)
• Payment of Queensland Home Warranty Scheme Insurance (i.e. new building work over $3,300)
• Owner-builder permit (i.e. if the landowner is proposing to carry out work valued over $11,000)

Please note, further information may be required in addition to the items listed above dependent on the property and what is proposed.

A Class 10a building is a non-habitable building being a private garage, carport or shed. 

A Class 1a building is a detached house or one of a group of two or more dwellings separated by a fire-resistant wall, including a row house, terrace house, town house or villa unit. 

It is important for landowners to understand that existing Class 10a buildings are often not constructed to the specifications of a Class 1a dwelling. A thorough review of historic building records should be undertaken before lodging any Development Application for reclassification. 

An application must be lodged with Council through a Private Certifier. Only once a Certificate of Reclassification has been issued for the Class 1a dwelling can the building be legally inhabited. 

A Development Application is required where:

• Replacing more than 20% of the total number of roof battens, rafters or trusses;
• Replacing more than 20% of the total number of footings; or
• Undertaking demolition work of any kind. 

On the 1 November 2013, new laws were implemented that would affect proposed Building Works that would commence over or near sewers, water mains, stormwater drains or combined sanitary drains (relevant infrastructure).

As a result, all Building Works on or near relevant infrastructure must be assessed and deemed compliant with the Queensland Development Code (QDC) Mandatory Part 1.4 (MP 1.4) Building Over or Near Relevant Infrastructure

Where you are the owner of a property and wish to undertake Building Works at a total value more than $11,000, you will be required to obtain an Owner Builder Permit from the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC). Learn more on how to obtain an Owner Builder Permit.

Council can undertake a building search over the property to locate the approved house plans. Please note some older homes in our Region may not have house plans. If you are not the landowner, you will need to provide consent before Council can release the plans. (Fees may apply)

The Queensland Government issues regular updates on the building and plumbing industry. To keep up to date, read the News Flashes.