Council & Approvals
APPROVAL PROCESS INFORMATION​
DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS (DA)
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If required (this is the pre-approval of Building or Plumbing work)
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The DA can be done directly through your council or a Town Planner (recommended)
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A lot of renovations and some types of new builds may not need to enter this process. In addition to talking with your proposed builder/plumber it is a safe bet to contact your local council Planning Department or Town Planner to confirm if this is a requirement for you.​
PLUMBING APPROVAL (PA)
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PA is completed through your local council Plumbing Department whether you choose to do this yourself or use a third party for the application process.
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The fees for this process are usually found on your local council website and we recommend you either contact your local council to request this information or use their website to find it. The general fee structure is as follows:
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Council application fee (varies according to your application type)
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Council lodgement/archival fee
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Fee per plumbing fixture
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Onsite Sewerage Facility (OSSF) registration fee (if in an unsewered area and a new facility is being installed)
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If you are choosing to do the PA yourself, be aware the PA Form1 can be confusing however if it is filled in incorrectly or does not have enough information council will send out a Request for Information (RFI) stating what they need changed/added.​
BUILDING APPROVAL (BA)
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Most councils require you to complete BA through a Private Certifier (PC). Some councils may still have a Building Department that process BAs so if this is your preferred route of application, please check with your local council. Either way, your BA is lodged with council.
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You will need a set of preliminary (minimum) architectural plans to get an accurate quote from a PC. The quote will most likely contain a breakdown of costs involved in the process. The main costs should include:
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Building Approval fee
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Inspection fees (footing, frame and final inspection. NB - the footing and framing inspection can be done by your own engineer if you prefer)
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Form 16 conversion fee. This will depend upon the PC. It is the cost of converting the engineers Form 12 inspection certificates (footing and framing) into the Form 16 for BA. If your inspections are carried out by the PC, this fee may not be charged.
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PC administration fee
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Council lodgement cost (GST free)
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Any other fees by the PC
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There are two BA “stages”. The first is initial BA and building should not be started before receiving this. The second is final BA on completion of the build.
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Initial BA requirements:
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DA (if applicable)
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PA (if applicable)
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Stamped/approved Engineering Design plans and Form 15
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Any other information required by the certifier​​
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Final BA requirements:
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Building, Plumbing and Electrical installation forms. These are industry code forms that indicate the construction/installation of any item meets the codes standards. The individual trades will know to supply these and can be provided during or on completion of the build. Checking with each contractor is recommended
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Engineering inspection certificates (usually Form 12s) for footing and framing
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Final inspection certificate by certifier
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Any other documents required by the certifier
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