BUILDING
Before you build your new home, make sure you have considered the following:
- Ensure you have the appropriate approvals in place before you build, extend and/or alter a building from houses, offices and/or industrial unit(s). Any proposed new structures will need some type of approval from the Local Government. Approvals can include either a planning building and/or health approval.
- If you are planning on starting a business or using a building for something other than its approved use (even a home office) approval from the Local Government is required. For example if you are planning on starting a hair dressing business in your home you will need approval from the Planning, Building and Health department.
- Ensure that all the information is provided with the application including site plan (site and floor levels), elevations and floor plans.
- Ensure the plans are to scale and that all setbacks are identified on the plans. It is always good to include as much information on the plans as possible to make the assessing officers job easier.
- Ensure that applications are appropriately justified against the requirements of the Residential Design Codes and Local Government requirements. Local Government requirements include the Town Planning Scheme, Structure Plans, Detailed Area Plans and Council policies and bylaws.
- Do no make enemies with your local government planner. This can determine the time taken to assess your application.