Do I need Council Approval?

First of all, a Disclaimer: For purposes of keeping this FAQ concise, I will only be discussing the  Brisbane City Council requirements and the CityPlan 2014. The BCC CityPlan is a very large and complex document on its own and I will only be touching the tip of the iceberg so to speak. If you have questions or a project that is not under the authority of BCC then this information may not apply to you. Also, as we are not a Town Planning firm, this information is to be used as a guide only and if you have a unique project, a Town Planner may be a worthy asset.

Now, if you have not yet taken a look at our Council Approval vs Building Approval FAQ then go check that out. There we discuss what are, and the different types of approvals. If it has been determined that you require Council Approval (DA), then it can go two ways:

  • Code Assessable - A fairly straight-forward process where so long as you comply with the specific requirements for your type of development outlined in the city plan then your development should be approved.
  • Impact Assessable - This is for developments where council believe there is a need to carefully consider the potential impacts a development may have. Impact assessable developments require you to prove how your development complies with the CityPlan (this is where your Town Planner comes in handy). It also requires a public notification period, where members of the public can submit their arguments against the development.

Some common examples of times you may need a DA are:

  • Demolishing or altering to the front of a pre-1946 dwelling.
  • Certain alterations to a dwelling in the Traditional Character Overlay
  • A Multiple unit dwelling.
  • A dwelling house over 9.5m high (in LDR).
  • A granny flat larger than 80m² or 20m from the house or you are renting to someone other than in your household.
  • Reconfiguring of a lot (subdivision).
  • A fence over 2m

Exempt work that does not require council approval:

  • Raising or restumping of a house to a height not more than 9.5m high.
  • Enclosing under a house.
  • A pool (unless affected by a neighbourhood plan, some zones or overlay).
  • An external stair or ramp
  •  Internal alterations (except a heritage building)
  • Demolishing a post-1946 addition of a pre-1946 dwelling.
  • Carport, deck, garage or shed (unless in the Traditional Building Character Overlay)

If you have any questions about the above please do not hesitate to contact us.