FAQs

Most things require a council approval. The only things that are exempt form requiring a council approval are as per schedule 4 of the Building Regulations 2012. However, they may still require a development approval. The following items are exempt from a building approval for the full details please refer to schedule 4 of the Building Regulations 2012 A free-standing Class 10 (patio, carport, pergola, shed or a like) structure that has a floor area less than 10m² and is no more than 2.4m in height. Repair and maintenance of a building where the structural soundness, floor area or building classification are affected. Temporary sheds, offices, or sanitary facilities on land where building work is to be carried out. A retaining wall that retains no more than 0.5m in height and is not affecting other land. Construction of a pergola no more than 2.4m in height and not exceeding 20m².

A planning or development application assesses the proposed works against the State Planning Policy, Residential Design Codes and any other local planning policies. Planning officers have up to 90 days to determine applications. A planning or development application is generally lodged before a building application. A building application assesses the proposed works against the National Construction Codes, Australian Standards, and any other evidence of suitability. Building surveyors have up to 25 business days to determine uncertified applications and 10 business days for certified application. If you don't know what sort of application you need, North Coast Drafting Services can help assemble, lodge and track all types of council applications on your behalf.

Firstly, a development application needs to be sought for the existing structure. If a planning application isn't required we can move on to the next stage. The unauthorised structure will most likely require an inspection my an engineer who can then issue a certification report with any remedial works that must be completed before a private certifier can issue their certification. Once the private certifier has issue their certification, you may lodge for a retrospective building approval. If all of this is a bit overwhelming, North Coast Drafting Services offers help to project manage the entire process on your behalf, from our initial contact to a building permit.

An energy efficiency assessment is an assessment of how energy efficient a building is. the performance of the building us meet the energy efficiency standards of the NCC. Generally, an assessment is completed to a 6 star rating using NatHERS software or via the elemental provisions. energy efficiency assessments take into consideration. Building material the building's glazing Air flow and movement and any services like ceiling fans, air-conditioning or boilers. Any alterations to the existing building will also require an energy efficiency assessment to ensure construction meets the performance requirements. If all of this is a bit overwhelming, North Coast Drafting Services offers help to project manage the entire process on your behalf.

A Certificate of Building Compliance (or otherwise known as a CBC or BA18) is the certification from a registered building surveyor for an existing building or structure that meets the applicable building standards. A Certificate of Design Compliance (or otherwise known as a CDC or BA3) is the certification from a registered building surveyor declaring all drawings, specifications and technical documents for the proposed building or structure meets the applicable building standards. If all of this is a bit overwhelming, North Coast Drafting Services offers help to project manage the entire process on your behalf, from our initial contact to a building permit.

Any swimming pool, spa or structure whether above ground, below ground, permanent or temporary, inflatable or otherwise, that holds more than 300mm of water and is designed for swimming, wading, paddling or similar is considered to be a swimming pool. If this is associated with a Class 1 building (single and group dwellings, boarding house, guest houses etc.) it is considered a private swimming pool and requires a swimming pool fence installed to Australian Standard 1926 and tested at least once every 4 years by the local government. If all of this is a bit overwhelming, North Coast Drafting Services offers help to project manage the entire process on your behalf, from our initial contact to a building permit.

If the swimming pool was approved and installed prior to November 2001, self-closing doors were permitted as compliant with the Standard at the time. As amendments to Building Regulations and Australian Standards are not applied retrospectively, homeowners are not required to upgrade any fencing. In 2001 the regulations were amended to include isolation barriers. so that doors were not permitted in a swimming pool area. However, you may still have an window in a pool enclosure but windows must be permanently restricted to a maximum opening of 100mm. If all of this is a bit overwhelming, North Coast Drafting Services offers help to project manage the entire process on your behalf, from our initial contact to a building permit.

The non-climbable zones vary depending which Regulations and Standards you are required to comply with at the date of installation or building permit being issues. For all new pools (post-May 2016) the non-climbable zones are shown below. This does not include boundary fencing/barriers. If all of this is a bit overwhelming, North Coast Drafting Services offers help to project manage the entire process on your behalf, from our initial contact to a building permit.

If you are proposing a new pool or looking to have a spa or swimming pool approved retrospectively post-May 2016 and the boundary fence forms part of the barrier, the boundary fence will need to meet the requirements of AS1926.1 – 2012. A boundary fence forming part of a swimming pool barrier needs to be a minimum 1800mm in height and have a 900mm (measured as a quadrant from the top of the fence) non-climbable zone on the inside. In addition to no foot or handholds, no retaining (including planter boxes), steps or other objects is permitted within 500mm of the boundary where it reduces the minimum height of the barrier. If all of this is a bit overwhelming, North Coast Drafting Services offers help to project manage the entire process on your behalf, from our initial contact to a building permit.

You will need someone to draft up your next project or existing unauthorised structure so that the correct authorising bodies have all the information they need to deem or issue an approval. Generally, a draftsperson will know what sort of information engineers, certifiers, energy efficiency officer, planning officers and building officer require as each authority need different information to be able to do thier jobs correctly.

An uncertified building application is an application that is assessed by the council’s building surveyors. The council building surveyor's have up to 25 business days to deem an uncertified application. A certified building application is an application that is first assessed by a private building surveyor. The benefits of using a private building surveyors to have guidance on compliance before the design is finalised to avoid any changes to engineering and other services that may cost you additional money to have amended. saving you time and money. The council building surveyor's have up to 10 business days to deem a certified application. If all of this is a bit overwhelming, North Coast Drafting Services offers help to project manage the entire process on your behalf, from our initial contact to a building permit.