Additional approvals

There are a number of additional approvals that may be required. Examples include:

• reduction of a minimum building setback from a boundary
• impact the work may have on the amenity or aesthetics of the neighbourhood.

Aspects of domestic building work such as the maximum height, setback or character of a building may also be controlled under a council planning scheme. In these cases, it is necessary to obtain a planning permit from the council before a building permit can be issued.

Self-assessable work

Some minor building work is self-assessable. The owner is responsible for ensuring it complies with any applicable standards, such as structural sufficiency, size limits and boundary setbacks. Minor building work may require approval under the council's planning scheme. Owners are responsible for complying with the planning scheme.

Examples of self-assessable building work include:

• A small tool shed, stable, fowl house or the like up to 10 square metres in area, other than in a tropical cyclone area
• A 1 m high retaining wall (providing no loads are imposed above it, such as a building or driveway)
• A fence not more than 2 m high (but not including swimming pool fencing).

A full list of self-assessable building work can be found in schedule 1 of the Building Regulation 2006.