What Permits Do I Need For A Renovation In Sydney?

Are you tired of the old look of your home and ready to consult a builder for renovations?

Easy there because the excitement of a renovated home may lead you to overlook a few essential things; before calling your building, ensure the building permit, as a rule of thumb, is ready to sail through the construction smoothly.

Not sure how to go about that? We’ve got you covered with our guide on the topic.

What Permits, such as a complying development, Do I Need For A Renovation In Sydney?

A building permit is a basic requirement for constructing or revamping an existing house in NSW worth $5,000 or more. So, if you want to carry out bathroom renovations or refurbish an existing laundry or kitchen area structurally, you’ll need to secure a complying development certificate.

When Do You Need A Building Permit?

Minor renovations like changing the paint or updating retaining walls can usually be done without council approval; floorboards, woodwork, etc., don’t need a permit and can be carried out hassle-free.

Still, you may need council approval, so we recommend checking with your local council to be on the safer side. It’s better than or worse, requires approval and is faced with fines and a bad track record.

Note that a building permit is required Whenever the project involves structural changes. You need approval for work that affects the building’s external or internal integrity.

Hence, you won’t be able to renovate certain parts like roofs, foundations, beams, and columns. This is true for most external renovations without it.

The need for a building permit also depends on the nature of your project. For instance, if your development falls under the following categories, there will be significant differences in regulations for you:

• Classified on the heritage register of the state
• It lies in a heritage conservation area
• Present around a contaminated or toxic land
• In a bushfire or flood-prone area

What’s The Cost Of A Building Permit?

Before applying for building approval via a permit, it’s better to know the cost of the whole procedure, depending on your council and its regulations. It depends on the type of renovation and the total cost, including building materials and labour.

You can submit your DA or development application for the permit to the local council or a private surveyor. Every council has its charges and regulations for council approvals; you can find more details on their official council website.

The most common fees that you’ll be expected to pay are:

• Your DA or building fee, which could require council approval, depending on the nature and size of your project
• Council payment, charged while lodging the application
• Long Service Levy - government tax charged if your project exceeds $25,000
• Owner-builder permit fee, in case you’ll be supervising the work

However, the fee can be reduced or completely waived for you under the following circumstances:

1. Hardship

You may need to provide evidence to get a waiver that you’ll face unreasonable inconvenience by paying the permit fee.

2. Not For Profit

This criterion is applicable if the building work is conducted by a charitable organisation holding a non-profit status. The renovation can also be claimed to improve the New South Wales community.

3. Commercial

Lastly, the permit charges are reduced if the contractor offers services for home renovation and needs help to survive on the market.

How To Get A Building Permit?

Whether you need to carry out internal renovations involving the property’s plumbing, electrical, or structural components, you’ll have to start by applying for a permit, especially when significant structural changes are involved. But before that, you’ll need to get all the documents in place, including the following:

• The development application form
• A statement of the environmental impact
• Detailed outline of the renovation, including the sketches and floorplans
• Approximate cost of the renovation, preferably summarised by an architect or the right professionals
• The owner’s consent

Once you’ve filled out all the necessary forms, you can start the council approval process by submitting your proposal for the development approval process. They may then appoint a principal certifying authority to ensure the work meets the state’s standards.

According to the nature of the project, you might need to send the application to your local authority. They’ll decide if your renovation proposal complies with all the rules and regulations of the area and is appropriate for the land.

If all this seems too overwhelming, you can get assistance from your builder, surveyor, or building certifier. Even architects and draftspersons have a fair knowledge of this matter and can guide you through the process.

How Long Does It Take To Get A Building Permit?

After sending the application, you’ll be able to track it online. Usually, it takes anywhere between 30 and 100 days to get the permit, but it largely depends on the complexity of your renovation and the local council.

Can The Building Permit Be Suspended?

Simply put, the jurisdiction authorities can revoke or suspend a building permit due to the following reasons:

• The permit was issued by mistake
• Incomplete or incorrect information in the Development Council approval
• Violation of the building code, Energy Code, Uniform Code or other development standards, or any such law

Still, you should not worry if you play by the rules and mention only the correct things in the application. Your permit will quickly be approved without hiccups and won’t be revoked.

What Is Exempt Development?

Minor renovations or building works, such as installing water tanks that don’t need a building permit but may still need council oversight, exempt development. These renovations are low impact and can be commercial, residential, or industrial; a few examples are:

• Garden sheds
• Fences
• Decks
• Window repairs
• Painting the house
• Carports

Seeking Council Approval For Your Renovation In Sydney

We’ve reached the end of our guide, and we sincerely hope it answers all your queries. Getting a renovation permit can be daunting, so we advise consulting with your contractor or architect before proceeding.

At Final Touch Sydney, we are an Australian-owned building, carpentry and construction company. We specialise in various renovation projects, including commercial and residential. For further assistance regarding building permits in NSW government, or if you would like to speak to one of our experienced staff members about your external renovations, please do not hesitate to contact us!

Until next time, take care!