Do’s and Don’ts With Renovations

Some common alterations or additions to buildings will need planning approval.  This includes garages, boundary walls, swimming pools and tool sheds, to name a few.

Even for changes to internal walls, one should still submit plans. Plans need to meet planning guidelines and requirements. Most professional architects will be able to complete the process for you.

Only registered architectural professionals can draw and submit plans.

After you have submitted the plans, they pass through various departments. This includes the fire and health departments.

The homeowner is then notified whether the council has approved or rejected the plans. If the council has rejected the plans, they give the homeowner a chance to rectify them.

The process to approve or reject plans can take anything between 30 days and several months.

Once the council has approved the plans,  they provide the homeowner with a stamped copy of the plan. Only once in possession of this stamped copy, is the homeowner allowed to start building.

The council will call in a building inspector to inspect the progress of the building either from the start or on completion. The inspector will issue a certificate to confirm that the building complies with the approved plan.