Development without approval

Balconies, decks, patios, pergolas, terraces and verandahs

You don’t need permission from council for balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs (whether free standing or attached to the ground floor level of a building, or roofed or unroofed) if:

  • It is for domestic purposes only

Size

  • Each one is no larger than 25sqm
  • All similar structures on the property do not;
  • for a lot larger than 300sqm – exceed 15% of the ground floor area of the house on the lot
  • for a lot 300sqm or less – exceed 25sqm
  • If it has an enclosing wall – the wall less than 1.4m tall
  • It has a floor which is no more than 1m above the ground level
  • If it is to have a roof;
  • if the roof is attached to the house – the height of the roof must not extend above the roof gutter line of the house
  • if the roof it not attached to the house – the height of the structure should be no more than 3m above the ground

Location

  • It is behind the building line of any road frontage
  • It is at least 900mm from any boundary
  • If the property is in a heritage conservation area or draft heritage conservation area - be located behind the building line of any road frontage.

Other

  • If there are any metal parts of the structure they must be low reflective, factory pre-coloured materials
  • If the structure is to be attached to the fascia of a building it must be connected in accordance with a professional engineers’ specification
  • The disposal of any roof water must dispose in to an existing stormwater drainage system
  • It must not interfere with the functioning of existing drainage fixtures or flow paths
  • If your property is in bushfire prone land and the structure is going to be located less than 5m from your house or a neighbours house it must be of non-combustible materials

You do need permission for balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs (whether free standing or attached to the ground floor level of a building, or roofed or unroofed) if:

  • You do not meet all of the above requirement
  • Your property is a listed heritage item or draft heritage item
  • Your property is located in a foreshore area

Further information:

  • Your local council can be contacted for further advice
  • You can find out whether your property is a listed heritage item, draft heritage item or located within a heritage conservation area or draft heritage conservation area by contacting your local council
  • You can find out whether your property is located on bushfire prone land by contacting your local council
  • Please note that there is a separate entry for shade structures
Last Updated 25-Mar-2011