Determining whether your construction, renovation, or extension project requires council approval is a critical first step for homeowners in Western Australia. Building permits and development approvals ensure that your project meets local regulations, the Building Code of Australia (BCA), and relevant health, safety, and environmental standards. Understanding the approval process can help you avoid costly penalties, delays, and complications later on.

Do You Need Council Approval in Perth?

You generally need two separate types of council approval for home projects in Western Australia: Planning Approval and a Building Permit

• Planning Approval is your council’s planners deciding whether what you want suits the site.
• Building Permit is a building surveyor deciding whether it is safe and properly built.

You can need one, both, or neither, and they are assessed by different people against different documents. Where both apply, planning approval must be issued first.

Why Council Approval Matters

Council approval ensures that your building work is:

• Safe: Structures must meet engineering and safety standards.

• Compliant: Projects should align with the BCA, zoning rules, and environmental regulations.

• Legally Sound: Proper permits protect you from fines, legal disputes, and forced demolition of non-compliant work.

• Resale-Ready: Future buyers and their inspectors often check if modifications were approved, making compliance crucial for a smooth sale.

How Long Does Council Approval Take in Perth?

10 working days for a certified building permit, 25 for uncertified, from a complete lodgement. If Planning Approval is required add up to 90 days. Add three to six weeks for drawings before any of it. Most residential projects are approved six to fourteen weeks from engaging a draftsman.

Common Projects and Permit Requirements

Whether your project needs approval depends on factors like scope, structural impact, and location. While guidelines vary between councils, the following table provides a general overview:

Type of Project	Likelihood of Permit Needed	Notes
New Home or Major Extension	Very Likely	Typically requires detailed plans and engineering reports.
Structural Alterations (e.g., removing load-bearing walls)	Likely	Changes affecting the building’s framework usually need approval.
Secondary Structures (garages, large sheds, carports)	Likely	Size, height, and proximity to boundaries influence permit needs.
Swimming Pools and Pool Fences	Very Likely	Strict safety regulations make approval essential.
Decks, Verandahs, Pergolas (large or elevated)	Likely	Changes that alter drainage or structural stability often need permits.
Minor Internal Renovations (non-structural)	Not Usually	Cosmetic changes like painting and replacing cabinetry generally do not require permits.
Small Garden Sheds/Pergolas (within size limits)	Possibly Exempt	Confirm size and placement rules with your council.

Planning vs. Building Approval

It’s important to differentiate between planning and building approvals:

• Planning Approval: Focuses on how the project fits with local zoning, heritage considerations, and neighbourhood character.

• Building Permit: Concentrates on structural integrity, safety, and compliance with the BCA and Australian Standards.

Some projects need both approvals. For instance, a home extension in a heritage area may require planning approval first to ensure it respects the character of the neighbourhood. After that, a building permit would confirm the technical and safety standards of the actual construction.

When You Need Planning Approval

You need it where what you propose does not meet a deemed-to-comply standard, or where your council requires it regardless. Common triggers:

• exceeding a height, size or setback standard
• building forward of the street setback line
• leaving too little open space or outdoor living area
• heritage listing or a heritage area
• a bushfire prone area or special control area
• a strata lot, at some councils
• a local planning policy adding requirements

Meet every deemed-to-comply standard and you are generally exempt. That exemption is what most people are relying on without knowing it. Where you do need it, the design principles pathway lets you justify a departure in writing rather than meet the number. See justification letters

When You Need a Building Permit

Almost always, for anything structural. The exemptions are narrower than people expect. The main one: a freestanding Class 10a structure of 10m² or less and 2.4m or less in height, outside wind regions C and D, needs no building permit. Perth metro is not in wind region C or D. Attached to the house means a permit, whatever the size. And this is the rule people miss: exempt from a permit is never exempt from the code. Fire separation, setbacks and structural requirements apply to a structure nobody ever assessed. Nobody checks at the front end. Somebody checks when you sell. Full detail on building permits 

How to Confirm if You Need Approval

Check Your Local Council’s Website:

Councils like the City of Nedlands and Shire of Mundaring offer step-by-step guidance and FAQs.

Contact Your Council Directly:

A phone call or email to your council’s building department can clarify any uncertainties.

Consult a Professional:

Builders, architects, and surveyors can interpret local regulations and advise whether approval is needed.

Preparing a Successful Application

If your project requires a permit, you’ll typically need to provide:

• Scaled Drawings and Plans: Accurate, detailed layouts prepared by a qualified professional.

• Engineering and Structural Details: Information on load-bearing elements and materials.

• Energy Efficiency and Environmental Reports (if required): Ensuring your project meets sustainability standards.

• Site Plans: Showing boundaries, setbacks, and the placement of structures.

Accuracy and completeness in your application help avoid delays. Submitting comprehensive documentation means fewer requests for clarification and a smoother path to approval.

Tips for a Smooth Approval Process

Starting early as it takes time to get approval. Initiating the permit process well before your planned construction date allows you to handle revisions or additional requirements without major delays. Working with professionals can help streamline the journey. Experienced builders, architects, Draftsman and surveyors understand local rules and can ensure your plans are compliant from the outset, reducing the likelihood of lengthy back-and-forth with the council. Maintaining open communication with council officers is key. Promptly responding to inquiries, submitting requested documents, and being flexible if changes are needed helps foster a positive relationship and speeds up the approval process. Finally, it’s essential to adhere to the approved plans. Once your permit is granted, follow the specified guidelines closely. Major deviations might require new approvals, leading to further complications and potential delays.

What If Your Application Is Refused?

A request for further information is not a refusal. It is routine and we budget for it. An actual refusal gives you options: amend and resubmit, or apply to the State Administrative Tribunal for review, generally within 28 days. Where the issue is a departure from a standard rather than something unsafe, a written justification against the design principles is usually the better first move.

Already Built Without Approval?

Usually fixable, and it is a bigger part of our work than people assume. See retrospective building approval

Council Approval Questions

Do I need council approval or a building permit?

They are different things and you may need both. Planning approval decides whether the proposal suits the site. A building permit decides whether it is safe and properly built. Where both apply, planning comes first.

How long does council approval take in WA?

10 working days for a certified building permit, 25 for uncertified. Planning approval runs on a 60 day statutory clock, or 90 days with consultation.

Do I need my neighbour’s permission?

No. Neighbour consent is not required to lodge. Your council may advertise a proposal if it considers there is an amenity impact, and comments form part of the assessment.

Can I lodge the application myself?

Yes. What you are taking on is preparing compliant drawings, working out which approvals apply and in what order, and answering whatever comes back within 21 days.

What happens if I build without approval?

It is an offence under section 9 of the Building Act 2011 to commence building work without a permit unless the work is exempt. In practice councils pursue compliance, and the cost usually lands at sale.

Who issues a building permit?

Your local government, acting as the permit authority. The technical assessment is done either by a private registered building surveyor, on a certified application, or by the council’s own surveyors on an uncertified one.