Permits, licensing & documents
Permits & approvals
Help understanding which permits may apply to your project in Melbourne, preparing the information the relevant authority asks for, and keeping the process organised. Decisions on permits always sit with your council, the relevant building surveyor or the relevant authority.
Illustration. Not an actual property or real inspection work.
Who is it for?
- Owners planning a renovation, extension, new home or outbuilding.
- Owners unsure whether their project needs a permit.
- Buyers who want to understand the permit history of a property.
- People who have received a request for further information from an authority.
What does it cover?
- A plain explanation of the difference between planning permits and building permits.
- Working out which permits may apply to your project, and who confirms this.
- Identifying the documents and information the relevant authority commonly asks for.
- Organising your application material and checking it for gaps before you lodge it.
- Coordinating with designers, consultants and others involved, as agreed with you.
What do you receive?
- A clear summary of the permits that may apply and the next steps.
- A list of documents and information to gather.
- Help preparing and organising your application material.
- Plain-language explanations of requests or correspondence from the authority.
How do you prepare?
Describe the work you're planning, including its rough size and where it sits on the site.
Share any plans, sketches or drawings you already have.
Gather existing permits, certificates or council correspondence for the property.
Let us know about any deadlines you're working to.
Good to know
Where do we offer permits & approvals?
We offer permits & approvals across Melbourne. The suburbs below each have their own page. Other suburbs and surrounds are confirmed per enquiry.
- Melbourne CBD
- Box Hill
- Ringwood
- Camberwell
- Preston
- Whittlesea
- Coburg
- Brunswick
- Sunshine
- Werribee
- Williamstown
- Footscray
- Brighton
- Frankston
Questions about permits & approvals
Can’t see your question? Send an enquiry and we’ll come back to you.
More detail
More about permits & approvals
Planning permits and building permits
These are two different things. A planning permit generally deals with how land is used and developed (for example, the siting, size or use of a building). It is administered by your council under the local planning scheme. A building permit deals with the building work itself, such as its structure and safety, and is issued by a building surveyor, either through your council or privately.
A project may need a planning permit, a building permit, both, or neither. It depends on the work and on the property.
How VicWide helps
We help you understand which permits may apply, what the relevant authority is likely to ask for, and how to organise your information clearly. Where other people are involved, such as a designer, a draftsperson or a consultant, we can help keep the process coordinated.
Where decisions sit
Every permit decision, and the time it takes, sits with your council, the relevant building surveyor or the relevant authority. VicWide's role is to help you understand the process and prepare well. It can't promise an approval, a condition or a timeframe.
Sources and authorities
These public sources set out the requirements this page refers to. They are the places to confirm what applies to your property; we help you understand and prepare for them.
- Building and Plumbing Commission: Victoria's building regulator: building permits, building surveyors, practitioner registration and owner-builder guidance.
- Planning Victoria: planning permits, planning schemes and overlays in Victoria.
- Your local council: planning permits and local requirements for your property.
Learn with VicWide
Understand more before you decide.
Showing 2 topics
Permits & documentation
Which permits and documents might my project need?
Planning permits and building permits deal with different things, and a project may need one, both or neither. This topic explains the difference in plain terms, the kinds of documents authorities commonly ask for, and why the decision always sits with the relevant authority.
Key points 5
- A planning permit generally relates to how land is used and developed. Your council administers planning.
- A building permit relates to the building work itself and is issued by a building surveyor.
- Whether a permit is needed depends on the project and the property, so check before work starts.
- Authorities commonly ask for plans, specifications and supporting reports. Exact requirements vary.
- Decisions and timeframes sit with your council, the relevant building surveyor or the relevant authority.
Related service: Permits & approvals
Building
What do property owners often ask about their homes?
Many owner questions come back to a few themes: what needs a permit, which records to keep, and who to ask about a particular problem. This topic works through common questions in plain language and points to the right person for each.
Key points 5
- Check whether a permit may be needed before starting building work, including smaller projects.
- Keep permits, plans, certificates and warranties together. They matter when you sell, rent or renovate.
- Some questions need a specialist, such as a licensed land surveyor to confirm a boundary.
- An inspection describes condition. It doesn't settle disputes or give legal advice.
- If you're not sure who to ask, send an enquiry and we'll point you in the right direction.
Related service: Documentation assistance
Ready when you are
Enquire about permits & approvals
Tell us about the property. We confirm the scope and a quote with you before anything is arranged.
Reviewed by VicWide. Last updated .