Council regulations

COMPLYING DEVELOPMENT or FULL DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL

Certain councils around Australia have fast-tracked the approval process for granny flats / secondary dwellings through a system called "Complying Development."

Provided the project meets the established guidelines and criteria for complying development in the relevant local government area (LGA), this streamlined approval process allows certain projects to bypass the usual lengthy approval procedure which can significantly speed up construction.

To confirm whether your project qualifies, we conduct a Preliminary Council Assessment Report.

COMPLYING DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL

At Expandify, we manage the entire council application process for you. One of the key advantages of Expandify is that we provide Class 1a buildings, which allows our homes to be certified and approved by the council as either primary or secondary buildings.

So, do you need council approval? The short answer is yes. The long answer is, “It depends.”

It depends on your specific situation, the intended use of the building, your location, and the requirements of your local council. We handle all the necessary council applications, ensuring they meet your specific council’s requirements.

Our team will manage and assess all important factors in the Preliminary Council Assessment Report and take care of the process from start to finish, including providing any required documentation and handling the submission on your behalf.

One of the key attractions of Expandify is that we offer Class 1a dwellings/buildings. This classification allows our homes to be certified and approved by the council as either Primary or Secondary Buildings.

The short answer is always; the long answer is “It Depends.” It depends on your situation, the use of the building, your location, and your council. We always recommend checking with your local council.

FULL DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL (DA) REQUIRED

If the Preliminary Council Assessment Report shows that your council requires a Development Approval (DA) for your project—whether this is due to the building being a ‘primary building’ (the first house on the block) or the project doesn’t meet the complying development guidelines for your local council—you will need to secure a DA before commencing the build.

Please note that Development Approval (DA) is not included in our DIY or Complete packages.

However, if a DA is required for your project, we have a team of town planning partners who can assist with this step. We will reach out to them on your behalf to obtain quotes and gather information regarding the approval process and the specific steps required by your local council.

Getting your Development Approval (DA) and Building Certification is a very in-depth process that varies from council to council. Due to this, we have partnered with different companies across Australia to help our customers with their local councils. You have the option of doing the council process yourself, or we can get you a quote for one of our partner companies to look after all this for you.

We supply all the certifications and documentation for our dwellings up to the point of structure delivery to your site. Your installers and trades (plumbers and electricians) will then supply certification for the work they have completed.

You can then get your Council or Certifier to do their checks during the installation phase of footings and completion. Once it is all completed, you will have your final on-site check and receive your occupancy certificate.

COMPLYING DEVELOPMENT & DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Certain councils around Australia have fast-tracked the approval process for granny flats / secondary dwellings through a system called “Complying Development.”
Provided the project meets the established guidelines and criteria for complying development in the relevant local government area (LGA), this streamlined approval process allows certain projects to bypass the usual lengthy approval procedure which can significantly speed up construction.
To confirm whether your project qualifies, we conduct a Preliminary Council Assessment Report.
If a Development Approval (DA) / Planning Permit (PP) is required, you can choose Expandify to assist you with this process through our third-party team of certifiers, or you may engage a certifier of your own choosing. There are also costs associated with lodging an application with your local council, as well as any fees for external consultants that may be required to provide supporting documentation. These additional costs depend on the extent of documentation needed, as they are site-specific and can vary by location. Reports such as soil tests, wind ratings, Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) ratings, and flora and fauna overlays, if requested by the council, are completed by external consultants and typically range from $5K to $10K.

A Planning Permit does not eliminate the requirement for a Building Permit.

A Building Permit is always necessary when constructing your new home, as it specifically pertains to the actual construction of the building and the materials used. The construction methods and materials must comply with the Building Code of Australia (BCA) to ensure safety and compliance with the relevant code.

A Planning Permit is a legal document that grants permission for land use or development. A Planning Permit may be required by your local council. If a Planning Permit is needed, it must be obtained before a Building Permit can be issued, though both applications can be submitted simultaneously. We conduct a Preliminary Council Assessment Report to determine whether you need a Planning Permit as part of your project planning.

Once construction is complete, a final permit is required – the Occupancy Permit, also referred to as a Certificate Of Occupancy. This permit is issued by an independent, registered building certifier, confirming that the construction meets health and safety standards and is suitable for occupancy. As part of our Complete Dwelling, Council and Installation package, we manage this process with the certifier on your behalf.
Yes, every new building requires an energy rating, and at Expandify, we handle it all for you. We use the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS), a national framework for assessing the thermal performance of Australian homes. By incorporating this assessment, we ensure that your building is designed and constructed to reduce the costs and environmental impacts of heating and cooling.

Our NatHERS accredited assessors evaluate your home’s thermal performance during the design stage and identify simple, cost-effective ways to enhance comfort and improve energy efficiency. We take care of the entire process, ensuring your home meets the 7+ star rating requirements.
A Bush Fire Attack Level (BAL) Assessment is required for bush fire prone areas. All developments on land that is designated as bush fire prone have a legal obligation to consider bush fire and meet the requirements of Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2006 and AS3959 – 200. To find out if you live in a bush fire prone area, information is available from your local council. If you require a BAL rated building, please contact us to discuss your options.
Certain councils around Australia have fast-tracked the approval process for granny flats / secondary dwellings through a system called “Complying Development.” Provided the project meets the established guidelines and criteria for complying development in the relevant local government area (LGA), this streamlined approval process allows certain projects to bypass the usual lengthy approval procedure which can significantly speed up construction. To confirm whether your project qualifies, we conduct a Preliminary Council Assessment Report.
If a Development Approval (DA) / Planning Permit (PP) is required, you can choose Expandify to assist you with this process through our third-party team of certifiers, or you may engage a certifier of your own choosing. There are also costs associated with lodging an application with your local council, as well as any fees for external consultants that may be required to provide supporting documentation. These additional costs depend on the extent of documentation needed, as they are site-specific and can vary by location. Reports such as soil tests, wind ratings, Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) ratings, and flora and fauna overlays, if requested by the council, are completed by external consultants and typically range from $5K to $10K.If a Development Approval (DA) / Planning Permit (PP) is required, you can choose Expandify to assist you with this process through our third-party team of certifiers, or you may engage a certifier of your own choosing. There are also costs associated with lodging an application with your local council, as well as any fees for external consultants that may be required to provide supporting documentation. These additional costs depend on the extent of documentation needed, as they are site-specific and can vary by location. Reports such as soil tests, wind ratings, Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) ratings, and flora and fauna overlays, if requested by the council, are completed by external consultants and typically range from $5K to $10K.

A Planning Permit does not eliminate the requirement for a Building Permit.


A Building Permit is always necessary when constructing your new home, as it specifically pertains to the actual construction of the building and the materials used. The construction methods and materials must comply with the Building Code of Australia (BCA) to ensure safety and compliance with the relevant code.


A Planning Permit is a legal document that grants permission for land use or development. A Planning Permit may be required by your local council. If a Planning Permit is needed, it must be obtained before a Building Permit can be issued, though both applications can be submitted simultaneously. We conduct a Preliminary Council Assessment Report to determine whether you need a Planning Permit as part of your project planning.

Once construction is complete, a final permit is required – the Occupancy Permit, also referred to as a Certificate Of Occupancy. This permit is issued by an independent, registered building certifier, confirming that the construction meets health and safety standards and is suitable for occupancy. As part of our Complete Dwelling, Council and Installation package, we manage this process with the certifier on your behalf.
Yes, every new building requires an energy rating, and at Expandify, we handle it all for you. We use the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS), a national framework for assessing the thermal performance of Australian homes. By incorporating this assessment, we ensure that your building is designed and constructed to reduce the costs and environmental impacts of heating and cooling. Our NatHERS accredited assessors evaluate your home’s thermal performance during the design stage and identify simple, cost-effective ways to enhance comfort and improve energy efficiency. We take care of the entire process, ensuring your home meets the 7+ star rating requirements.
A Bush Fire Attack Level (BAL) Assessment is required for bush fire prone areas. All developments on land that is designated as bush fire prone have a legal obligation to consider bush fire and meet the requirements of Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2006 and AS3959 – 200. To find out if you live in a bush fire prone area, information is available from your local council. If you require a BAL rated building, please contact us to discuss your options.

Like a conventional build project, permits are required to build a granny flat, prefabricated or expanding home. Regardless of whether you are building on-site or constructing a prefab home in a factory and transporting to site, the permit process is very similar.

There are two main types of permits required for any residential construction project – the Planning Permit / Development approval and the Building Permit. The two permits vary state-by-state but essentially the terms mean the same – one is a legal document issued by your local council providing permission for development, and the other relates specifically to the carrying out of building construction.

Certain councils around Australia have fast-tracked the approval process for granny flats / secondary dwellings through a system called “Complying Development.” Provided the project meets the established guidelines and criteria for complying development in the relevant local government area (LGA), this streamlined approval process allows certain projects to bypass the usual lengthy approval procedure which can significantly speed up construction. To confirm whether your project qualifies, we conduct a Preliminary Council Assessment Report.
If a Development Approval (DA) / Planning Permit (PP) is required, you can choose Expandify to assist you with this process through our third-party team of certifiers, or you may engage a certifier of your own choosing. There are also costs associated with lodging an application with your local council, as well as any fees for external consultants that may be required to provide supporting documentation. These additional costs depend on the extent of documentation needed, as they are site-specific and can vary by location. Reports such as soil tests, wind ratings, Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) ratings, and flora and fauna overlays, if requested by the council, are completed by external consultants and typically range from $5K to $10K.

A Building Permit, also known as a Construction Permit, is a document issued by an independent and registered building surveyor. The surveyor assesses the plans and documentation for the proposed building ensuring the design meets the requirements of the Building Code of Australia, The Building Act 1993 and the Building Interim Regulations 2017.

Regardless of whether you construct a prefabricated home or a traditional site-built home, a Building Permit is always required.
A Building Permit provides approval for construction work to commence and is required for most new homes, alterations and extensions.
If a Planning Permit is required for your granny flat project, it must be obtained before a Building Permit can be issued.

A Planning Permit does not eliminate the requirement for a Building Permit.

A Building Permit is always necessary when constructing your new home, as it specifically pertains to the actual construction of the building and the materials used. The construction methods and materials must comply with the Building Code of Australia (BCA) to ensure safety and compliance with the relevant code.

A Planning Permit is a legal document that grants permission for land use or development. A Planning Permit may be required by your local council. If a Planning Permit is needed, it must be obtained before a Building Permit can be issued, though both applications can be submitted simultaneously. We conduct a Preliminary Council Assessment Report to determine whether you need a Planning Permit as part of your project planning.

This cost will vary depending on the council or private certifier depending on their own charge rates. If you choose our council application service, our third-party team will provide you with an upfront quote on these costs. If you choose to use your own certifier, they will be able to advise you of these costs before you engage their services.

There is one final permit required once construction is complete. An Occupancy Permit, also known as an Occupation Certificate, will be issued by an independent and registered building surveyor. The Occupancy Permit indicates that the surveyor is satisfied with the works and that your new home is suitable to occupy from a health and safety perspective

Building permits relate specifically to the carrying out of building construction. However, there are times when a planning permit may also be required.
Planning permits are legal documents giving permission for a land use or development, and may be required by your local council. If a planning permit is required, it must be obtained before a building permit can be issued, however, both applications can be made at the same time.
A planning permit does not remove the need to obtain a building permit.
The best way to find out whether you need a planning permit is to contact your local council’s Town Planning Office

A Bush Fire Attack Level (BAL) Assessment is required for bush fire prone areas. All developments on land that is designated as bush fire prone have a legal obligation to consider bush fire and meet the requirements of Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2006 and AS3959 – 200. To find out if you live in a bush fire prone area, information is available from your local council.
If your BAL rating is higher than 12.5 alternative design and materials considerations may apply for your home.

Yes, each new home requires an energy rating. Expandify uses the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS), which is a national framework for regulating how Australian homes are rated for thermal performance.
The costs and environmental impacts of heating and cooling a home can be reduced through the good design and construction of our homes. Assessment of a building’s thermal performance at the design stage by a NatHERS-accredited assessor can identify simple, economical ways to make it more comfortable and save energy.

Our Range

Our Range

Ask me anything!

Scroll to Top