What consultants and approvals do I need?
It can all get very confusing if you haven’t renovated before. This month on the 101.5 FM radio Morning Magazine show, I introduce the consultants you may need to have on your team and demystify the red tape.
We covered drafters, building designers and architects, in last month’s episode, but who are the other consultants I need to consider on my renovation or new house project?
The standard consultants required on most projects include:
- A structural engineer – to provide structural drawings
- A soil tester (or geotechnical engineer) – to test the type of soil to inform your engineer the appropriate footings can be designed.
- A building certifier – to provide Building Approval
But you may also require:
- A land surveyor – to provide a boundary survey and a contour and detail survey,
- A town planner – to provide town planning approval
How do I know which consultants will be required for my project?
The answer to this will depend on your site and what work you are planning to do. The best person to answer this question in Queensland, is a private building certifier because they will be doing the final sign off before construction called Building Approval. In other states, your local council can provide the answer to this question.
What is the difference between Town Planning Approval and Building Approval?
That’s a great question and it can be very confusing! As a general guide:
TOWN PLANNING APPROVAL assesses your house design in relation to the local area and big picture.
- Its assessed against regulations provided by your local council and also, in some cases, the State government.
- Most of the time, the regulations are straightforward and Self Assessable.
- In some cases, you may need to lodge your drawings to Council for Town Planning approval. If this is required, a Town Planner can help you with that process.
BUILDING APPROVAL (QLD) OR CONSTRUCTION CERTIFICATE (OTHER STATES) assesses your house design and construction in relation to the health and safety of all occupants.
- Its assessed against the National Construction Code.
- All building work will require Building Approval prior to construction commencing.
In Queensland, up until about 1998, Building Approvals were assessed by the local council. Since then they have been outsourced to Private Building Certifiers. However it does get confusing because some parts of the approval may be undertaken by council and the final approved documents are still filed with council.
NEED MORE INFORMATION?
Listen to the 101.5FM radio episode HERE
In Course 4. What Consultants do I need? I provide information about all the typical consultants required in the renovation or new house design and building process, and help you make the right decisions for your needs and budget. For each consultant I explain what they do, whether you need them on your project, the assistance they provide and the design stage when it occurs, and a guide to their fees to help you with preliminary budgeting.
In Course 5. Site Investigation and Regulations I show you the site investigation information you need to know, the process to find it and where to find help. Not sure if you will renovate or sell? I save you time and money by telling you the essential site info you need to know now in concept and feasibility stage, and the info you can leave until you decide to proceed with the build.