Building Permit Application Process

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You can lodge an application and pay the application fee online, in person, or by post.

Online
Applications can be lodged through the eServices portal.

In person
Applications can be lodged at our Building Services Unit counter located on Level 1, 274 Gower Street, Preston between the hours of 8:45am and 4:45pm, Monday to Friday (except public holidays).

By post
Applications, along with the relevant application fee can be lodged by mail to:
Building Services Unit
Darebin City Council
PO Box 91
Preston, Victoria, 3072

Further Information
Building Services
Phone 8470 8899

 

If you need to change your building plans, or works are going to take longer than planned, you need to apply for a variation to your building permit.

To apply for a variation or extension on your building permit, download and complete this form: Application for Amendment or Extension of Time for Building Permit.

You can lodge an application and pay the application fee in the following ways:

In person
Applications can be lodged at our Building Services counter located on Level 1, 274 Gower Street, Preston between the hours of 8:45am and 4:45pm, Monday to Friday (except public holidays).

By post
Applications, along with the relevant application fee can be lodged by mail to:
Building Services Unit
Darebin City Council
PO Box 91
Preston, Victoria, 3072

Further Information
Building Services
Phone 8470 8899

Council has many kinds of property information. It is useful if you are buying, renovating, or building in Darebin.

Property enquiry for building permits 
Form:Request for Property Information (Building works) Regulation 51(2)

Property enquiry when selling/purchasing property 
Form: Request for Property Information (Conveyancing) Regulation 51(1)

Copy of building permit plans and documents
Form: Application for Copy of Building Permit Plans and Documents. This application must be completed and signed by owner of property.

You can lodge an application and pay the application fee in the following ways:

In person
Applications can be lodged at our Building Services counter located on Level 1, 274 Gower Street, Preston between the hours of 8:45am and 4:45pm, Monday to Friday (except public holidays).

By post
Applications, along with the relevant application fee can be lodged by mail to:
Building Services Unit
Darebin City Council
PO Box 91
Preston, Victoria, 3072

Further Information
Building Services
Phone 8470 8899

An easement is a section of land registered on a property title which gives others the right to use the land for a specific purpose, such as service authorities for the installation and maintenance of utility services.

In so far as Council’s rights are concerned, if the specified use of an easement is for drainage purposes or if a Council stormwater drain exists on a property protected by an implied easement, the appropriate Building Over Easement consent is required prior to Building Certification for any permanent buildings or structures over an easement (Building Regulations 2006 - Reg 310).

If there is an existing Council stormwater drain within the easement on a property or there is a possibility this easement may be required for drainage purposes in the future, permission to build over this easement will not be granted.

Please contact us prior to applying for Building Over Easement application via email to engineering@darebin.vic.gov.au to enable confirmation of the status of easement and if the application will be considered to avoid applying and having your application refused.

How to Apply?
1. Apply online or complete the Building Over Easement Application Form and return by post or in-person, along with the fee payment.
2. Submit a copy of the Certificate of Title Plan for the land.
3. Submit copy of plans showing details of the proposed structure or works to be built over or within the easement.

Apply Online

Within two weeks we will reply to your application in one of the following ways:
1.    Refuse the application
2.    Require further information
3.    Approve the application subject to the property owner/s signing an agreement. Upon the signing of this agreement the application will be approved.

Further Information
Capital Works
Phone 8470 8675

This application will come into effect from 8 July 2019.

The stormwater drainage plan application should be in accordance with the Planning Permit conditions and Legal Point of Discharge requirements. Please read the Darebin Legal Point of Discharge guidelines and complete the relevant checklist and certification form (see below). Please ensure the checklist and certification form are fully completed to avoid unnecessary delays. 

When a stormwater plan submission is required

All apartments, commercial and industrial developments and unit-developments within Darebin require stormwater on site detention (OSD) system and should apply for stormwater plan submission application. An onsite stormwater detention system will be included as a condition on a Stormwater Legal Point of Discharge letter.

Also, you may require to construct an outfall drain and/or right of way (ROW) as part of Planning Permit conditions and/or Legal Point of Discharge requirements. In these instances, engineering design plans are required to be submitted for approval by Council’s engineering services department.

About onsite stormwater detention systems

Impacts on stormwater
Redevelopment/development of a site results in an increase in the area covered by hard impervious surfaces, such as roofing and paving. The increase in hard impervious surfaces significantly increases the volume of stormwater flow, impacts stormwater drains and other assets, and increases erosion of creek areas. It can also cause local flash flooding downstream of the site and has negative effects on fish, flora and fauna.

Benefits of onsite stormwater detention systems
Onsite stormwater detention is the management of stormwater at a site. It is designed to detain (temporary retain) stormwater on site which enables the rainwater falling on the site to be controlled and released at a slower rate. This limits the flow rate of rainwater into the Council drainage system. 

Darebin City Council has adopted the use of onsite stormwater detention systems to prevent local flooding and decrease the peak flow rate into drains and waterways so as to better manage stormwater runoff from high-density developments.

Fees
All onsite stormwater detention approval applications incur a fee. There are separate fees if the developer requires to construct new Council assets such as: right of way, outfall drain and easement drain. 

The fee amount depends on the type and size of development and is reviewed annually.

 Application Type

 

Fee (including GST)

 

2 to 5 unit developments

$170

 

6+ unit, Commercial/Industrial or Apartment developments

$250

 

Outfall drain

$180

 

Right of Way

$180

How to apply for an Onsite Stormwater Detention System (OSD)

Before submitting an OSD Application

  1. Your development plans must first be endorsed by Council's Statutory Planning Department before you can submit onsite stormwater detention system design plans.
  2. Carefully read and understand Darebin design and Legal Point of Discharge guidelines
  3. Review & complete the Darebin OSD Checklist

OSD Application

  1. Copy of Legal Point of Discharge
  2. Copy of stormwater plans designed by a qualified Civil Engineer
  3. Copy of endorsed/stamped condition 1 plans from the Council Planning Department
  4. Copy of endorsed SDA/SMP/Storm report from Council Planning Department
  5. Copy of OSD4W report or similar manual methods
  6. Copy of storage computations to prove the required storage is provided
  7. Completed and signed certification form
  8. Completed OSD system checklist

ROW/Outfall Drain Application

All the required documents mentioned above as well as following:

  1. Separate outfall drain/right of way plans designed by a qualified Civil Engineer
  2. A feature and AHD level survey (showing levels, existing structure, footpath, fences, trees, utility services)
  3. Copy of completed Darebin drainage construction checklist
  4. Copy of completed Darebin ROW design checklist
  5. Completed and signed certification form

Apply Online

What happens after you apply
Once Council receives your complete application, including onsite stormwater detention system design plans, computations, approvals from other authorities if required, and payment. Council will email you a receipt of your application.

Council may take up to 30 days to approve, specify alterations or refuse the application under Section 15 of the Subdivision Act 1988 and Regulation 30 of the Subdivision (Procedures) Regulations 2011.

When a compliance letter is issued by Council, you need to refer to the Council Drainage Standard Drawings, along with specified conditions on the letter. The compliance lettered can be presented to the relevant Building Surveyor who is legally responsible for the design of every stormwater drainage system to the point of discharge from an allotment according to SR No.38 of 2018 – REG 133.

Re-submission
A new application with full payments is required to be made to Council for any of the following conditions;

  • If any amendments are required after Council Engineering’s compliance letter
  • If Planning Permit is amended

Additional documents

Further Information:
Engineering Department
Phone: 8470 8672
Email: EPS@darebin.vic.gov.au