Melbourne VerandasPermits & approvals for Melbourne & Geelong homes
The permit step is where a lot of good projects stall. We prepare the documentation, coordinate the registered building surveyor and engineer, and manage the approvals so your deck, pergola or balcony is built the right way on paper as well as on the ground.
Most raised decks, and larger or roofed structures, need a building permit in Victoria — and some sites also need a planning permit from the council. The rules that decide which apply to your project are specific, and getting them wrong is expensive. We handle the approvals side so you don't have to decode it yourself.
Building permit vs planning permit
They're two different things, and a project can need one, both or neither. A building permit is about how the structure is built and is issued through a registered building surveyor, under the statewide Building Regulations. A planning permit is about whether you can build it there at all, and comes from your local council. We work out which your project needs before anything is lodged.
What can trigger a planning permit
Planning permits are commonly triggered by overlays and constraints on your title — heritage overlays, significant-tree or vegetation controls, easements, or being in certain zones. These are common across the established inner suburbs and leafy pockets. We check your property's overlays up front, because a heritage overlay in particular can shape what's approvable.
What we prepare and lodge
We put together the documentation an application needs — the drawings (see drafting), the supporting details, structural information from the engineer, and any reports or protection-works matters where a build affects a neighbour. Then we lodge it and manage the back-and-forth, including responding to any requests for further information.
Surveyor and engineer, coordinated
A building permit is issued by a registered building surveyor, and most outdoor structures need a structural engineer's input on footings and framing. We coordinate both so the pieces line up and the assessment is straightforward, rather than leaving you to project-manage separate professionals who've never spoken to each other.
The honest bit about thresholds
Whether your specific deck or pergola needs a permit — and which one — comes down to precise thresholds around height, size, siting and your title. We won't guess those from a webpage; we confirm them against your plans and property. Our Victorian permit guide explains the framework in plain English.
Related services
Guides worth reading
Common questions
Do I really need a permit for a deck or pergola?
Often, yes — most raised decks and larger or roofed structures need a building permit, while small, low, open pergolas can sometimes be exempt. The thresholds are specific, so we confirm your project against your plans and title rather than guessing.
What's the difference between a building permit and a planning permit?
A building permit (through a registered building surveyor) is about how it's built; a planning permit (through the council) is about whether it's allowed there, and is often triggered by overlays like heritage. A project can need one, both or neither.
Will a heritage overlay stop my project?
Not necessarily, but it shapes what's approvable and usually adds a planning step. We check your overlays first and design to them, so the plan we lodge is one that can actually be approved.
Can you handle the whole permit process for me?
Yes — we prepare and lodge the documentation, coordinate the surveyor and engineer, and manage the approval through to the permit, including any requests for further information.
Thinking about permits & approvals?
We'll visit, assess your site and give you an honest, itemised quote.