Carports & Verandahs
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A carport is a structure that has more than one third of it's total perimeter surface area open. A side within 500mm of a boundary or another building is considered to be closed. If your carport is not open for one third, by regulations it is considered to be a garage.
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A verandah is a structure normally connected to a dwelling having a metal, tile, fibreglass or similar roof with at least one half of its sides open.
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A building permit can be obtained if you wish to build a structure as described above. Building Surveyors assess these proposals against Australia wide rules to ensure the structures are safe and do not compromise anyone's rights to daylight or privacy.
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If you wish to build over an easement you must first obtain the consent of the organisation having rights over the easement. Your title will state what the easement is to be used for.
The use will give you an indication of who the authority might be (ie. Yarra Valley Water have rights to a sewerage easement). Alternatively contact Council for assistance.
Once having the consent of the authority our Building Surveyors can assess your application.
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To improve safety in every household, it is now law that smoke alarms must be installed. Smoke alarms are designed to wake you at night so the occupants can escape a burning building.
For this reason they are to be installed within 3m of the bedroom doors; on the ceiling in the hallway or the room separating the bedrooms from the rest of the house.
If your house is a two storey a smoke alarm must be installed on the ceiling within 3m of the stairs on each floor.
Smoke alarms in existing houses may be battery operated. New homes and extension they must be hard wired back to mains power.
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If you cannot design your proposal to comply with any one of the rules above you will need to sketch what you would prefer and discuss the proposal with one of our Building Surveyors.
It may be necessary to obtain special consent for your proposal. This consent may have to come from another department or Council.
As such any assessment of this nature may take an extra time and an additional fee may be required.
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Planning Permits or approvals may also be required in some areas. Check with Council's Planning Section to determine whether planning approval is required.
Please note a building permit cannot be issued until a planning permit or approval is issued, if required.
For any further queries on planning contact your local Council's Town Planning Department.