When you are building or renovating your home in Townsville, it is essential that you get a building permit. Building permits ensure that all construction projects meet the minimum standards of safety and compliance with relevant legislation. Getting a building permit for builds in and around Townsville can be done with the help of a private building certifier like those here at Rapid Building Approvals. For more information on building permits and how to get them, keep reading below.
What is a Building Permit?
A building permit, also known as a building approval or building certification, is formal approval from a licensed private building certifier that ensures construction projects meet the expectations laid out by relevant legislation.
A building permit is not to be confused with a development application, aka development approval (DA). For some builds, however, a DA will be required before a building permit can be provided. If you aren’t sure about the requirements of your project, you should speak with one of our building certifiers. They will happily provide you with tailored advice, at no cost.
How to Get a Building Permit in Townsville
In order to get a building permit in Townsville, you will need to go through a qualified private building certifier. In some other councils across Australia, you can get these approvals directly through the council, but this is not the case throughout much of North and Far North Queensland.
The Building Permit Process
Depending on your project and its details, the process and requirements of your building permit may vary. Your building certifier will advise you on what documents they will need and when they will need to inspect your build.
To start, the building certifier will assess your plans to ensure that they meet the legislative requirements. Should any other forms or documents be required at this point, you’ll be notified. If everything is in order, you’ll receive your building permit and will be able to commence construction.
Your building permit will only be valid for a certain time frame before it lapses. While inconvenient, this legal requirement is designed to ensure that new builds keep up with changing legislation. This means that the build must be completed and undergo its final inspection by your building certifier within this timeframe. Some builds will require other inspections throughout the process, such as when foundations are laid and frames are erected.
When is it Not Necessary to Have a Building Permit in Townsville?
If you’re not building anything new, or tearing something down, but merely making superficial changes to a structure, you may not need a building permit within the Townsville Regional Council.
For instance, you wouldn’t need a permit if you decided to renovate your bathroom and change out the fittings, repaint the walls and ceiling, and install a few screw-in towel racks. However, if you were to tear down a wall separating your bathroom from the toilet, it’s likely you’ll need a permit before you begin.
If you’re ever unsure about whether or not you need a building approval, it is crucial that you consult an expert. Otherwise, you run the risk of fines, difficulties when selling your property, and your insurance refusing to cover you in the event of damage, injury, or death.
Do you need a building permit in or around Townsville?
Then we’ve got you covered! Rapid Building Approvals is an award-winning building certification company that specialises in residential projects. It’s this specialisation, alongside our focus on speed and customer service, that has allowed us to develop the techniques and processes necessary to deliver the vast majority of our building permits in only one business day (and way cheaper than the competition).
If you’d like to chat with one of our building certifiers about your project, we offer free advice and no-obligation quotes.
Call us at 1300 163 814 today or fill out the contact form for a free quote and helpful advice from our award-winning team. Experience the Rapid difference!