Frequently Asked Questions

Can Council issue my building approval?

Yes, Council provides a certification service. Building Certifiers can be either Council Building Certifiers (certifiers employed by Council) or Private Building Certifiers (certifiers who provide a private certification service completely independent of Council).

Council is unable to assist you with the progress of your privately certified building application.

If the value of work (labour and materials) exceeds $11,000 you will be required to complete an Owner Builders course run by a provider recognised by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC). An owner builders’ certificate must be provided to the certifier prior to the issuing of the Development Permit for the proposed building works.
Further information can be obtained from the QBCC website.

Application forms relating to building works are available from the Queensland Government's Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning website.
DA Form 2 - Building work details MUST be used to make a development application involving building work.
DA Form 2 - Referral checklist for building work MUST also be completed where an aspect of the building work requires referral (including Council for matters relating to design and siting, amenity and aesthetics or removal, demolition or reinstatement of a building).
Also refer to the Building Application Lodgement Checklist ^{(PDF, 220.8KB)}for further information.

Engineering plans for footing/slab, frame and design certificate, in the current format Form 15, from a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ) would be required.

Can I get an engineer to do the inspections?

Yes, however you will need to consult with your building certifier prior to any inspections being conducted.

Building work over or near relevant infrastructure must be assessed against Queensland Development Code Mandatory Part 1.4 (MP 1.4) 'Building over or near relevant infrastructure'.
For building over/near Water or Sewer please contact Urban Utilities on 13 26 57 or visit their website www.urbanutilities.com.au/
For building over/near Stormwater please contact council's Engineering team on 07 3810 6666 or email plandev@ipswich.qld.gov.au
Further information and factsheets are available at the Department of Housing and Public Works website:
- www.hpw.qld.gov.au/construction/BuildingPlumbing/Building/Pages/BuildOverInfrastructure.aspx
- Factsheet: General information about the Queensland Development Code Mandatory Part 1.4 - Building over or near relevant infrastructure (MP 1.4)(PDF, 77KB)

Home warranty insurance is insurance paid to the Queensland Building and Construction Commission by the builder when undertaking residential construction work exceeding a value of $3,300 (including GST).
The "Confirmation of Insurance" document needs to be forwarded to your building certifier to allow the Building Approval to be issued. The insurance is paid on all residential work including unit developments up to a certain number of storeys.

The Building and Construction Industry Portable Long Service Leave Levy, Building and Construction Industry Training Fund Training Levy and Workplace Health and Safety Fee are payable on the total cost of all building and construction work in Queensland costing $150,000 or more, excluding GST.
The levies and fees are usually paid by the project owner and must be paid prior to receiving a development permit (Building Approval). If a development permit is not given, they must be paid prior to the start of work.
For further information contact QLeave https://www.qleave.qld.gov.au/
The combined levies and fee are calculated at 0.425% of the total cost of work and can be paid at any Australia Post office or agency, or directly to QLeave.

In accordance with the Queensland Building Act 1975, a building approval is required for the construction of building or structure where any of the following apply:
- A plan area of more than 10m²; or
- an overall height of more than 2.4m; or
- a mean height of more than 2.1m; or
- any side longer than 5m; or
- not freestanding (attached to another building or structure).
Mean height is the total elevational area of the building divided by the horizontal length of the building facing the boundary.
For further information refer to the Carports, Sheds, Garages or the like - Fact Sheet ^{(PDF, 543.1KB)}

Inspections that are required are noted on the decision notice, which is issued upon approval of the application. Council requires 24 hours' notice when booking in an inspection.
Note: Council's Building Works Application (BW) number will need to be quoted when booking inspections.

Additional fees may be required if Town Planning, Siting variation, Amenity and Aesthetics, or Plumbing and Drainage application/s are required for the approval.
Additional fees will also apply for reinspections of approved work and for an amendment to an existing approval.

Building work proposed to be over an easement will require written consent from the registered holder of the easement.
This can be obtained by conducting a Title Search over the property.

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission provides a list of Building Classes as set out in the Building Code of Australia - Classification summary of buildings and structures.(PDF, 340KB)
Please refer to the Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works website for any further information.