Everything you need to know about home building and renovation in Australia — from first question to moving in.
Typical Total Duration
12–24 months
Get a Section 10.7 Certificate (NSW) / Planning Certificate
This official document from your council reveals all overlays: heritage, flood, bushfire, biodiversity, road widening. In VIC it's called a Planning Certificate. Cost: ~$100-200. Essential before anything else.
Check your LEP / Planning Scheme zone
Residential zones (R2/R3 in NSW, Neighbourhood Residential in VIC) have specific rules on density, height, setbacks, and minimum lot sizes. Find yours on the council planning map.
Measure your lot dimensions
Confirm frontage width, depth, and total area. Minimum lot size varies by council: as low as 200sqm in some inner-city zones to 600sqm+ in outer suburbs.
Check for easements and covenants
Drainage, services, and utility easements can restrict where you build. Title search reveals these. Talk to a surveyor.
Engage a Geotechnical Engineer if needed
Sloped blocks, known reactive clay soils, or flood-prone areas may need a geotech/soil classification report. This affects your slab type and foundation costs.
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