Step by step guide to building approval and the role of a building surveyor

 Obtain planning permission for your proposal from the relevant council. This essential first step ensures it aligns with the planning scheme, making sure your project can move forward!

 Engage a building designer or architect to create your proposal, and an engineer may also be required. They will develop the designs and submit them to the building surveyor for approval.

 Obtain any necessary reports, such as site classification, bushfire, landslip, or energy reports. These reports may be required to assist the building designer or architect in creating their design.

 Engage a building surveyor and provide all relevant documentation from steps 1-3. Additional documents are also required, including an engagement form, certificate of title, and, if applicable, an agent's authority.

 At this stage, the engaged building surveyor will assess all the documentation against the relevant legislation, including the National Construction Code and its referenced standards. The surveyor will work with the building professionals to ensure compliance. Once everything is in order, a certificate of likely compliance will be issued.

 If the work is notifiable, a start work notice can be issued upon advice from the relevant council once the certificate of likely compliance is processed. For permit work, the council will process a building permit and provide it to the building surveyor, who will then issue the start work notice. And just like that, work can begin!

 Work will begin with your engaged builder, and the building surveyor will carry out all relevant inspections listed on the certificate of likely compliance.

Once all the work is completed, a final inspection will be conducted by the building surveyor and any other relevant authorities to enable the issuance of the final certificates.