What Drawings Are Required for a Building Permit in Victoria?

Applying for a building permit in Victoria requires a specific set of drawings and documents. Submitting an incomplete application is one of the most common causes of delays, your building surveyor can't issue a permit until everything is in order.

This guide provides a complete checklist of what you need, so you can submit a thorough application the first time.

Understanding Building Permits in Victoria

A building permit is a legal document that authorises building work to proceed. In Victoria, building permits are issued by registered building surveyors, either council building surveyors or private building surveyors.

The building permit process is separate from the planning permit process. You may need one or both, depending on your project.

Required Drawings

1. Site Plan

Your site plan must show:

• Property boundaries with dimensions
• North point
• Location of existing and proposed buildings
• Setback dimensions to all boundaries
• Easements and services
• Driveway and parking areas
• Existing trees and landscaping (where relevant)
• Scale (typically 1:200 or 1:500)

2. Floor Plans

Floor plans must include:

• All rooms with labels and dimensions
• Wall thicknesses
• Door and window locations with sizes
• Fixed fittings (kitchen, bathroom, laundry)
• Structural elements (columns, beams)
• Room areas (for habitable rooms)
• Scale (typically 1:100)

For renovations, you'll need both existing and proposed floor plans. If the existing plan is missing or unreliable, start with site measurement and as-built drawings in Melbourne.

3. Elevations

All four elevations (north, south, east, west) showing:

• External wall materials and finishes
• Window and door locations with head and sill heights
• Roof shape and materials
• Overall building height
• Natural ground level and finished floor levels
• Fencing and retaining walls (where visible)

4. Section Drawings

At least one section drawing (often two) showing:

• Internal ceiling heights
• Floor construction details
• Roof structure
• Footing details
• Relationship between floors for multi-storey buildings
• Insulation locations
• Wet area waterproofing details

5. Roof Plan

For new roofs or roof alterations:

• Roof shape and pitch angles
• Ridge, hip, and valley locations
• Gutter and downpipe locations
• Roof material specifications
• Solar panel locations (if applicable)

Required Documents (Non-Drawing)

6. Energy Efficiency Report

All new dwellings and significant renovations in Victoria require a 6-star energy rating. This is typically prepared by a thermal performance assessor and includes:

• Star rating certificate
• Assessment report
• Glazing calculations
• Insulation specifications

7. Structural Engineering

For any structural work (new footings, beams, load-bearing wall removals, upper floors), you'll need:

• Structural engineering computations
• Structural drawings showing beam sizes, footing details, steel specifications
• Engineer's certification

8. BAL Assessment (Bushfire)

If your property is in a designated bushfire-prone area:

• Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) assessment
• Construction requirements based on BAL rating

9. Soil Report (Geotechnical Investigation)

For new buildings and extensions with new footings:

• Site classification (e.g., Class M, H, E)
• Footing recommendations
• Soil bearing capacity

10. Title Information

• Copy of Certificate of Title
• Any relevant covenants or restrictions

11. Owner-Builder Certificate

If you're building as an owner-builder (not using a registered builder), you'll need an owner-builder certificate of consent from the Victorian Building Authority.

Additional Requirements for Specific Projects

Multi-Unit Developments

• Acoustic report
• Accessibility compliance report
• Waste management plan

Swimming Pools and Spas

• Pool safety barrier details
• Compliance with AS1926.1 fencing requirements

Demolition

• Demolition plan
• Asbestos inspection report (for buildings built before 1990)

Common Mistakes When Applying

1. Submitting Without Engineering

Many applications are submitted before engineering is complete. Your building surveyor needs engineering details to assess the structural adequacy of the design.

2. Incorrect Energy Report

Energy reports based on outdated plans or plans that don't match the submitted drawings will be rejected. Always ensure the energy report matches the final drawing set.

3. Missing Dimensions

Floor plans without complete dimensions make it impossible for the building surveyor to verify compliance.

4. No Existing Conditions

For renovation projects, submitting only proposed plans without existing condition drawings makes it difficult to assess the scope of work.

5. Non-Compliant Drawings

Drawings that don't meet the requirements of the National Construction Code (NCC) will require amendments before a permit can be issued.

How a Private Building Surveyor Differs from Council

Private Building Surveyor

• Often faster turnaround (2–3 weeks typical)
• Direct communication and more flexible
• Can be more commercially focused
• Cost: a professional fee of its own, separate from drafting

Council Building Surveyor

• May have longer processing times
• Familiar with local conditions and requirements
• Cost: similar to private surveyors

You can choose either option. Many builders prefer private surveyors for faster turnaround.

How Arya Designs Prepares Your Application

We prepare complete building permit drawing sets that include all required plans and information. Our drawings are:

• Compliant with the NCC and Victorian building regulations
• Complete, we include all required drawing types
• Clear, professional CAD drawings with proper labelling and dimensions
• Coordinated, we work with your engineer and energy assessor to ensure everything aligns

We've submitted drawings to building surveyors across Victoria and maintain a high first-time acceptance rate.

A building permit drawing set is a different document from redline plans for liquor licences, which show the licensed area for a Victorian liquor licence rather than the construction work.

Get Your Building Permit Drawings

Upload your plans and get a fixed quote within 24 hours. We'll prepare everything your building surveyor needs to issue your permit.