Renovating your home in Melbourne is fun stuff — but before you start pulling down walls or putting in a new kitchen, you should find out whether you’ll be needing council approval. The local regulations vary with the nature, scale, and location of your renovation.
1. When You Typically Don’t Need Council Approval
Council approval is not typically required for cosmetic or minor renovations when:
- The internal structure of the home isn’t changed (e.g., repainting, tiling, cabinet fitment).
- You’re not taking out or putting in material from exterior walls or load-bearing structures.
- Plumbing and electrical work is standard and undertaken by qualified tradespersons.
- The property is not heritage-listed or overlaid.
These types of jobs may still need building permits, but not planning permits.
2. When You Probably Do Need Council (Planning) Approval
You will likely need council planning permission if your renovation involves:
- Amending the building footprint
- Expanding or altering the building footprint
- Amending the exterior façade, where street-facing
- Developing within a Heritage Overlay or other planning overlays
- Increasing the number of dwellings (e.g., adding another granny flat)
- Alterating a building within a bushfire-prone, flood-prone, or environmentally sensitive area
3. Building Permit vs. Planning Permit – What’s the Difference?
- Planning Permit: Decides whether your project complies with local planning schemes, zoning, and overlays. Local council issues this permit.
- Building Permit: Safeguards your design against safety and structural specifications. From a registered building surveyor (not always the council).
You may need one, both, or none — depending on the job.
4. Everyday Examples
| Project | Planning Permit? | Building Permit? |
| Paint interior/exterior | No | No |
| Kitchen/bathroom renovation (no changes to layout) | No | Maybe (if plumbing/electrical) |
| Remove internal non-load-bearing wall | No | Yes |
| Alter external wall/window | Maybe | Yes |
| Home extension or second storey | Yes | Yes |
| Renovating heritage-listed house | Yes (mandatory) | Yes |
5. How to Find Out What Your Property Needs
Visit the VicPlan website: https://mapshare.vic.gov.au/vicplan
- Enter your address to check zoning and overlays.
Call your local council’s planning department
- They can inform you of whether you’ll need a permit based on your intentions.
Visit a draftsperson, architect, or building surveyor
- They’ll generally handle the application process for you.
6. Consequences of Unapproved Work
Unapproved renovation work could lead to:
- Fines
- Stop-work notices
- Costly changes or demolition
- Issues selling or insuring your property