Two kinds of approval
"Council approval" for a carport can mean two different things. A building permit checks the structure is safe and meets the building code. Planning approval (also called development approval) checks the carport suits the site and the street. Almost every carport needs a building permit. Some also need planning approval, and that one comes first.
When a carport needs planning approval
A carport only needs planning approval if it doesn't meet the standard ("deemed-to-comply") rules in the R-Codes and your council's local planning policies. The common reasons are:
- Too close to the street. In front of the house, closer than the rules allow.
- Too wide. More than 60% of the lot's frontage.
- On a side boundary beyond the R-Codes' limits for boundary walls and structures.
- Heritage areas and special estates with their own design rules.
- Corner lots, where sightlines for cars and people matter.
How long each takes
| Approval | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Building permit, standard (uncertified) | Up to 25 business days after lodgement |
| Building permit, certified (with a private surveyor's certificate) | Up to 10 business days after lodgement |
| Planning approval | Often 4 to 8 weeks, longer if neighbours are consulted |
What we do
We check your carport against the R-Codes and your council's policies before anything is lodged. If small changes, such as moving it back half a metre or narrowing it, would avoid planning approval, we tell you. If planning approval is needed, we prepare the application and the reasons it should be approved, then the building permit.