Do kitchen and bathroom renovations need council or strata approval?

Before you start a renovation, it is worth asking whether you need approval, and from whom. The answer depends on what you are changing, your state, your council and, if you live in an apartment or townhouse, your strata. Many internal renovations do not need council approval, but some do, and it is much easier to check first than to fix it later.

This is general information and not advice for your property. Always check the rules that apply to your address with your council and your state building authority.

What usually decides it

Structural work. Removing or moving walls, especially load-bearing ones, or other changes to the structure of the house.
Adding floor area. Extensions, a second storey or enclosing an outdoor area.
Changing the outside. New windows or doors in different places, or changes that can be seen from the street.
Your property. Heritage listings, other overlays and some estate rules can add requirements.
Strata. In apartments and many townhouses, work that affects common property, such as walls, floors, waterproofing or pipes, often needs approval from the owners corporation or body corporate.

Kitchens and bathrooms

Like-for-like kitchen and bathroom renovations in a house often do not need council approval, as long as nothing structural changes. That does not mean there are no rules. Plumbing and electrical work must be done by licensed trades, and waterproofing in wet areas has standards it has to meet. Moving walls, or changing the layout in a way that affects the structure, can change the answer.

Extensions and structural work

Extensions, second storeys and structural changes nearly always need some form of approval before work starts. Depending on your state, that could be a planning approval, a building approval or permit, or both. Some of it may come from a private certifier or building surveyor and not the council. Your builder or designer can usually tell you what to expect and may organise it for you.

Knock-down rebuilds are the same, with demolition approval and new build approval on top. Start that conversation early, because approvals can take a while.

Apartments and townhouses

If you are in a strata building, read your by-laws and talk to your strata manager or committee before you book anyone. Bathroom renovations in particular often need strata approval, because they can involve waterproofing, pipes and floors that affect other owners. Strata may also have rules about working hours, noise, using the lift, parking and getting rubbish out.

Working hours and the neighbours

Councils and states have rules about noisy building work, particularly early in the morning, in the evening, on Sundays and on public holidays. Check what applies in your area, and give the neighbours a heads-up before work starts. It goes a long way.

How to check for your home

Look at your council's website, or call their planning or building team with your address and what you want to do.
Check your state government's planning and building websites.
If you are in strata, read the by-laws and ask your strata manager before you book anyone.
Ask the builders who quote. They will know what usually applies, but confirm it for your address.
Agree upfront who will organise any approvals, and whether that is included in the quote.

Why it is worth checking

Work done without an approval you needed can mean being asked to change or remove it, and it can cause problems later, including when you sell. A quick check at the start is much easier than fixing it afterwards.

It also helps to keep your paperwork. Hold on to approvals, certificates and the builder's details after the job is finished. You may need them for insurance, for a future sale or for a warranty claim.

Where BettaConnect fits

BettaConnect connects homeowners who have a real building or renovation project with trusted local builders. We confirm your scope, budget and timing, then introduce you to one local builder who suits the work. Ask them in that first conversation about anything that might need approval, and who will handle it. They can point you to the right council or state body to confirm the rules for your address.