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Demolition or removal

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Check if you need approval before demolishing or removing a building. Find information for building certifiers.

What do I need to know before getting started?

Before you start any demolition or removal work, you should: 

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Subdividing land

Plumbing and drainage

Heritage and character properties

What types of approval do I need?

Building approval

You may need building approval before doing any demolition work. 

Contact a licensed building certifier to organise building approval. You’ll need to supply scaled and detailed plans prepared by a draftsperson or architect.

Other approvals

You’ll need to check if you require:

  • planning approval
  • plumbing approval
  • a footpath permit.

You’ll need planning approval if your site is:

If you’re in a principal or major centre zone, demolition of any building or structure also needs planning approval.

The project is code assessable where the demolition is part of a committed program to exercise an existing development permit and a temporary park is created.

Exceptions 

You don’t need planning approval to demolish a free-standing outbuilding built after 1946.

Some minor demolition projects in the traditional building character overlay and the pre-1911 building overlay also don’t need planning approval. They include: 

  • demolishing an internal wall or feature 
  • demolishing a stair 
  • demolishing a post-1946 addition, extension, or free-standing outbuilding 
  • demolishing any post-1946 alteration to reveal the original design or reconstruction with the original form and materials
  • demolishing features including windows, doors, balustrades, window hoods and fretwork forming part of the building constructed in or before 1946. This applies where the demolition enables replacement of old features for new features of the same style and appearance consistent with traditional building character.

These requirements are subject to change. Check table 5.3.4.1 Prescribed accepted development in City Plan for the circumstances where planning approval is not required.

information outline

Note

In some cases, Council may consider work on a local heritage place to be minor in nature and allow the work to be undertaken under a heritage exemption certificate.

You may need Council plumbing approval if building works require capping off the sanitary drain within your property.

The works must be carried out by a licensed plumber. 

You may need a footpath permit if building works involve crossing a footpath with a truck.

Lodge a development application

If planning approval is required, we recommend you seek specialist consultant advice before submitting a development application. You’ll need to submit specialist reports to support your application.

Follow our step-by-step guide to prepare and lodge a development application.

What happens after I lodge my development application?

Once we’ve received your development application, we‘ll check it: 

  • complies with properly made requirements
  • includes all the relevant documents.

A fee quote will then be issued for payment. Council uses a points system to calculate development application fees, which can vary depending on your project.

Application assessment

Properly made applications proceed through an assessment process in set stages.

If your application is not properly made, you’ll receive an action notice and have 20 days to comply. 

You must let Council know that the action notice has been complied with. We’ll consider whether the action notice has been fulfilled and issue a Confirmation Notice if satisfied that the application is properly made.   

If you’re unsure, request information and advice. 

Keep track of your development application

You can check the status of your development application on our development and search tracking tool, Development.i. 

Look up your development application by number or location and select 'Details'. The status is under 'Progress'.

Information for building certifiers

Under the Planning Act 2016, Council must hold records of building construction approvals and certification information. These documents will be kept for a specified period of time and made available for inspection. 

A detailed list of required lodgement materials is outlined in Planning Regulation 2017 and s86 of the Building Act 1975.

You can lodge building certification documents online for a fee of $72.30.

Sign in to the Services Brisbane for Business portal to lodge your building certification documents.

Lodge documents

You can also lodge building documents at any Customer Centre. Phone Council’s Business Hotline on 133 BNE (133 263) to ask about the fees for lodging building documents in person.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, you will need an approval to perform minor demolition works to your home if it was constructed during or before 1946.