Filling and excavation
Check if you need to lodge a development application for filling and excavation projects.
What do I need to know before getting started?
Before you start any work, you should:
- confirm key facts about your property, including zones and overlays, by using City Plan online
- understand the development application process.
For more information about how works for filling and excavation are regulated, download our guidelines.
What types of approval do I need?
Planning approval
You don’t need planning approval if your proposed project aims to increase the depth and height of the ground level by up to one vertical metre, unless your site is:
- located in a neighbourhood plan area
- affected by an overlay.
Some neighbourhood plans and overlays will affect the amount of filling or excavation that can occur without planning approval from Council.
Apply for planning approval by lodging a development application.
Building approval
You will need building approval if you intend on filling or excavating more than one vertical metre of land for the purpose of constructing a building or structure.
Contact a licensed building certifier to organise building approval.
Lodge a development application
If planning approval is required, you’ll need to lodge a development application.
Follow our step-by-step guide to prepare and lodge a development application.
After lodging a 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'.
