Building a house

If you're planning a building project, renovation, or alteration, there are specific approvals you’ll need to obtain before starting. Find out about requirements and how to apply.

Definitions

• Dwelling: building or portion of a building being used, adapted, or designed or intended to be used for the purpose of human habitation on a permanent basis by a single person, a single family, or no more than six persons who do not comprise a single family.
• Single House: a dwelling standing wholly on its own green title or survey-strata lot, together with any easement over adjoining land for support of a wall or for access or services and excludes dwellings on titles with areas held in common property.
• Grouped Dwelling: a dwelling that is one of a group of two or more dwellings on the same lot such that no dwelling is placed wholly or partly vertically above or below another except where special conditions of landscape or topography dictate otherwise and includes a dwelling in a strata titles scheme with common property.
• Multiple Dwelling: a dwelling in a group of more than one dwelling on a lot where any part of the plot ratio area of a dwelling is vertically above any part of the plot ratio area of any other but:
  • Does not include a grouped dwelling; and
  • Includes any dwellings above the ground floor in a mixed-use development.
• Ancillary Dwelling: self-contained dwelling on the same site as a single house or grouped dwelling. Refer to Granny flat or ancillary dwellings webpage for specifications. 
• Dwelling Additions: refers to the expansion of an existing building by constructing new spaces such as additional rooms, extending the footprint of the dwelling, or other structural elements. In this context it does not include the addition of incidental structures such as patios, outbuildings etc.
• Dwelling Alterations: involve making changes to the interior or exterior of the dwelling without necessarily increasing its size such as modifications to walls, ceilings, flooring, fixtures and finishes.
• Development (Planning) Approval: This is the City’s approval of your project's design and location, ensuring it aligns with local zoning and planning rules. It's the essential first step for any new building or significant alteration on your property.
• Building Permit: A formal permission from the City for the construction, extension, or major renovation of a building, ensuring safety and compliance with building codes.
• R-Codes: R-Codes, formally known as Residential Design Codes - Volume 1 or 2, are a set of regulations that govern residential development in Western Australia. They detail the minimum requirements for the design and assessment of residential properties, focussing on aspects like building size, open space, setbacks, and density to ensure sustainable and community-friendly development across various residential zones. 

More information and contact

For more information on approval and permit requirements for constructing new dwellings or making additions and/or alterations to existing dwellings, contact the City on 9400 4000 or via info@joondalup.wa.gov.au. You can also visit the City’s Customer Care desk during office hours Monday - Friday, 8.30am - 5pm.