Joondalup Building Applications: Before You Lodge 

Many building delays do not begin on site. They begin before the application is lodged, when plans, levels or site details are unclear. 

If the plans are incomplete, the site levels are unclear, or the wrong approval pathway is chosen, your project can lose days or weeks before a builder even starts.

That is why Joondalup building applications need to be prepared properly from the beginning. The City of Joondalup may require a Building Permit, Development Approval, or both, depending on the type of work.

A new home, extension, patio, shed, retaining wall, demolition or change to an existing property can each come with different requirements. The right documents matter, but they are only as reliable as the site information behind them.  Accurate survey data gives your designer, builder or certifier a clearer starting point before the application reaches assessment. 

Building Permit or Development Approval: Check This Before You Lodge

Your builder, designer, certifier or the City of Joondalup can confirm the correct approval pathway for your specific project. If the wrong approval is lodged first, the project can lose time before assessment properly begins.

Before lodging a Joondalup building application, you need to know whether your project requires:

• Development Approval
• A Building Permit
• Both approvals
• A deemed-to-comply check before lodging for a Building Permit

Development Approval looks at the planning side of the project. It considers whether the proposed work suits the site and meets the relevant planning rules.

This may include:

• Land use
• Setbacks
• Building height and location
• Site levels
• Overlooking and overshadowing
• Streetscape impact
• Residential Design Code requirements

A Building Permit deals with the construction itself. It checks whether the proposed work meets building standards, including the National Construction Code, Australian Standards and local building requirements.

For some single-house projects, a deemed-to-comply check may also be useful. This can help confirm whether a new single-house, extension, or renovation can proceed to the Building Permit stage without a separate planning application. If the proposal does not comply, the plans may need to be amended or a Development Approval application may be required.

Before you lodge, ask:

• Does this project need Development Approval first?
• Is the work eligible for a deemed-to-comply check?
• Are the setbacks and site levels shown clearly?
• Are the property boundaries confirmed?
• Is the site plan accurate enough for assessment?
• Has the correct permit type been selected?

This is where accurate survey information can reduce avoidable back-and-forth. 

Perth Surveying helps homeowners, builders and designers prepare clear site information before a Joondalup building application is lodged. A feature and contour survey or boundary survey gives your designer measured data on levels, boundaries and existing site conditions, helping reduce avoidable delays before plans are finalised. 

What Your Site Plan Should Show for a Joondalup Building Application

A site plan helps explain the project before anyone visits the property.

For a Joondalup building application, it should show what is already on the block, what is being built or changed, and how the proposed work fits the site. A current feature and contour survey gives your designer the measured base information needed to prepare that plan with more confidence. 

At a practical level, your site plan may need to show:

• Street name, lot number and property boundaries
• Lot dimensions, north point and scale
• Existing buildings, structures, driveways and key site features
• Proposed new work and where it will sit
• Setbacks from boundaries
• Existing and proposed ground levels
• Vehicle access, parking and crossover details
• Easements, services or other site constraints
• Structures to be removed, if demolition is involved
• Verge areas, if materials, hoarding or storage will be placed outside the property

For larger projects, your designer or builder may also need supporting drawings, elevations, engineering details or other documents.

Not every project needs every detail. A small patio is different from a new home, major renovation or subdivision-related project.

The aim is to make the plan clear enough that the person assessing the application does not have to guess: 

• What already exists?
• What is changing?
• Where will the new work sit?
• Are the levels and setbacks clear?
• Are any site constraints shown?

If the design depends on levels, boundaries or setbacks, check those details before the application is lodged. That is especially important for extensions, retaining walls, carports, sheds, pools, and work close to a boundary. 

The Main Types of Joondalup Building Applications

For most homeowners, the goal is not to memorise every form used by the City. 

It is about knowing which application type fits the work you want done.

You might be building a new home, adding a patio, putting up a shed, demolishing an old structure or dealing with work that was built without approval. Each situation can point to a different application pathway. The pathway may change, but the need for clear site information remains the same. 

For residential projects in Joondalup, the forms homeowners are most likely to come across are BA1, BA2 and BA5. Some projects may also involve a Building Approval Certificate or a Building Verge Permit. 

The list below is not every application type used by the City, but it covers the ones many residential clients are likely to encounter. 

Certified Building Permit Application: BA1

A BA1 is a certified Building Permit application.

This means a registered building surveyor has already checked the proposed work and issued a Certificate of Design Compliance before the application is lodged with the City.

For homeowners and builders, this pathway is common when a designer, builder or private building surveyor is already involved. It may apply to new homes, additions, alterations, patios, sheds, retaining walls or other residential structures, depending on the project.

The advantage is that a registered building surveyor has already completed part of the compliance check before the application reaches the City. But the plans still need to be clear, accurate and complete. For builders and designers, accurate survey information helps reduce the risk of redraws, clarification requests and scheduling delays. 

Uncertified Building Permit Application: BA2

A BA2 is an uncertified Building Permit application.

With this option, the City assesses the building compliance as part of the application process. This may suit some residential projects where the homeowner is managing the application more directly.

It is not a shortcut. The quality of the drawings and supporting site information still matters. 

The City still needs the correct forms, clear drawings and supporting information. If the plans are vague, levels are unclear or key details are missing, the application may be delayed while more information is requested. 

Demolition Permit Application: BA5

If you are removing a building or structure, you may need a demolition permit.

A BA5 demolition application can apply when a building, part of a building or another structure is being demolished, dismantled or removed.

Demolition can look simple from the outside: remove the structure and clear the site.  The paperwork can be more involved than that.

Before demolition, it is worth checking:

• What is being removed
• What will remain on the site
• Whether structures are close to neighbouring land
• Where services, driveways and access points are located
• Whether the demolition affects future building work

A site survey can help document existing structures, access points and nearby features before plans are prepared. 

Building Approval Certificate: Existing or Unauthorised Work

Sometimes the issue is not new work. It is work that already exists.

A Building Approval Certificate may become relevant where building work has already been carried out and needs to be formally addressed. This can come up during a property sale, after unauthorised work, or when an existing structure needs to be shown properly on plans.

For homeowners, this can be stressful because the issue is often discovered late. A patio, shed, enclosure, retaining wall or addition may have been built years ago, sometimes by a previous owner. Measured site information gives your designer, certifier or builder a clearer basis for the next step. 

Clear survey information can help show what is actually on the property, where it sits and how close it is to boundaries or other structures. 

Building Verge Permit

The verge is easy to overlook until work is close to starting. 

A Building Verge Permit may be needed if construction materials, hoarding, fencing, site sheds or storage are placed on public land such as a verge, street or walkway.

This is more common for larger renovations, new builds or projects where there is limited space on the block. Where access, storage or site constraints are tight, clear plans can help everyone understand how the site will be managed. 

Before work starts, ask your builder:

• Will materials be stored on the verge?
• Will temporary fencing or hoarding be needed?
• Is there enough room on site for safe access and storage?
• Does the verge need to be shown on a plan?

Which Application Type Might Apply to Your Project? 

For many residential projects, the main question is whether the work needs a certified or uncertified Building Permit.

In simple terms:

• BA1 is used when the work has already been certified by a registered building surveyor.
• BA2 is used when the City assesses the building compliance.
• BA5 is used for demolition.
• A Building Approval Certificate may apply to existing or unauthorised work.
• A Building Verge Permit may be needed if public verge space is used during construction.

The right choice depends on the project, the site and whether any planning approval is needed before the building application is lodged. Before plans are finalised, it is worth checking whether the site information is accurate enough to support the chosen pathway. 

How Perth Surveying Helps Before You Lodge

Plans are easier to prepare when the site information is measured properly from the start.

That is where Perth Surveying can help. Our role is to give your project team the clarity they need before the application process creates avoidable pressure. 

Before plans are finalised, forms are lodged or the project reaches assessment, Perth Surveying helps homeowners, builders and designers work from measured site data instead of assumptions. You get clear deliverables, practical communication and survey information your project team can rely on. 

Feature and Contour Surveys

A feature and contour survey gives your designer a measured starting point for the site. 

It can include ground levels, existing structures, fences, trees, services, retaining walls, driveways and other site features that may affect the design or approval process.

For Joondalup building applications, this information is often used by designers, architects, engineers and builders to prepare more accurate plans. It helps the project team understand the block before design decisions become expensive to change. 

Without it, simple questions can become delays:

• What are the existing ground levels?
• Where does the site fall?
• How close is the proposed work to existing structures?
• Will drainage, retaining or access need more thought?
• Does the design suit the actual site?

A clear survey helps those questions get answered before they slow the project down. 

Boundary Surveys

Setbacks depend on boundaries. So do retaining walls, additions, carports, sheds, fences and demolition work near neighbouring properties. 

If the boundary position is uncertain, the design may be uncertain too.

A boundary survey helps confirm where the legal property boundaries are before plans are finalised or work begins. This is especially useful on tighter residential blocks, older properties, corner lots or sites where existing fences may not match the legal title boundary. 

It is better to confirm the boundary before lodging than to discover a problem after the plans have been drawn. For builders, that certainty can also help protect scheduling once work is ready to start. 

Better Site Plans for Better Applications

A site plan should do more than show a rough layout of the block. 

It should make the existing conditions and proposed work easy to understand.

Perth Surveying provides accurate site information that can support plans for:

• New homes
• Extensions and renovations
• Patios, carports and garages
• Sheds and outbuildings
• Retaining walls
• Pools and outdoor structures
• Demolition work
• Subdivision and development projects

For repeat builders and designers, this also creates a more consistent starting point across multiple jobs.

The aim is simple: remove avoidable doubt before the application is lodged and before the project reaches the site. 

Support for Builders, Designers and Homeowners

Different clients need different information.

Builders need a reliable turnaround so jobs can be scheduled with confidence. Designers need accurate levels, boundaries and site features before drawings are finalised. Homeowners need clear guidance without the process being made harder than it needs to be. 

Perth Surveying works with all three. That includes homeowners preparing one project, designers managing documentation and builders coordinating repeat residential work. 

We provide clear deliverables, practical communication and survey information that helps the next person in the process move forward with confidence. 

Need a Survey for a Joondalup Building Application? 

Before you lodge, make sure the site information is measured and clear. 

A Joondalup building application may need clear details about boundaries, setbacks, ground levels, existing structures, access, services and proposed works. If that information is missing or unclear, the application can be delayed before the project reaches the site.

Perth Surveying helps homeowners, builders and designers prepare accurate survey information before lodging.

We can assist with:

• Feature and contour surveys
• Boundary surveys
• Site information for designers and builders
• Survey data for extensions, new homes, patios, sheds, carports, pools and retaining walls
• Subdivision and development survey support

You get clear deliverables, reliable turnaround and practical communication from a local WA team. 

Start with measured facts, not assumptions. Whether you are planning a new home, extension, patio, shed, pool, retaining wall or subdivision-related project, accurate survey information helps reduce uncertainty early. 

For help with survey information for a Joondalup building application, call Perth Surveying on 08 9303 2407, email sales@perthsurveying.com.au or visit perthsurveying.com.au.

FAQs

Do I need a survey before lodging in Joondalup?

Often, yes, especially if the design depends on levels, setbacks, boundaries or what is already on the block.  A feature and contour survey gives your designer proper site information to work from. If the job is close to a boundary, a boundary survey may also be worth doing early.

Is Development Approval the same as a Building Permit?

No. They deal with different parts of the process. Development Approval looks at whether the proposed work fits the planning rules for the site. A Building Permit is about whether the building work meets construction standards. Some projects need both, so it is best to check before preparing the final application.

Why involve Perth Surveying before the application is lodged?

Because plans are easier to prepare when the site information is measured properly. Perth Surveying can provide feature and contour surveys, boundary surveys and clear site details for your designer, builder or architect. That helps reduce guesswork before your Joondalup building application goes in.

Can Perth Surveying work directly with my builder or designer?

Yes. Perth Surveying regularly provides survey information for builders, designers, architects and homeowners. We can supply clear site data to help your project team prepare plans with accurate levels, boundaries and existing site details. 

How long does a Joondalup building application take?

Timeframes depend on the application type and whether all required information has been provided. Certified Building Permit applications are often assessed faster than uncertified applications, but missing documents, unclear levels or incomplete plans can delay either pathway.  

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