In Australia, a site plan is almost always a mandatory component of any application lodged with your local council — whether that's a Development Application (DA), a Complying Development Certificate (CDC), a Construction Certificate (CC), or a Building Permit. It's the document that shows the council exactly where every existing and proposed structure sits on your lot, and how the project complies with planning controls.
Below is a comprehensive, pointed breakdown of when a site plan is required across Australia — by project type, by state, and by exemption status.
The short answer
If your project involves building, demolishing, subdividing, extending, or changing the use of a property — and it falls outside your state's "exempt development" thresholds — you'll need a site plan. When in doubt, your council's planning department or a registered town planner can confirm in minutes.
1. Common projects that require a site plan
These are the scenarios where Australian councils universally expect a scaled site plan as part of your application.
New residential builds
›New single dwellings, dual occupancies, townhouses, units
›Knock-down rebuilds (demolition + new build)
›Granny flats / secondary dwellings (ADUs)
›Relocatable / kit homes on existing lots
Extensions & alterations
›Ground-floor additions and second-storey extensions
›Rear and side extensions over the building envelope
›Garage conversions to habitable rooms
›Internal renovations affecting fire-rated walls or load paths
Swimming pools & spas
›In-ground and above-ground pools (typically >300mm deep)
›Spa pools and plunge pools
›Compliant pool fencing (AS 1926.1) shown on plan
›Pool registration with the relevant state register
Even minor works can require a site plan if the property sits under one of these overlays — common across Australia:
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Bushfire-Prone Land (BAL): Requires a Bushfire Attack Level assessment showing asset protection zones, defendable space, and vegetation classifications on the site plan.
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Flood overlay / 1-in-100 ARI: Site plan must show flood-planning levels, freeboard, and finished-floor heights.
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Heritage overlay / conservation area: Any external change (even paint colour in some councils) typically triggers a DA with site plan.
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Environmental significance / vegetation protection: Native trees, koala habitat, and waterway buffers must be mapped.
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Acid-sulfate soils, salinity, landslip: Common in coastal and hillside areas — site plan must reference the geotech report.
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Airport / aircraft-noise overlays: ANEF/ANEC contours and obstacle-limitation surfaces apply.
3. State-by-state pathways
Each Australian state has its own planning legislation. Here's how site-plan requirements are framed in each jurisdiction:
New South Wales (NSW)
•Exempt Development: No approval needed if works meet the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt & Complying Development Codes) 2008.
•Complying Development (CDC): Faster pathway via a private certifier — site plan still required.
•Development Application (DA): Lodged via the NSW Planning Portal — full site plan, statement of environmental effects.
•Governed by the LEP (Local Environmental Plan) and DCP (Development Control Plan) for each council area.
Victoria (VIC)
•Planning Permit: Issued by the local council under that council's Planning Scheme.
•Building Permit: Separate, issued by a Registered Building Surveyor — site plan required for both.
•VicSmart: Fast-track 10-business-day process for simple, low-impact applications.
•ResCode (Clauses 54 & 55) sets standards for setbacks, site coverage, overshadowing, and overlooking.
Queensland (QLD)
•Categorised under the Planning Act 2016 as accepted, assessable (code), or assessable (impact) development.
•Code-assessable and impact-assessable categories both require a full site plan.
•Applications lodged through DA Online or directly with the local council.
Western Australia (WA)
•Development applications lodged with the local government under the Planning & Development Act 2005.
•The Residential Design Codes (R-Codes) set the density (e.g. R20, R40) and dictate setbacks, plot ratio, open space.
•Single houses meeting "deemed-to-comply" provisions may not need a planning approval — but a building permit (BA1) still does.
South Australia (SA)
•Single statewide system: the Planning & Design Code, lodged via the PlanSA portal.
•Three pathways: Deemed-to-Satisfy, Performance-Assessed, and Impact-Assessed.
•Site plan required for planning consent, building consent, and (for new dwellings) land-division consent.
Tasmania, ACT & Northern Territory
•TAS: Planning Permits via local council under the Tasmanian Planning Scheme; "no permit required" pathway for minor works.
•ACT: Development applications via Access Canberra; Territory Plan governs zoning and overlays.
•NT: Development consent via the Development Consent Authority under the NT Planning Scheme.
4. What an Australian council site plan must show
Drawn to a recognised scale (typically 1:100, 1:200, or 1:500) on A3 paper, your site plan must include — at minimum:
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Property boundaries with dimensions and bearings
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North point and scale bar
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Lot & plan number (e.g. Lot 12 DP 123456)
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Street name and address
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All existing structures on the lot
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Proposed structures clearly distinguished
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Setback dimensions from all boundaries
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Easements (drainage, sewer, access)
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Driveways, crossovers, and parking spaces
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Sewer, stormwater, water & drainage lines
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Existing trees (with TPZ where required)
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Contours / spot levels on sloping sites
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Neighbouring buildings within 6m of the boundary
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Site coverage & permeable area calculations
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Fences & retaining walls with heights
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Title block with drawing number, date, revision
5. When a site plan is generally not required
Most states have "exempt development" rules that let you skip lodging plans entirely — provided the work stays within strict limits. Common examples:
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Small sheds and cubby houses — typically <10m² floor area and <2.4m high, set back from boundaries.
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Low fences — front fences ≤1.2m, side/rear fences ≤1.8m (varies; pool fences always regulated).
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Minor decks — usually <25m², <1m above ground, and within setbacks.
⚠ Even "exempt" works lose their exemption inside heritage, bushfire, flood, or environmental overlays. Always confirm with council before starting.
Critically, "no site plan required" does not mean "no rules apply" — your work must still comply with the National Construction Code (NCC), the Building Code of Australia (BCA), and Australian Standards (e.g. AS 1684 for timber framing, AS 1926.1 for pool barriers).
6. The cost of skipping approval
Building without the required site plan or approval can trigger serious consequences across Australia:
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Stop-work orders and immediate site shutdown.
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On-the-spot fines from AUD $1,500 up to $6,000+ per offence.
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Court-imposed penalties reaching $1.1 million for individuals and $5.5 million for corporations under the most serious breaches.
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Forced demolition of unapproved works at the owner's expense.
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Insurance void — most home and contents policies exclude claims on unapproved structures.
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Resale problems — unapproved works show on a Section 149/10.7 certificate and routinely kill property sales.
Still unsure?
Every council interprets the rules slightly differently. The fastest way to find out exactly what's needed for your project is to either (a) ring your council's duty planner — most offer a free 15-minute consult — or (b) order a professional site plan from us and we'll flag anything unusual we spot during preparation.
We prepare permit-ready site plans for every Australian state and territory, drawn to council scale standards and delivered as a PDF within 24 hours.
Chat with us on WhatsApp+44 7575 412690
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