You can request digital copies of approved building plans and documents for certain residential dwellings. These include houses or single detached residential structures built, altered or renovated after 1987.
Building plans and documents
Request digital copies of approved building plans and other documents when you renovate or research a property.
Types of documents held by Council
When you renovate or research a property, you can request a copy of building approval plans, site reports and other documents from Council. These documents can help you find and fix any past or current issues with the property.
We facilitate these requests to make your renovating or researching process easier. We hold approved building plans and documents for houses, multiple dwellings and commercial buildings.
They include:
- approved architectural or structural drawings and plans
- site plans
- soil test reports
- decision notices and conditions of approval
- design certificate (Form 15 - engineering design, energy efficiency, fire services)
- final certificates, including Form 21, Form 17 and Form 11 Certificate of Occupancy
- other certificates, such as Form 12, 16 or 43.
Council cannot:
- identify specific documents, such as footings or slab details
- verify what is contained in the file
- provide technical advice.
You can request digital copies of building approval plans and documents for multiple dwellings, commercial or industrial buildings built or altered after 1972.
We don’t hold plans and documents for:
-
residential buildings built, altered or renovated before 1987
-
commercial or multiple dwellings built, altered or renovated before 1972.
Contact the original builder to find these records or engage an architect to prepare plans of the property.
If you have a heritage property, you can research the property and find out how to renovate it.
Fees for copy of building approval plans and documents
The fee is $175.30 per digital copy of building approval plans and documents. This includes all available certificates, plans and miscellaneous documents.
An additional fee of $58.45 may apply for complex requests that require additional research and preparation time.
Request building plans
To request building plans, you need to present proof of ownership, or authorisation to access building plans and other documents.
Documents we accept from owners include:
- rate account
- letter of authority from the body corporate for units and townhouses.
Documents we accept from non-owners include:
- letter of authority from the owner
- signed contract to purchase the property
- letter of authority from the body corporate for units and townhouses.
How to submit a request
You can request a copy of building approval plans and documents by:
- calling Council on 07 3403 8888
- visiting a Customer Centre
- using our email contact form.
If the requested documents are available, you'll need to pay a fee via BPOINT before digital copies are emailed to you.
Frequently asked questions
You can get past building approval plans for your house by lodging a request with us.
However, you need to contact the original builder if your house was built, altered or renovated before 1987.