Securing your SA building approval
It’s the golden ticket to your future remarkable milestones
Let’s say you’ve got to this point and you’re swimming in a sense of accomplishment. All your paperwork is stacked up on your personal portal [link], you’ve racked up a few sleepless nights reading every word of this new-life best seller, and you realise that you’re on the edge of all the remarkable milestones to come.
But there’s one more piece of paperwork—your SA building approval. Without it, nothing else can happen. Building approvals are the golden tickets that get you into the chocolate factory (see what we did there?!). It’s that special piece of the puzzle where everything starts to fall into place.
So, what is it exactly?
What is an SA building approval?
Basically, a South Australian building approval confirms that your plans comply with all that nerdy stuff that we love, like planning regulations, zoning requirements, and construction standards. It’s also vitally important when it comes to things like structural integrity, fire safety, and electrical services. In SA, this approval is issued through your local council once the relevant planning and building requirements have been assessed. We told you it was important! So treasure this document like you would a glass of pinot on a Friday night, because it’ll save you (and your sanity!).
How do I get SA building approval?
Just in case you’re already feeling the heart palpitations that come from looming paperwork, don’t worry—we work with the relevant authorities and certifiers to put this one together (hallelujah).
We get the right people on the job—you know, those magicians who take complex legislation and council regulations and turn them into something that you actually need. Yep, those people.
In the meantime, you can sit back and catch up on the next ep of House of the Dragon (or rewatch Legally Blonde… no judgement). Either way, this is the part where we make sure all those selections and finalised documents are submitted and approved.Like we said, this one’s on us.This whole process can take a little time (especially in the waiting department), so we make sure everything is lodged as early as possible.
Here’s a list of what’s typically included as part of your SA building approval submission:
Architectural and structural drawings
Remember those working drawings [link to blog] we were talking about? Pretty much that.
They’re the blueprints of your home created by those remarkable humans—the draftees. They’ve got serious chops in the residential architectural drafting and building design game, and they live and die by (what we like to call) the trifecta code: the balance of form, function, and design.
They include all the plans, notes, and dimensions used to build your home.
Site plan
This captures the entire block. Depending on your home, it shows everything from landscaping and driveways to water mains, sheds, and boundary setbacks. It positions your house in relation to everything around it so you can see how it fits into the neighbourhood.
Planning and building consent documentation
Before construction begins, your home needs to comply with South Australia’s planning rules and building regulations. This involves planning consent (where required) and building consent to confirm the design meets the National Construction Code and local planning policies.
Evidence of insurance provisions
This one’s for us. It’s evidence of our builder’s insurance and indemnity cover. Tick.
Permit application fees and levies
The moolah. Kind of important in these documents—everyone needs to know where the money is allocated when lodging approvals with council.
Engineer’s certification
For each new home we build, we engage structural engineers—basically the ones with all the knowledge on how to make a building structurally sound. They review the structural design and ensure materials and construction methods comply with the National Construction Code and Australian Standards.
Remember, you never go it alone
Okay, that sums up SA building approvals. f you’ve made it this far, you absolutely deserve that next episode (or nightcap). There’s a lot of information to digest throughout this journey, but just remember—you never go it alone. When you build your home, first you build your team. The people who guide you through each step of the process. It’s our job to make it as easy as keeping your house plants alive (?!)… but a whole lot more remarkable.
