Demolition planning

Demolition Permits & Approvals Check the Path for Your Property

Check demolition approval pathways, application documents and property restrictions using official sources, with scoped NSW, Victorian and WA examples.

Check Approval Pathways See Quick Summary

The Wombat Team

Updated 15 October 2026

General information for Australian homeowners - not professional, legal or safety advice. Requirements vary by state and territory. How these guides are written

Quick Answer 8 min read

Start with the property's approval pathway

Confirm which approvals apply before arranging demolition. The route, documents, fees and conditions depend on the property and proposed work.

Approval route

Ask the relevant authority which pathway applies.

Application scope

Use the current property-specific checklist.

Before work

Check the issued conditions and remaining prerequisites.

Confirm the approval pathway for your property

Start with your local council and, where appropriate, a building surveyor or certifier. Describe the address, building and full or partial demolition you propose. Ask which approvals apply, who assesses them and what must happen before work starts.

The examples below show why one national permit checklist is unreliable. They are starting points, not a determination that your project qualifies.

Example	Official guidance	What to confirm
NSW	Qualifying work may use exempt or complying development pathways; other work may need a development application.	The site's eligibility and all applicable demolition standards.
Victoria	Planning and building permits are different. A building permit is required unless an exemption applies.	Whether either or both permits are needed, and who will issue them.
WA example: City of Swan	The council describes demolition permits and notes that exemptions apply.	The current requirements of the council responsible for your property.

Read the NSW approval pathways, NSW exempt demolition guidance, NSW complying demolition guidance, Victorian permit guidance and City of Swan application guidance. An exemption from one approval does not settle every other requirement.

Agree who handles each approval

Write down the approvals and appointments your project needs before agreeing a start date. A contractor's quote or an application receipt is not the same as an issued approval.

Define the work: show what will be removed, retained or rebuilt.
Confirm the route: ask the relevant authority which application, exemption criteria and supporting information apply.
Allocate responsibility: agree who prepares, lodges, pays for and follows up each application.
Check the outcome: obtain the actual approval and conditions, then confirm any remaining prerequisites.

For example, Victoria's building permit guidance says applications go through the appointed building surveyor and that a required planning permit comes first. In NSW, the MyHome Planner recommends asking who will manage the demolition approval application and how hazards and service disconnections will be handled.

Use the authority's current document checklist

Ask for the checklist for the specific property and approval route. Use these questions to organise the brief; they are not a list of documents required for every demolition.

Part of the brief	Question to resolve	Record to request
Site and proposed scope	Which structures remain and which are removed?	The required plans and an agreed scope.
Property constraints	Are heritage, neighbouring land or other controls relevant?	The authority's advice and any additional consents.
Hazards and services	Who assesses suspect materials and arranges service work?	The reports, appointments and confirmations required for the project.
Contractor and completion	Who is responsible for the work and the final records?	Applicable registration details, conditions and completion requirements.

As a local example, City of Joondalup demolition application guidance requests a site plan and utility disconnection evidence, alongside other items. Use the full current council checklist rather than copying selected items to a different council.

For asbestos, ASSEA distinguishes trained survey work from NATA-accredited laboratory analysis. Ask what assessment is appropriate and which records your authority needs. Do not assume a universal report age, fee or mandatory laboratory package.

Check heritage and site restrictions early

Tell the council about any heritage listing, conservation area, adjoining structure, protected tree or proposed use of public land. Ask what the actual planning controls allow before assuming demolition is available.

NSW exempt development guidance lists heritage and other land restrictions. Its complying demolition guidance also sets limits for heritage conservation areas. These are NSW examples, not one heritage approval rule for every state. The NSW knockdown and rebuild checklist also highlights trees, utilities, drainage and ground conditions.

Check fees, timing and validity directly

Use the authority's current fee schedule and a written scope from each adviser or contractor. Separate application charges, professional reports and any bond or other project costs. Ask who pays them and whether they are included in the demolition quote.

When is the application considered complete, and what information could still be requested?
What assessment periods, notification steps and dependencies affect the programme?
What commencement, completion and expiry dates appear on the issued approval?

City of Swan publishes its application and extension process; Joondalup directs applicants to its current fee schedule and explains incomplete applications. Check the rules for your own authority instead of using a national fee, approval time or fixed validity period.

Read the conditions before site work begins

Confirm the approved scope, responsibility for services, site access, neighbouring property protection, waste arrangements and any required notifications. A planning or building approval does not replace the contractor's safety planning or other applicable obligations.

Read the actual conditions with the people carrying out the work. Ask how unexpected suspect material, a changed scope or an expired approval will be handled. For asbestos assessment and completion records, see our testing and removal guide and ASSEA's official advice.

If work has started before approvals are confirmed, seek advice from the relevant authority and an appropriate adviser before proceeding. Ask your insurer about cover for your circumstances; do not assume every approval problem automatically voids a policy.

Sources and further reading

Official guidance checked on 15 October 2026. State and council examples keep their stated geographic scope. Confirm the current requirements for the property before arranging work.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers about confirming approvals, documents and project responsibilities.

Do I need a permit to demolish a house in Australia?

Confirm the approval pathway with the authority responsible for the property before arranging work. Requirements and exemptions depend on the location, structure, land controls and proposed scope; there is no single council permit process for every Australian project.

How long does demolition approval take?

Ask the authority about a complete application, further-information requests and any separate approvals or notifications. Agree the project schedule after those dependencies are understood rather than relying on a standard national turnaround.

What documents should I prepare?

Use the current checklist for your property and approval route. Clarify plans, site constraints, hazards, service arrangements, contractor information and any required completion records. Not every project needs the same reports.

How much will approval cost?

Check the current authority fee schedule and obtain scoped prices for any professional reports. Confirm application charges, other project costs and bonds separately, including who pays them and what the contractor quote includes.

Is a development application always needed?

No single answer applies nationally. NSW has exempt, complying and development application pathways with eligibility requirements. Other states use their own approval systems. Ask which pathway applies to the actual property.

Can approval be refused?

Do not assume an application will be approved. Ask the assessing authority about the applicable controls, missing information and options if it cannot approve the proposed scope. Get advice about any review rights for the actual decision.

What if work starts before approvals are confirmed?

Seek advice from the relevant authority and an appropriate adviser before proceeding. Check the issued documents and work conditions. This guide does not establish a national penalty or determine insurance cover.

Do I need to notify neighbours?

Ask which notifications, consents or protection measures apply to the work and approval route. Confirm who must give notice and when. A general conversation with a neighbour does not replace a required formal notice or consent.

How long is an approval valid?

Read the commencement, completion and expiry requirements on the actual approval. Ask the issuer about extensions or changes before relying on an old document; do not assume a universal twelve-month period.

Which work conditions should I check?

Read the approved scope and conditions with the contractor. Clarify service arrangements, access, neighbouring property, hazards, waste, notifications and completion records. Confirm any change with the relevant authority before relying on it.