Companion to the How to Build in Australia series | uDrew OnSite: check what your renovation requires
Home renovation is one of the most popular ways Australians improve their property and lifestyle. It is also one of the most frequently underestimated in terms of planning, compliance, and cost. Whether you are refreshing a kitchen, adding a bedroom, extending the living area, or undertaking a full structural renovation, understanding what is involved before you start will save you time, money, and the frustration of discovering mid-project that something requires approval you did not know about.
This guide covers the full spectrum of home renovation, from cosmetic updates that need no approval through to structural changes and additions that require council sign-off, and explains where site intelligence tools can make the process faster and more reliable.
The first question: does your renovation need approval?
Not every renovation requires council approval. The answer depends on the nature and scale of the work. Understanding which category your renovation falls into is the starting point for planning anything.
No approval required: cosmetic renovations
Work that does not affect the structure, footprint, or use of a building generally does not require any form of council approval. This includes painting, flooring, kitchen and bathroom fittings (where the layout does not change), window replacement like-for-like, and landscaping that does not involve retaining walls or earthworks above certain thresholds.
Even for cosmetic work, a licensed electrician must carry out any electrical changes, and a licensed plumber must carry out any plumbing changes. These are licensing requirements, not approval requirements, but they apply regardless of project scale.
Approval required: structural and footprint changes
Any work that changes the structure of the building, alters its footprint, affects its external appearance, or changes its use will require either a building permit, a Complying Development Certificate, or a full Development Application depending on the scale and the controls that apply to your property.
Common renovation types that require approval include:
- Extensions or additions that increase the floor area of the dwelling
- Structural alterations including removal or modification of load-bearing walls
- New or altered openings in external walls, including windows and doors
- Pergolas, decks, and verandas above certain size thresholds
- Secondary structures including granny flats, studios, and home offices with services
- Garage conversions that change the use of the space
- Retaining walls, earthworks, and site re-levelling above certain thresholds
The most common renovation compliance mistake is assuming that because the work is ‘just internal’ it does not need approval. Removing a load-bearing wall, converting a garage to a habitable room, or adding a deck over a certain size all require approval regardless of whether the change is visible from the street.
How to check what your renovation requires
Before engaging any tradesperson or designer for work that may affect the structure or footprint of your home, check what approvals apply to your specific property. uDrew OnSite surfaces the planning controls, overlays, and setback requirements that apply to your address. For renovations involving additions or changes to the building footprint, this tells you whether the work is likely to qualify for a fast-track CDC pathway or will require a full DA, before you spend anything on design or quotes.
This matters particularly for properties in heritage conservation areas, where even cosmetic external changes may require council approval in heritage areas, and for properties in bushfire or flood overlays, where any structural work triggers additional requirements.
Approval pathways for renovations
Exempt development
Minor works that meet specific criteria do not require any application. Each state publishes exempt development provisions. Common examples include small garden sheds, minor fencing, and certain internal alterations. Always verify that your specific project meets all the criteria before relying on an exemption.
Complying Development Certificate (CDC)
Available in NSW and some other states for residential alterations and additions that fully meet all planning controls. Assessed by a private certifier. Faster than a full DA when documentation is complete. Requirements include compliance with setbacks, height limits, site coverage maximums, and floor space ratio controls.
Development Application (DA)
Required for work that does not meet CDC criteria, for properties in heritage areas, or for states where CDC pathways are not available for residential alterations. Assessed by the local council. Timelines range from 40 days to several months depending on the complexity of the proposal and the completeness of the documentation.
Planning your renovation: where to start
Define the scope clearly before engaging anyone
The most common cause of renovation budget overruns is scope creep: work that expands beyond the original brief because decisions were deferred rather than made upfront. Before you speak to a builder or designer, produce a written brief that specifies what you want to achieve, which rooms or areas are included, and what the non-negotiables are. This gives every professional you engage a consistent starting point and makes quotes more comparable.
Get your site data before your design
For any renovation that involves an addition, extension, or structural change, get your site constraints confirmed before you invest in design. uDrew OnSite tells you the setbacks, height limits, and site coverage rules that apply to your property. A designer who has this data from the start will produce a brief that is compliant from day one, rather than one that needs to be revised after the approval process identifies constraints that were not accounted for.
Engage a qualified building designer or architect for structural work
For any renovation involving structural changes or additions, a licensed building designer or architect is required to produce the documentation for approval. Attempting to manage structural design without professional input is a compliance risk and a safety risk. For cosmetic renovations, a designer is not required but may be worthwhile for complex spaces.
Choosing tradespeople: what to look for
The quality of a renovation depends almost entirely on the quality of the tradespeople involved. In Australia, all structural, plumbing, and electrical work must be carried out by licensed professionals, and checking that licence is valid is the homeowner’s responsibility.
- Check licences before engaging anyone. Each state has an online register. In NSW, check the NSW Fair Trading licence register. In Victoria, the Victorian Building Authority. In Queensland, the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC).
- For projects valued over a threshold set by each state, a formal written contract is required. The threshold varies but is typically around $5,000 to $20,000. Never proceed without a written contract on any significant renovation.
- Ask for recent references from comparable projects. A builder who has completed similar renovations in your council area will understand the local approval process and produce documentation that meets local requirements.
- Confirm insurance coverage. Any builder undertaking residential work must hold public liability insurance and domestic building insurance in states where this is required.
Budgeting: where costs accumulate
Renovation budgets are consistently underestimated, in part because many costs are not visible until the project is underway. Building in contingency from the outset is not pessimism; it is experience.
Design and approval costs
Architectural or designer fees for a residential renovation typically range from 8 to 15% of construction cost for complex projects, or $5,000 to $20,000 as a fixed fee for more straightforward work. Council fees, certifier fees, and contributions vary by council and project scope but should be confirmed before the design is finalised.
Construction costs
Typical per-square-metre costs for residential additions and renovations in Australia range from $2,500 to $5,000 for new living space additions. In terms of total project cost, it will generally range from $15,000 to $40,000 for a full kitchen renovation, $10,000 to $25,000 for a bathroom renovation, and $20,000 to $60,000 for a ground floor extension. These figures are indicative and vary significantly by state, builder, and specification.
Contingency
A 15 to 20% contingency on the construction cost is the standard industry recommendation for renovation projects. Older homes in particular frequently reveal additional work once walls are opened: outdated electrical wiring, plumbing that does not meet current standards, insulation deficiencies, or structural issues not visible in the original inspection.
The $1 spent on understanding your site and approvals upfront will save far more than $1 during construction. This is as true for a home extension as it is for a pool or granny flat.
Where uDrew supports renovations
uDrew’s most direct relevance to home renovation is at the site intelligence and approval documentation stage, specifically for renovations that involve additions, extensions, or structural changes that affect the building footprint or envelope.
uDrew OnSite confirms what the planning controls allow for your specific property before design begins. uDrew Studio enables builders and designers to create compliant site layouts and produce council-ready documentation from verified site data, reducing the most common causes of approval delay.
For homeowners whose renovation includes a pool, spa, granny flat, carport, or shed as part of a broader backyard transformation, the How to Build in Australia series covers each of those structures in detail with direct links to the site intelligence tools relevant to each project type.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need council approval for a kitchen renovation?
Not if the work is cosmetic and does not involve changes to the structure, footprint, or external appearance of the building. Replacing fittings, benchtops, and appliances within an existing kitchen layout does not require approval. Any structural wall changes or changes to the building envelope do.
How long does a home renovation take?
A cosmetic renovation such as a new kitchen or bathroom: 4 to 8 weeks. A structural extension or addition: 3 to 8 months from approval to completion, depending on scope. The approval phase for extensions and additions typically adds 6 to 12 weeks before construction can begin.
Do I need a building permit for a deck?
In most states, decks above a certain size (commonly 10 sq,) and height (typically 600mm above ground level) require a building permit. Check with your local council or use uDrew OnSite to confirm the threshold that applies to your property.
Can I project manage my own renovation?
Yes, homeowners can manage renovations directly, engaging and coordinating individual tradespeople. However, any structural work, all electrical work, and all plumbing work must be carried out by licensed professionals. For renovations requiring approval, the relevant certifier or council will specify who must sign off on the documentation.
What is the difference between a renovation and a rebuild?
A renovation modifies an existing structure while retaining the primary building. A rebuild involves demolishing and constructing a new building on the same site. Rebuilds require the same planning approvals as any new construction, plus demolition approval and disposal permits in most states.
How do I check if my renovation needs approval?
Use uDrew OnSite to check the planning controls and overlays that apply to your property. For specific guidance on whether your project requires approval, contact your local council or a licensed building certifier.
More in the How to Build in Australia series:
- How to Build a Carport in Australia
- How to Build a Pool in Australia
- How to Install a Spa in Australia
- How to Install a Granny Flat in Australia
- How to Build a Shed in Australia
- How to Build a Home in Australia
- Check Your Property Before You Build: How uDrew OnSite Works
