Perth patio builders since 2004
Shire Approval Made Simple
Council approvals are on us. Your backyard plans are on you. Getting a patio signed off in WA can take up to three steps. We break each one down, and handle the ones your project needs.
Book a free onsite consultationTHE BASICS
What is shire approval?
In Western Australia, “shire approval” is an umbrella term for up to three separate sign-offs your patio may need before we can start building: a patio design approval, a planning approval from your local council, and a building permit. Each has a different trigger, a different cost, and a different timeline.
Not every patio needs every step. A small rear-yard patio in a standard residential zone usually only needs a building permit. A larger structure, a heritage-listed property, or a build close to a boundary can trigger planning approval as well. This page walks you through exactly what applies to your project, and what we take care of on your behalf.
QUICK CHECK
Do I need shire approval?
Two things decide how much approval your patio needs: your property's zoning and the size of the structure. Use these checks as a guide. We'll confirm exactly what applies when we quote your project.
Zoning & location
Planning approval is triggered when your property or proposed structure falls outside standard residential rules. Your council's planning scheme is the source of truth.
OFTEN TRIGGERED BY
- Heritage-listed or character-protected properties
- Special Control Areas or bushfire-prone zones
- Encroachment on setbacks, easements or sewer lines
- Builds close to a shared boundary
- Rural, semi-rural or non-residential zones
Size & scale
A building permit is required once your patio exceeds the small-structure thresholds. In Western Australia the practical cut-off is 10 m² footprint or 2.4 m height, whichever you hit first.
PERMIT REQUIRED WHEN
- Footprint is greater than 10 m²
- Any point of the roof is above 2.4 m
- Patio is attached to the house
- Structure is made of non-combustible materials at scale
- Plumbing, drainage or power is being added
THE PROCESS
The three steps, in detail
The formal construction permit, required for any patio over 10m² or 2.4m tall. This is the council-specific step: each shire has its own forms and fees.
Patio design approval
Your design checked against the WA patio definition and your council's residential design codes. The starting point for every project.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Plan compliance review
- R-Codes compatibility check
- Structural sign-off by our engineer
- Included with every quote
Usually within a week
Planning approval
Required if your block falls in a Rural Resource, General Rural, or Special Rural zone, or anywhere the Residential Design Codes aren't met. A council-level sign-off before the build permit.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Development Application Form + checklist
- Site plan drawn at 1:200 (setbacks to all boundaries)
- Elevations drawn at 1:100 or 1:200
- Council fees passed through at cost
Up to 60 working days
Building permit
The formal construction permit. Required for any patio over 10m² or 2.4m tall, and the step that's council-specific — each shire has its own forms and fees.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Certified path (BA1), Certificate of Design Compliance
- Uncertified path (BA2), council assesses plans directly
- Neighbour consent (BA20) if setbacks are tight
- We liaise with the council on your behalf
~4 weeks typical
WHO DOES WHAT
What we handle. What you sign.
The paperwork is ours. You stay the legal owner of the application (a council requirement), but we prepare everything, submit on your behalf, and chase approvals through to the permit.
What we handle
Everything on the technical side, so you never have to interpret a planning scheme or chase a certifier.
OUR SIDE
- Site measure and patio design
- Compliance check against R-Codes and local scheme
- Structural engineering sign-off
- Development Application (planning approval)
- Drafting of BA1 / BA2 building permit package
- Private certifier liaison, where required
- Submission to your council and follow-up
- Engineering revisions if council asks for changes
What you sign
A handful of owner-only items the council requires from the legal property owner. We prepare each one. You sign.
YOUR SIDE
- Owner's consent form for the application
- BA20 neighbour consent (if we encroach a boundary)
- Confirmation of property ownership / title
- Payment of council fees at cost, no mark-up
- Acknowledgement of any conditions on the approval
TRANSPARENCY
What does shire approval cost?
Our work on the approval is included in your patio quote. The only additional costs are the council and certifier fees, and those we pass through at cost with receipts. No hidden mark-ups, no surprise invoices at handover.
OUR TIME
Included
Site measure, design, engineering, drafting, submission and council liaison are all part of your patio quote. If a council asks for a revision, we revise.
No separate approval fee.
PLANNING APPLICATION
$150 – $400
Councils charge a flat Development Application fee when planning approval is required. Typical range for a residential patio in Perth metro.
Only if planning approval is triggered.
BUILDING PERMIT
$200 – $800
Council permit fees scale with the value of the works. BA1 (certified) is usually cheaper and faster than BA2 (uncertified), where the council acts as the certifier.
Passed through at cost.
FIND YOUR COUNCIL
Find your council
Every Perth council has its own DA form, fee schedule and timeline. We maintain a page for each, with the current rules, contact details and approval-time benchmarks.
Need help with shire approval? We'll figure it out for you.
Book a free onsite consultation
