Planning and Building
The Development Assessment team employs qualified and experienced planning and building assessment staff who undertake assessment of applications and are available to provide general advice on development application matters. Should you wish to discuss a proposal in detail, it is suggested that you make a time to meet with a relevant staff member. Please contact the Development Assessment team on 8203 7185.
When is Development Approval required?
If you are intending to undertake any of the following activities you will need to obtain Development Approval from Council before commencing the work:
- Demolish, construct, add or alter a building.
- Erect a sign.
- Change the use of a property.
- Any tree damaging activity to a significant tree.
- Any external alteration (and in some case also internal alterations) of a listed heritage item.
- Divide or alter the boundary of an allotment.
Your application may require one or more consents to be obtained before you can proceed with your proposal including Provisional Development Plan Consent, Provisional Building Rules Consent, Public Space Encroachment Consent and Land Division Consent.
Important: No development can be commenced without written Development Approval.
What does a development approval consist of?
A Development Approval comprises of two parts:
- A planning approval (known as ‘Development Plan Consent’) which is generally undertaken first.
- A building approval (known as ‘Building Rules Consent’).
To obtain a development approval, you are required to submit a completed application form (link below) in conjunction with relevant plans and reports depending on the scope of development being proposed.
» Development Application Form (PDF, 112Kb)
What does a planning assessment consist of?
A planning assessment involves assessing the impact of development, such as (but not limited to):
- Adjoining buildings, properties and people (e.g. overshadowing, overlooking, and visual dominance).
- The size, shape, orientation and layout of new allotments.
- Impacts to heritage buildings – this involves building work to a heritage building as well as works adjacent to a heritage building.
- Impact to the character of existing buildings in an existing street or locality.
- Appropriateness of certain land uses, dependant on the relevant zoning.
Examples of other criteria considered during assessment are environmental sustainability, access and traffic, public safety. This assessment is undertaken against the principles and polices in Council’s Development Plan (this includes the 'objectives' and 'principles of development control' against which proposed developments can be assessed, as well as the zoning of areas into residential, commercial, industrial, rural and other zones) and the legislative framework of Development Act 1993 (link below).
» Adelaide City Development Plan
What does a building assessment consist of?
After receiving a planning approval, a building approval is typically required. This involves an appraisal of the design of buildings to ensure they are compliant with a national set of uniform technical provisions that enable the achievement of acceptable standards of structural adequacy, safety, health and amenity and energy efficiency. This assessment is undertaken against the relevant provisions of the Building Code of Australia and the SA Housing Code.