Residential, Retail, Commercial & Industrial
Sunshine Coast Building Approvals provides professional services in building consultants, building certification, building approvals and town planning for homeowners, builders, project builders, building designers and structural engineers throughout the Sunshine Coast and Queensland.
We provide prompt reliable service whether you are planning residential projects through to commercial projects so please consider contacting us for:
- Building design stage compliance advice
- Building code advice
- Energy Efficiency design assessments
- Bushfire assessments
- Submit council plumbing applications
- Submit local council relaxations
- Building fire engineering assessments
- Fire Engineering Solutions
- Coordinate Queensland Fire & Emergency Services Referrals
- Building Surveyors
- Private Building Certifiers
- Fire Engineering Consultants
- Building Code Consultants
- Development Consultants
We are committed to focus on the customer’s needs by providing a full range of building certification services, it is not just building approvals and inspections we offer. We can provide technical advice on compliance issues, pre-lodgement advice, energy efficiency assessments, town planning, submission of relaxation applications and plumbing applications to local government. We also have expertise in the fire safety engineering field and accessibility field, and are able to assist you with performance solutions under the Building Code of Australia.
We have a proud reputation of servicing clients and have developed systems to cater specifically for all clients. We specialise in delivering a comprehensive range of services throughout the Sunshine Coast and Queensland and enjoy the challenges associated with the undertaking and servicing of development projects in urban and rural areas.
Residential Building Approvals
- Single Dwellings
- Dual Occupancy
- Secondary Dwellings
- Granny Flats
- Studios
- Removal Dwellings
- Additions & Alterations
- Renovations
- Sheds, Garages and Carports
- Retaining Walls
- Fences
- Demolitions
- Re-Roofing
- Swimming Pools & Spa’s
- Swimming Pool Fence
- Reclassifications/Conversions
- Patios, Pergolas & Awnings
- Decks
Commercial Building Approvals
- Class 2 – Units
- Class 3 – Hotels, Motels, Boarding Houses & Hostel/Backpackers
- Class 4 - A dwelling within a building that is Class 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9
- Class 5 – Offices
- Class 6 – Retail Shops, Dining & Showrooms
- Class 7 – Carparks & Warehouses
- Class 8 – Laboratories
- Class 9 – Health Care Buildings, Assembly Buildings, Schools & Aged Care Buildings
Energy Efficiency
A house’s energy efficiency (star rating) applies to the design of the ‘building shell’ – roof, walls, windows and floor. The building shell significantly influences the indoor comfort and energy efficiency performance of the dwelling.
6 Star Energy Efficiency Rating for New dwellings and town houses
The minimum energy efficiency rating for new houses and townhouses (class 1 buildings) in Queensland is 6 stars. This standard also applies when undertaking a renovation to an existing house, such as additions, alterations or re-locations.
5 Star Energy Efficiency Rating for Residential units
The minimum energy efficiency rating for new multi-unit residential buildings (class 2) in Queensland is 5 stars. The building must achieve an average energy efficiency rating of no less than 5-stars for the whole building and individual units must achieve a minimum 4-star rating. The requirement also applies to renovation work carried out on existing units, such as additions or alterations.
Sunshine Coast Building Approvals uses an approved software under the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme to calculate all Energy Efficiency Ratings
Several properties within Queensland are located within a Bushfire Prone Area. A bushfire prone area is an area that is subject to, or likely to be subject to a bushfire attack. Where a property is located in a Bushfire Prone Area, it is important to determine the BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) as the BAL sets the minimum construction standards when building in a Bushfire Prone Area. A BAL is determined by considering the surrounding elements on the property. Once we have determined your BAL rating, we will be able to advise you of the minimum construction requirements in accordance with Australia Standard AS 3959 2018.
Plumbing Approvals are issued by the Local Council for certain plumbing and drainage works. Should your project require plumbing approval, we will send you a plumbing checklist. Once you have completed the plumbing checklist and returned a copy to us, we will prepare and lodge the application on your behalf to council.
Local Councils within Queensland have planning schemes and development codes that must be complied with when building. If you are unsure whether your work complies, we will advise you when we assess your plans. Where you are unable to alter your design to comply with the planning schemes and development codes, we can apply for a variation to the Local Council to relax the requirements of the scheme or code.
Coordinate Queensland Fire & Emergency Services referrals
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) performs an important role as a referral agency to provide advice on building work assessable against the Building Act 1975. Under the terms of the Planning Act 2016 and associated legislation, referral to QFES for advice is required for any application for building work that involves a fire safety system and:
- Requires special fire services (SFS) mentioned in the Planning Regulation 2017; or
- Proposes a performance solution in relation to fire safety.
National Disability Insurance Scheme · Specialist Disability Accommodation
SDA is accommodation for people who require specialist housing solutions, including to assist with the delivery of supports that cater to their extreme functional impairment or very high support needs. SDA does not refer to the support services, but the homes in which these are delivered. SDA may, for example, have specialist designs for people with very high needs or a location or features that make it feasible to provide complex or costly supports for independent living.
The Design Standards have been crafted with the intention of improving the lives of participants by assisting them to live in their own home that meets their individual needs and is situated in communities that facilitate social connections and a sense of belonging. The Design Standards focus is on providing a home environment that maximises the capacity of the individual to live as independently as possible incorporating personal support features within contemporary housing practice. Design to reflect an individual’s personality and interests is further encouraged. The diversity of accommodation provided should reflect the diversity of choice available to all members of the community.