Check if a Heritage Overlay affects your works

1. Go to VicPlan and search for the address of your property.

2. Follow the prompts to create and open a free Planning Property Report.

3. On the Report, go to the Planning Overlay section to see whether a Heritage Overlay affects your property.
4. In the Planning Overlay section, look at the map to see the area of your site covered by the Heritage Overlay. Refer to your plans to see whether you will be performing works in that area.

Are you building a verandah in a Heritage Overlay?

• If yes, go to the next step.
• If no, see if other overlays affect the works.

Check if your property is on the Victorian Heritage Register

1. Refer to the map from VicPlan.
2. Look for the Heritage Overlay Schedule link and take note of the schedule number.
3. Click the Heritage Overlay Schedule link. The Schedule to the Heritage Overlay page appears.
4. Find your schedule number. See whether the 'Included on the Victorian Heritage Register' column displays 'Yes' for your schedule number.

If the property is on the Victorian Heritage Register:

• You may need approval from Heritage Victoria for or any buildings and works including internal changes. Contact Heritage Victoria for advice on how to apply for their approval.
• You may continue to apply for other permits while your Heritage Victoria application is being assessed. But you can only begin construction after all necessary approvals and permits are granted.
• Note that you may also require a Planning Permit from Council if your property is affected by other overlays. These are discussed later in this guide.

Is your property listed on the Victorian Heritage Register?

• If yes, contact Heritage Victoria and apply for their approval. Then go to the next step.
• If no, apply for a Planning Permit.

Check if other overlays affect the works

Refer to the report from VicPlan

On the report, go to the Planning Overlay section to see whether you are building a verandah in any of the following:

• Environmental Significance Overlay
• Special Building Overlay
• Land Subject to Inundation Overlay
• Public Acquisition Overlay
• Design and Development Overlay (Except for Design and Development Overlay Schedule 4).

Note that other additional overlays may appear. We may refer to the overlay listing at a later stage.

Are you planning to build a verandah in any of the overlays listed in this step?

• If yes, apply for a Planning Permit.
• If no,  go to the next step.

Check if your zone is non-residential

The following zones are all considered 'residential':

• General Residential Zones
• Mixed Use Zones
• Neighbourhood Residential Zones
• Residential Growth Zones.

Refer to the report from VicPlan. If none of these zones affect your property, your zone is non-residential.

Are you planning to build a verandah in a non-residential zone?

• If yes, apply for a Planning Permit.
• If no, go to the next step.

Check the lot size in a General Residential or Neighbourhood Residential Zone

Refer to the report from VicPlan and see whether either of the following appear:

• General Residential Zone
• Neighbourhood Residential Zone

If so, refer to the Certificate of Title (available from the Landata website) and calculate the area of each lot comprising your site using the title boundary dimensions.

Are you building a verandah in a General Residential or Neighbourhood Residential Zone on a lot that is less than 500 square metres?

• If yes, go to the next step.
• If no, check the lot size in a Mixed Use or Residential Growth zone.

Check the height and floor level for a residential lot under 500sqm

Measure the distance between the highest point of the verandah structure and natural ground. See whether the height is under 3m.

Next, measure the distance from the finished floor of the verandah to natural ground. See whether the distance is less than 800mm.

Is the height less than 3m and the distance from floor to natural ground under 800mm?

• If yes, check if a Development Plan Overlay affects your works.
• If no, apply for a Planning Permit.

Check the lot size in a Mixed Use or Residential Growth Zone

As the owner of a property in a Mixed Use or Residential Growth Zone, you need to check whether the lot is less than 300sqm.

Refer to the Certificate of Title (available from the Landata website) and calculate the area of each lot comprising your site using the title boundary dimensions.

Is the lot in a Mixed Use or Residential Growth Zone less than 300sqm?

• If yes, apply for a Planning Permit.
• If no, go to the next step.

Check if a Development Plan Overlay affects your works

Refer to the report from VicPlan and check whether you are building a verandah in a Development Plan Overlay.

Are you building a verandah in a Development Plan Overlay?

• If yes, contact Statutory Planning to request access to the relevant development plan. Follow the planning officer's amendment advice. When advised, go to the next step.
• If no, go to the next step.

Check if a Significant Landscape Overlay affects your works

Refer to the report from VicPlan and check whether a you are building a verandah in a Significant Landscape Overlay. 

If so, measure the height of the structure to determine whether it is over 6m.

Are you planning to build a verandah over 6m high in a Significant Landscape Overlay?

• If yes, apply for a Planning Permit.
• If no,  you do not need to apply for a Planning Permit. You need a Building Permit.

Apply for a Planning Permit, if needed

1. Provide a clear copy of your Certificate of Title, including the lot plan. You can get this from the Landata website. The Certificate of Title must be no more than 28 days' old.
2. Write a cover letter explaining your proposal.
3. Write a neighbourhood and site description.
4. Provide plans drawn to scale (1:100 or 1:200) with full dimensions. The plan must show the site, floor layout and elevations measured from natural ground level.
5. Complete the Planning Permit application form and lodge the form, fee and supporting documents with Council. 
   To download the form and submit the application, see Apply for a Planning Permit.
6. Now, apply for a Building Permit.

VicSmart eligibility

A Planning Permit application for a verandah is eligible to be assessed as VicSmart if your land is affected by any of the following:

• Heritage Overlay
• Design and Development Overlay
• Environmental Significance Overlay
• Special Building Overlay (special conditions apply) 

A Planning Permit application for a residential lot under 500sqm is eligible for VicSmart if it meets specific criteria.

For more information, visit the Permits page on the VicSmart website.

Application fees

Apply for a Building Permit

You always need a Building Permit to build a verandah.

1. Read the Building Permit application checklist (see download below) to determine which supporting documents you need for your circumstances. If you are unsure about what you need, contact the Building Services team on 9278 4999 or email Building Services.
2. Complete the Application for a Building Permit.
3. Lodge the Building Permit application form, fee and supporting documents with Council. For fee information, email Building Services.

You can only begin your installation after the Building Permit is granted.

You may exit the guide.

Statutory Planning aims to respond to Planning Permit applications within 60 days, as governed by the Planning and Environment Act.

A Building Permit application is assessed within 10 business days. The response is usually a request for further information that is required before a Building Permit can be issued.