
Example of a freestanding water tank and tanks supported by a roof
You may need a Planning Permit, Building Permit or both to install a water tank.
To help you work out which permits you need, begin at Step 1 and answer the questions one at a time. You will be asked to look at overlay information and to consider the design of the installation.
You will also learn how to prevent health and safety risks associated with rainwater tanks.
Contact Statutory Planning or Building Services if you need help with either a Planning or Building Permit.
Before finalising your design:
Design and manufacturing faults in a water tank can cause serious risks to health and safety.
It is important to select a water tank that is professionally designed and manufactured using corrosion- resistant, non-toxic materials. Any support stands must be professionally designed and constructed to meet structural regulations and manufacturer's recommendations.
If you have any concerns about the quality of the water tank, refer to the manufacturer.
Once you have made sure that your water tank design is safe, go to the next step.
Go to VicPlan and search for the address of your property.
Follow the prompts to create and open a free Planning Property Report.
If the property is on the Victorian Heritage Register:
Refer to your plans to see whether the rainwater tank will be visible from a street or public park.
Refer to your selected water tank design to see whether it can hold more than 10,000 litres of water.
Refer to the map from VicPlan.
See whether you are proposing works in any of the following:
For more information about developing in a Land Subject to Inundation Overlay or Special Building Overlay, including ways to help fast-track your Planning Permit application, go to Melbourne Water.
If you have determined that you need a Planning Permit for your project:
For VicSmart applications and applications associated with a single dwelling (a house that is the only dwelling on the lot), the fee is $199.90
For all other applications, the fee is $1147.80.
Consider how the rainwater tank will be installed.
See whether it will be a freestanding structure, or whether it will rely on another structure, such as a roof or wall, for support.
Measure the distance from the sides of your supported water tank to the property boundaries. Then measure the overall height of the water tank, from natural ground level to the top of the tank.
Use the following table to determine whether you need to apply for Report and Consent.
Height of supported tank |
Distance from boundary |
Do I need Report and Consent? |
---|---|---|
Under 3.6m |
Less than 500mm |
Yes |
500mm or more |
No |
|
3.6m or more |
Less than 500mm |
Yes |
500mm or more |
You may need Report and Consent. Contact Building Services on 9278 4999 to confirm whether this is the case. |
If you have determined that you need a Building Permit:
You may lodge the application for a Building Permit while other permit applications are still being processed, but may only begin construction when all required permits are granted
Now, learn about installing and maintaining a water tank safely.
You may install the water tank after all required permits have been granted.
The water tank must be installed by a licensed plumber.
The tank must be fitted with an overflow pipe of the same diameter as the inlet pipe, and must be connected to the stormwater system at a legal point of discharge.
It is important to seal the tank in order to:
Rainwater collected in tanks is not suitable for drinking because it can contain contaminants from collection surfaces.
You may exit the guide.