Do You Need Council Approval for Concreting? (2026)

Australia does not have a single national rule. Each state sets its own planning legislation, and each council applies that legislation differently. What is exempt in one suburb can require a permit three streets away if the zoning or overlay changes. The information below is a reliable starting framework, not a substitute for a phone call to your local authority.

Most routine residential concreting falls under exempt development or complying development provisions in each state's planning framework. Generally speaking, you are unlikely to need council approval for:

• A standard driveway on a residential property (though a vehicle crossover permit from council is almost always required, which is different from planning approval)
• A ground-level patio or entertainment slab that is not enclosed or covered by a structure requiring its own approval
• Internal pathways, garden edging and utility slabs like a clothesline or bin pad
• A garden shed or carport slab, provided the structure on top also meets exempt development thresholds

Even when planning approval is not required, you still need to comply with Australian Standard AS 3600 for concrete structures, and your concreter should be working to the relevant state building codes for thickness, reinforcement and drainage.

Several situations push a concreting job into permit territory. The most common ones across Australia are:

Stormwater and Drainage

Adding large areas of impervious surface changes how rainwater moves across a property. Many councils, particularly in flood-prone areas of Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales, require you to demonstrate that new concrete will not direct stormwater onto a neighbouring property or overwhelm the street drainage system. In some cases you need a drainage plan prepared by a hydraulic engineer before the slab is approved.

Heritage Overlays and Significant Streetscapes

Properties in heritage conservation areas, including large parts of inner Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, often need council consent even for a new driveway or front path. The appearance of the concrete finish and the footprint can both be assessed. Coloured or stencilled concrete is sometimes specifically excluded in heritage zones.

Retaining Walls

Concrete retaining walls are one of the most regulated concreting jobs on a residential site. In most states, a wall over 1 metre in height (measured from the bottom of the footing) triggers a building permit or development application. In Queensland the threshold is often 1 metre, in Victoria it is typically 1 metre for walls close to a boundary. Above that, you generally need an engineer's design and council or private building surveyor sign-off.

Setbacks and Site Coverage

Every residential zone has rules about how much of the block can be covered by impervious surface. A large rear concrete slab, an extended driveway, or multiple new paved areas combined can push you over the allowed site coverage. Council planners check this during a development application.

Commercial and Industrial Sites

On commercial or industrial properties, concreting work that changes the use of an area, adds loading areas, modifies vehicle access or affects drainage is almost always subject to development approval regardless of size.

Rules differ meaningfully between states. Here is a practical starting point for each, accurate as of mid-2026.

These are starting points only. Overlays, flood zones, bushfire management areas and heritage listings can all change the answer for a specific property even within the same council area.

Getting clarity upfront takes less time than you might expect. Here is a practical checklist:

• Pull up your property on your council's online planning map or GIS viewer. Look for heritage overlays, flood overlays or special character zones.
• Ring your council's planning counter and describe the project: surface area, location on the block, thickness, any retaining or level changes.
• Ask specifically about stormwater requirements. Some councils want a basic drainage plan even for exempt work.
• Ask the engineering or infrastructure team about the crossover permit if the work connects to the street.
• If you are in a strata scheme or community title development, also check with your owners corporation or body corporate. Their by-laws often impose additional restrictions on hard surfaces.
• Get the approval references in writing, even if it is just an email from council confirming the work is exempt. File it with your property records.

The whole process for a simple enquiry is often resolved in a couple of emails or one phone call. For complex jobs, a formal written pre-application meeting with council costs a modest fee and gives you documented certainty before you spend money on designs and quotes.