Decks are an important part of our Brisbane lifestyle. They are perfect for enjoying our subtropical climate and extend living spaces into the outdoors.
To build your dream deck, you will need to meet building and planning regulations to ensure it is safe, complements the existing streetscape and does not affect your neighbours.
The following is a guide to the requirements in the Brisbane City Council area. If you live outside of Brisbane City boundaries, please contact your local Council for more information.
Approvals
Sometimes, you will need formal approval from a building certifier, Brisbane City Council, or both, before you can begin work. Two approval types apply to decks on residential properties:
- Building approval (provided by a building certifier and assessed under the Building Code of Australia), and
- Planning approval (provided by Council and assessed under the Brisbane City Plan 2000).
Building approval
In certain cases, you may not need building approval for your deck. These conditions are listed on Council's website.
If your deck does not fulfill all of these requirements, you must lodge a building application and have it assessed by a building certifier. You can find certifiers listed in the Yellow Pages under Building surveyors. You must give the certifier scaled and detailed plans prepared by a draftsperson or architect.
To be approved, your proposed deck must meet specific regulations relating to design, location and structural integrity as outlined in the Queensland Development Code.
There are different regulations for properties that are 450m² or less in size (a small lot) and properties over 450m². Your certifier can seek a relaxation of some building requirements (for example, minimum distances from side boundaries) by making an application to Council.
Planning approval
You may also need to meet certain criteria under Council's City Plan before you get building approval. In some cases, a planning application to Council may be required. If so, your proposal may be suitable for quicker assessment using the RiskSMART process.
To find out whether the City Plan criteria apply to your proposed deck and what you need to do, visit the Council website information about getting approval for a deck.
More information
Further information on planning and building in Brisbane, including other common building projects, is available on the Brisbane City Council planning and building website. Or if you simply need to rejuvenate your existing deck - check out our guide to easy deck renovation.
Content supplied by the Brisbane City Council.
