When erecting a gazebo, it should be kept in mind that, although not large, it is a structure, and, because of this, you may need approval from the council in order to build it. It is important to check exactly where you stand or you may find that you will be required to pull the gazebo down or may face fines from the council.
Naturally, council regulations vary from place to place so getting authorisation for pergolas Sydney may be very different from getting authorisation for those in Melbourne. You need to check with your local council for the best advice or refer to the manufacturer of your chosen pergola – they should be able to give you advice on the council regulations pertaining to pergolas in your area.
In general, though this is not necessarily the final word, many councils classify building projects in terms of three broad categories – Exempt Development, Complying Development and Development Application. Should you be going for a gazebo that meets all the criteria laid down by the government, then you will not need to ask for council approval at all. This is generally the case for all standard gazebos.) Should you need something that is slightly outside these guidelines but that can still be assessed by a private certifier, the project will be likely to be considered a Complying Development. In this case, the approval process is much less involved and so is a lot shorter. (Usually less than two weeks.) You would not need to notify your neighbours in this case./p>
For cases that do not fall under the ambit of either of the two mentioned above, you will need to complete a Development Application. You will find that this will entail everything that you would have to provide for a major development, from building plans to environment impact reports, etc. This is a lengthy process and can take three to four months to complete. Fortunately, however, a gazebo is seldom going to fall into the category of a major development. If you are unsure of where your gazebo fits into this spectrum, consult experts in the gazebos Melbourne profession and get their advice.
Overall, as mentioned before, it is unlikely that a gazebo is going to be considered a major development. If anything, you are more likely to find that they are Exempt Developments. Still, it is best to consult your local council for confirmation. Be sure to give them the vital statistics of the gazebo in question, especially if it is not a standard one.