The permit question comes up on almost every deck quote I do. Here's a straightforward explanation of the rules in Victoria.
When You DON'T Need a Permit
Under Victorian Building Regulations, a deck is generally exempt from a building permit if it meets ALL of these conditions:
- The floor of the deck is no more than 800mm above the natural ground level
- The deck is not attached to the dwelling (freestanding)
- The deck area does not exceed 100m²
- It does not reduce the minimum garden area required by your planning permit
When You DO Need a Permit
You need a building permit if:
- The deck is more than 800mm above ground at any point
- The deck is attached to the house (which is most decks)
- Your council has additional requirements in their local planning scheme
What About Planning Permits?
Building permits and planning permits are different. Even if your deck is exempt from a building permit, you may still need planning permit approval from your local council — particularly in heritage overlays, bushfire zones or flood-prone areas.
My Recommendation
For any deck over 800mm above ground or attached to the house, I recommend getting a building permit. It's not that costly ($500–$1,500 typically) and it ensures your deck is structurally certified. An unpermitted deck can cause issues when you sell the property.
I'm happy to discuss the permit situation during a free on-site quote for your project.